Queenstown turned on one of its perfect autumn days for today's Anzac Day memorial service and parade.
About 500 people gathered at the Memorial Gates, on the edge of Lake Wakatipu, under sunny blue skies, many of them joining in the parade behind the official party as it wove its way through the central business district to the Memorial Hall.
There was standing room only in the hall during a half hour service conducted by Rev Keith Reddell, pastor of the Queenstown Baptist Church.
Queenstown RSA immediate past president Phil Weill spoke on behalf of president Dave Geddes, who is in Gallipoli, whilee the guest speaker was Tony Harrison, chaplain of the 4th Otago-Southland Battalion Group and a parish priest in Queenstown.
After the service the crowd moved out of the hall for the laying of wreaths by the official.party while old soldiers and members of the public, young and old, placed their poppies beside the wreaths.
The Last Post was played by Jamie Rule, a 24-year-old from Ipswich, Queensland, who is visiting the town as part of the Covenant Players, a christian theatre group.
Senior firefighter Lyall McGregor, vice president of the Queenstown RSA and Anzac Day co-ordinator, said he was thrilled with another good turnout.
" It's been going up and up every year. I couldn't be happier,'' he said.
The morning concluded with a double flyover by a 1944 P51 Mustang, from Wanaka Warbirds, flown by owner Robert Brock.
