Some of the finest restaurants in Queenstown are donating dinners for eight people to help raise $15,000 for Ronald McDonald House, in Christchurch, on September 9.
The inaugural Ronald McDonald House South Island Supper Club Queenstown 2009 event offers a three-course meal, plus tea and coffee, for a party of eight at one of six top restaurants in the resort, but the party will not know which one until the night.
Diners will begin their evening at a cocktail function at the Skyline Gondola at 6pm. A short auction of South Island accommodation and wine packages, plus mystery balloons containing notes for spot prizes will be on sale for $20 to $200 during the cocktail reception.
After about two hours, a draw will be made and a restaurant announced for each party.
ThreeSixty at the Crowne Plaza, Eichardt's House Bar, Wai Waterfront Restaurant, Bella Cucina Italian Restaurant, The Bathhouse, Tatler Restaurant and Bar, Gantleys Restaurant and Botswana Butchery are participating in the supper club and other eateries are encouraged to join in.
Diners will either walk or travel by complementary taxis from the Skyline Gondola to the restaurants. A post-dinner function will be held at Barmuda, on Searle Ln.
Ronald McDonald House communications manager Rose Crossland, of Christchurch, said the charity had wanted to bring the supper club to Wakatipu for some time.
Diners knew they would enjoy a lovely meal, but did not know where, which added "excitement and mystery" to the night, she said.
"When I started the supper club in Christchurch three years ago, I started with 12 tables and now we're up to 30 tables and a waiting list of people desperate to come.
"We're really hoping it will be a big hit in Queenstown and that it will happen every year."
Tables are bought for $800 each and all of the money goes to the Ronald McDonald House. Beverages are bought by diners from the venues on the night.
Mrs Crossland said more than 100 families from the Queenstown Lakes district had stayed at least once at Ronald McDonald House while they supported young patients in Christchurch Hospital.
• Residents interested in purchasing a table are asked to contact Ronald McDonald House South Island fundraising manager Lydia Hemingway on (03) 377-3311, extension 702.
