Tracey Roxburgh

A Hong Kong couple escaped injury yesterday afternoon when their rental vehicle left the road and plunged about 50m down a bank on the Queenstown-Glenorchy Rd.

Within 24 hours of opening, the Queenstown Lakeview Holiday Park's youth park was expected to reach its capacity of 1500 last night.

At 12.23pm yesterday in the Queenstown Mall, Jim ''The Balloon Guy'' Sheard was hard at work, blowing up balloons and making them into all manner of animals for passers-by.

Making the most of the Boxing Day sun and the last drinks on Queenstown Beach, known locally as Bikini Beach, are British tourists, from left, Jack Baker, of Brighton, Abby Farrand, of Leeds, Richard Simpson, of Preston, Jade Baker, of Brighton, Mark Atkins and Richard Hurst, both of North Kilworth.

''Ten-one all units, keep an eye out for a rental vehicle ... heading towards Queenstown. Reports it's crossing over the centre line and travelled some distance on the wrong side of the road.''

Christmas arrived early for Queenstown and Wanaka tourism operators, who have been granted their biggest wish by the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand.

An anonymous benefactor has struck again in Queenstown, this time funding a ''static kinetic sculpture'' beside Lake Wakatipu.

Amended rental vehicle agreement forms; increased communication between rental car companies; a website dedicated to driving in New Zealand; and a nationwide roll-out of steering wheel tags are among measures to help keep drivers safe.

A proposed upgrade of Wanaka's community pool appears to be off the table and the Queenstown Lakes District Council has instead agreed to bring forward the design of a new pool development at Three Parks.

Despite a long-held desire to create an international event in the New Zealand Open, next year's tournament will have a distinctly local feel.

Police have been asked to monitor alcohol-related crime and disorder in the Queenstown Lakes district to give more weight to future reviews of the Alcohol Ban Bylaw.

Proposals to reduce speed limits in the Queenstown CBD and close Buckingham St to traffic between 11am and 4pm have been rejected by a Queenstown Lakes District Council senior engineer.

An Auckland teenager is getting a taste of his future this week during the St Kilda Saints AFL team's 10-day high performance camp in Queenstown.

Sammy Fookes may have the thin blue line in her blood, but the 9-year-old has other career plans in mind.

Fireworks, a silk performer, Santa Claus, men in tutus, Christmas carols and some of the biggest hit songs from the past two years proved a winning combination in Queenstown on Saturday night.

Summer finally arrived in Wakatipu yesterday, coinciding with the third annual Arrowtown Long Lunch, held on Buckingham St.