Expeditions to remote areas of historical interest in the Wakatipu could become an annual fixture, following the popularity of the trip to Macetown last weekend.
A basket auction during the tour raised $420, which was added to the $1395 total raised by different community efforts over the weekend towards the restoration of the historic Arrowtown Jail by the Wakatipu Heritage Trust.
About 60 enthusiasts from the Wakatipu and Southland drove their own 4WD vehicles or hitched a ride with Arrowtown-based 4WD scenic tour operator Southern Explorer or members of the Shotover 4WD Club to the ghost town from the gold-mining era.
The experience was an initiative by the Department of Conservation (Doc) Wakatipu area office to encourage more residents to explore and learn about the heritage on their doorstep.
The trip was postponed from the Arrowtown 150th celebrations in October because of the high level of the Arrow River at the time.
Doc Wakatipu area manager Greg Lind said the occupants of the 15 vehicles in the tag-along tour were surprised and delighted to be welcomed by period-costumed ''residents'' of Macetown, including three Buckingham Belles.
About 90 people joined in the Doc guided walks to Andersons Battery, Homeward Bound Battery and Premier Mines.
Adin May, of Southern Explorer, led a guided walk around the ruins of Macetown, with Arrowtown prospector, farmer and author Allan Hamilton providing entertaining stories of days gone by.
Cardrona singer-songwriter Martin Curtis entertained with recitals of historical poems, stories and folk songs.
Participants were invited to give their home-baked goods, or preserves, for the basket auction.
Auctioneer Austin Bragg, of Millbrook Property, volunteered to take bids for each basket, with proceeds given to the jail fund.
About 50 participants camped overnight in Macetown.
A keen group joined Mr Lind and Mr May in walking the distance to the Macetown Cemetery to unveil the new information panel on Sunday morning.
The panel was sponsored by Southern Explorer to acknowledge and show respect not only for the two unknown European men, the known Chinese man and unknown child who were buried there, but to help tell visitors the Macetown story.
Mr Lind said the tour was ''very successful''.
''Everyone raved about it and was keen to repeat it.''
Skippers and Bullendale could be destinations for tours by Doc and partners in the future, he said.
Wakatipu Heritage Trust chairwoman Susan Stevens, of Gibbston, said of the $1395 raised, it was ''great to have more than 90% of the funding for the conservation plan in hand, but it was even more gratifying to see the enthusiasm among community members for restoring the jail''.
Future fundraising efforts for the restoration of the unique 137-year-old jail were likely to be discussed at the trust's next meeting, she said.
