James Beech

An extra 37,000 passengers a year will fly directly from Australia to Queenstown in Jetstar's latest expansion of its New Zealand operations.

The Queenstown Jazz Orchestra was given a standing ovation by more than 120 music fans at a fundraising concert which demonstrated their fine tuning under the baton of maestro Rodger Fox.

Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch investigated the Wakatipu adrenaline-fuelled activities for himself and had nothing but praise for skydiving in Glenorchy.

Soul funk outfit the Alpine Effect, grizzled rock shredders the Collective Me and veteran rock upstarts the Fletcherz secured their places in the grand final of the 2012 Ultimate Battle of the Musos by the end of the first heat on Friday night.

A dedicated Queenstown environmentalist is one of three finalists in the Department of Conservation (Doc) annual Inland Otago Conservation Awards, to be presented in Cromwell tomorrow night.

Queenstown Resort College winning Provider of the Year for the first time is a boost for the resort's entire education sector, college chief executive Charlie Phillips says.

One of the longest-serving members of the teaching staff at Queenstown's secondary school has announced his resignation as deputy principal after 20 years in the role.

Jazz maestro Rodger Fox (left) gave a masterclass in style and improvisation to young musicians from both Wakatipu High School and Mt Aspiring College, Wanaka, in the new music suite of the Queenstown school yesterday.

Sergeant Blair Duffy, of Queenstown, takes notes on an incident in which an old Subaru car driven by a 17-year-old Queenstown youth rolled about 1km up Coronet Peak Rd yesterday.

Stopping wilding pines from taking over Queenstown's landscape is just one aspect of Fran O'Connor's conservation work. James Beech asks the Inland Otago Conservation Award finalist what motivates her.

Entries are open for the popular Patagonia 8hrs@Jacks multi-lap relay mountain bike event on the new later date of December 8.

Advertisements featuring Queenstown and Southern Lakes beauty spots which star in an international Hobbit inspired promotion for New Zealand, have been watched more than 500,000 times and counting.

Tickets for the third annual summer concert in Gibbston, this year starring Pat Benatar, go on sale on September 24 and Wakatipu residents are eligible for a discount.

Up and coming musical talent will rock the Wakatipu when the first heat of the Ultimate Battle of the Musos 2012 is held tonight, organised and hosted by the Youth Booth for the fifth year.

The psychic medium interviewed in the 20/20 segment "Something About Sue" last week and who features in Sensing Murder will seek "Answers From the Other Side" in Arrowtown next month.

Former Destination Queenstown chief executive Tony Everitt is lined up as one of the guest speakers in a workshop in Queenstown for businesses with an interest in Chinese and halal tourism.