Christina McDonald

Young people filled their school-free days this week by paintballing, flipping pancakes and rafting as part of the Youth Booth School Holiday Programme.

Some have proclaimed it ''the best food in town'' and since opening her South American food trailer last month Isabel Garrido (pictured) has gained a following of regular customers.

An orchid which only flowers once every three years is in bloom at the Kiwi Birdlife Park.

The scheduled delivery of 2300 pieces of mail went ahead as planned on Sunday, marking the final bulk delivery of letters and packages which were allegedly misappropriated by a former postie.

Staff at the Kiwi Birdlife Park are anxiously waiting to see if two kiwi chicks will emerge from eggs which are in incubation.

An updated consent application has been lodged by Shotover Park Ltd for a 36-lot subdivision near Glenda Dr intended to centralise ''industrial and business development within Queenstown''.

Living without money is allowing an Australian photographer to travel the world in a project he calls ''the Pixel Trade''.

Guests have ranked The Dairy Private Luxury Hotel in Queenstown as one of the world's best small hotels.

A lantern parade and a Chinese dragon which wound its way through Queenstown streets during last year's Winter Festival has given rise to a stamp depicting the Skyline Gondola entwined with New Zealand-influenced Chinese lanterns.

A night out for a Swedish tourist ended with a 7am phone call to police when she found herself locked in a Queenstown bar after she fell asleep in the toilets.

In the middle of summer, the Queenstown Lakes District Council is urging residents to think about winter and harvest firewood washed up on Lake Wakatipu's shore after the recent heavy rain. Masses of driftwood that had come ashore would make great firewood, QLDC communications manager Meaghan Miller said.

Cast members (from back) Bonnie Stewart, Andrew Edgar, Rebecca Curran and Sam Farr prepare to bend storylines as the Remarkables Theatre gears up to present Twisted Tales in the Queenstown Gardens.

On average, the Queenstown national sevens has given $45,000 per annum back to the local community during the past nine years.

A bumper Christmas and New Year period for accommodation providers in Queenstown has given way to a slower pace, but the upcoming Chinese New Year, major sporting events and concerts are expected to turn that around in February.