Some businesses in Queenstown could face hefty repair bills after two tourists' alleged sprinkler stunt went awry overnight.
Around 4am the pair returned to their accommodation at Nomads Queenstown backpackers after a night out and allegedly swung from a sprinkler pipe on the first floor near the guest kitchen.
This resulted in a burst pipe, the fire alarm being activated, the hostel being evacuated and a flood which affected neighbouring businesses.
Cup and Cake, a separate businesses operating on the ground floor below the flood, has been unable to make cupcakes and open on what should have been their biggest day of the year - St Valentine's Day.
The tourists, a 25-year-old man and 23-year-old woman, both from the United Kingdom, were arrested and charged with wilful damage and are expected to appear in the Queenstown District Court at a later date.
Senior constable Chris Blackford said there was significant damage to downstairs properties in the building, and there was potential for repair bills to amount to six figures.
