Tracey Roxburgh

It has been a hectic year for Queenstown-based business Patagonia, which has been tantalising the tastebuds of locals and visitors to the resort for the past five years with hot chocolate, chocolate and ice cream, which can now be called award-winning.

In less than a month, all commercial jet-boat drivers operating on rivers will be required to have a driver's licence, and operators will be required to establish programmes of regular driver "competency checks", a move being welcomed by KJet director Shaun Kelly.

Owners of a Central Otago vineyard are charging their glasses after learning a bottle of their wine has been sold for one of the highest prices paid for a bottle of New Zealand wine.

Concept plans for the Queenstown Lakes District Council's proposed Earnslaw Park upgrade have been released to allow for community feedback.

Ice-skating, baking, singing and dancing have kept about 80 children involved in Lakes Leisure's school holiday programme busy this week.

Shotover Jet river operations manager Wayne Paton holds an example of the ice accumulated on the banks and flowing fast down Shotover River at Arthurs Point on Monday which postponed jet-boat tourism at the start of the school holidays.

Queenstown children involved in Lakes Leisure's holiday programme will be treated to a special opportunity next week, giving them a first-hand insight into what it is like to compete at the Olympic Games.

A poular Arrowtown cafe is diversifying, extending its opening hours and catering to a perceived gap in the market for diners.

The 25th commercial harvest at Gibbston Valley Winery will produce an "outstanding" 2012 vintage, thanks to a "dream run" of summer and autumn weather.

A pioneering hotel near Coronet Peak which was placed in voluntary liquidation in December is on the market.

Following one of the most inappropriate events during this year's Queenstown Winter Festival, it was fitting Miss Inappropriate, also known as Mark Wilson, was crowned the winner of the 2012 Drag Race.

Rain failed to dampen the spirits of hundreds of people who lined the "blue carpet" in Queenstown's Ballarat St mall on Saturday night to see the stars of Ice Age 4: Continental Drift.

After two days of unsettled weather, Queenstown was bathed in sunshine yesterday, with snowcapped mountains providing the perfect backdrop for the second full day of Queenstown Winter Festival action.

Queenstown police are seeking witnesses to a serious crash on State Highway 6, near Glenda Dr, on Friday night.