Tracey Roxburgh

For the 15th consecutive year, some of New Zealand's best multisport athletes will race from the Remarkables ski area to Coronet Peak, in the North Face Peak to Peak this weekend.

There was a mermaid, a pirate, a penguin and a whole lot of fun to be had at Queenstown's Alpine Aqualand yesterday afternoon during the Wild About Water Pool Party.

With some of Queenstown's biggest nights on the way during the 2008 American Express Queenstown Winter Festival, the arrival of a marquee in the Ballarat St car park could not have come at a better time.

Tiny tots and their teddys took centre stage at the Kawarau Falls Station Pavilion in central Queenstown yesterday for a teddy bears' picnic to rival all others.

Queenstown has long been known as a party town.

Madness, mayhem, insanity, hilarity and entertainment galore was on offer this weekend during events for the 2008 American Express Queenstown Winterfestival.

There was a little something for everyone during the opening action at the 2008 American Express Queenstown Winter Festival, with events in town and up the mountain keeping all ages entertained.

It has begun.  After weeks of waiting, the 2008 American Express Queenstown Winter Festival was launched last night and as the sun went down behind the mountains, the mood was palpable.

A project described as a "Herculean effort" which has "future-proofed" Queenstown's winter season was officially opened on Saturday in front of about 140 invited guests at Coronet Peak.

Those gathered on Earnslaw Park yesterday afternoon not familiar with the tradition that is the Queenstown Winter Festival's Day on the Bay, could be forgiven for scratching their heads and asking "Why?"

The party in Queenstown may have officially started at 5.30 last night, but for 151 passengers on board Air New Zealand flight NZ1832, the celebration began at 9am yesterday, in Sydney's International Airport.

From Friday, a new presence will be felt in Queenstown after dark as the resort's community guides take to the streets.

When petrol prices are skyrocketing, the price of groceries isn't much better and winter power bills begin to take their toll, a group of novice gardeners look to have found a way of saving some money.

A fire which cost a total of $704,583 to fight and burned 739ha of land on the Remarkables mountain range near Wye Creek on State Highway 6 was most likely caused by embers from two traction engines, the National Rural Fire Authority Fire Investigation Report says.

It takes a brave man to waterski across Lake Wakatipu wearing nothing but a leopard-print G-string in the middle of June.