Marking winter’s end: Alexandra Blossom Festival
Spring has sprung, and the Southern Lakes region has awoken from its winter slumber. What better way to mark the end of our seasonal hibernation – and make the most of longer, warmer days – than by attending the Contact Alexandra Blossom Festival. First held in 1957, it’s the longest-running community event of […]
The Grape Debate: There’s a battle brewing within the Central Otago wine industry
There’s a battle brewing within the Central Otago wine industry, but it’s for a good cause. And there shouldn’t be any ‘sour grapes’ at the end of it. Following the success of similar events in Hawke’s Bay and Marlborough, the Colliers International Grape Debate comes to Southern Lakes this month. Renowned for their […]
A standout build: Ferguson Builders
The standout build at 18 Falconer Rise, Jacks Point, Queenstown, beautifully blends with nature – a unique testimony of Ferguson Builders’ craftmanship. Rob Ferguson moved to Christchurch from Scotland seven years ago, putting his exceptional skills to use, also building his own home, before moving to Queenstown with his wife Mel, from Invergargill, and two […]
A Southern Lodging: Golden Gate Lodge
Surrounded by mountain ranges, Cromwell is the heart of the Central Otago wine industry, a main fruit growing centre, location of one of the South’s best golf links and with Highlands Motorsport Park and Central Motor Speedway, a motor racing mecca. After the Clutha River (Mata-Au) was dammed at Clyde in the early 1990s, Cromwell’s […]
Southern though leaders: Queenstown’s Catalyst Trust
Queenstown’s Catalyst Trust provides a forum for sharing ideas and debating some of the big issues facing Southern Lakes and the rest of the world – and the concept has really taken off. As is often the case, Catalyst was formed over a few coffee conversations between like-minded locals who wanted to make a difference. […]
Cream of winter’s Crop: Audi quattro Winter Games New Zealand
One of the world’s top five international winter sports events takes centre stage in the Southern Lakes later this month. Wanaka, Queenstown and Naseby play host to Audi quattro Winter Games New Zealand, which showcases the most talented elite athletes in skiing, snowboarding, ice hockey and curling. Beginning on Friday 24 August with a spectacular […]
New attraction gets off the ground: iFLY
With no jumping, parachutes or planes required, now anyone can fly like Superman – on a cushion of air. Arrow International’s team worked in blazing heat and falling snow to get iFLY, Queenstown’s sensational new attraction off the ground this winter. Arrow was involved in the design phase of the $15 million project, giving buildability […]
Exceptional Efficiency: UPVC Windows and Doors
Central Otago and the Southern Lakes region are known for their extremes of climate – scorching hot days of more than 30 degrees in the summer and plummeting well below zero in the winter. Such fluctuations call for building materials that perform at the highest level of efficiency, especially with respect to thermal insulation, noise […]
Going Viking! – The Viking Ball
In ancient times, those who went off raiding and plundering in ships were said to be ‘going Viking’. These days such behaviour is frowned upon, but Southern Lakes residents can at least dust off their furs and party like they’ve made it to Valhalla (Viking heaven). An innovative charity fundraiser, The Viking Ball is being […]
Winter’s Must-Attend: Clicquot in the Snow
This year’s Clicquot in the Snow in Queenstown from 2-5 August marks the 200th year since Madame Clicquot blended the world’s first rosé champagne and, to honour the special anniversary, long-time friend of the brand, designer Kathryn Wilson has designed a special edition rosé pink belt. To the delight of many Kathryn Wilson fans, the […]