Crew members of TSS Earnslaw say there were "disgusted" to be confronted with the worst case of vandalism against Queenstown's historic steamship in the past 12 months.
Days of wine and rivets are coming to TSS Earnslaw this season with the release of a special award-winning wine for the vintage Queenstown steamship's centenary.
Real Journeys has praised staff and contractors for their "extraordinary, absolutely incredible" work as TSS Earnslaw returned to service yesterday after eight weeks of survey work, costing more than $1 million.
He has inspected the ship every year since then and now, as he retires from the post, the "Lady of the Lake" is in great shape for its centenary. James Beech asked him about the vessel's transformation.
The owner-operator and survey team of the TSS Earnslaw say they are confident the "Lady of the Lake" will ply the waters of Lake Wakatipu again on Saturday, July 14, two weeks later than originally planned.
Queenstown's vintage "Lady of the Lake" may need a little extra tender loving care during her centennial survey after original steel plating beneath timber decking was found to be more corroded than thought.
It may take five intensive weeks of work, up to 40 staff and about $500,000, but it is very important the "Lady of the Lake" looks her best for her public in her centenary year.
TSS Earnslaw, Queenstown's popular tourist transport, was winched out of Lake Wakatipu yesterday to begin five weeks of inspections and maintenance before its centennial celebrations in October.
Relatives of shipwright Jimmy Alcorn, who worked as a foreman builder in the construction of TSS Earnslaw, say they will be on board with other descendants from around New Zealand when the "Lady of the Lake" sails from Kingston to Queenstown later this year.
Queenstown revellers will try to Save the Titanic by finding its saboteur on board the historic steamship Earnslaw on Saturday, 100 years to the day after the "unsinkable" luxury passenger liner struck an iceberg and later sank in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Managers of Queenstown's historic TSS Earnslaw steamer are sick of curious and drunk night-time intruders boarding the ship - and are promising to prosecute any trespassers.
One hundred years ago today, the hull of TSS Earnslaw - also known as the Lady of the Lake - was launched in Kingston.
Jigsaw Central Lakes is $1120 better off after it received on Friday the proceeds of the special 99th anniversary TSS Earnslaw cruise in October.
TSS Earnslaw took 113 seniors plus grandchildren, visitors and fans of the historic steam ship on a 90-minute cruise from Steamer Wharf yesterday.
A concession for senior Wakatipu residents to cruise on the TSS Earnslaw for her 99th birthday will start the countdown to the week-long centenary celebrations for the historic Queenstown steamship.
Photo by Real Journeys.
TSS Earnslaw will be back in action on Lake Wakatipu from Monday, with its annual maintenance and survey nearing completion.
This year Earnslaw underwent an eight-week programme, which cost about $500,000. The biggest job was replacing 950m of its decking.
Queenstown's grand old lady of the lake will by summer 2012 face its first major competition with consent granted to the Milford Sound-based operators for a 26m vessel to take trips to Mt Nicholas Station.
Real Journeys is searching for stories, photographs and memorabilia about TSS Earnslaw in preparation for the Wakatipu steamship's centenary celebrations next year.
It took a global internet search, six months of battling and a few anxious moments, but Real Journeys has found a new dragon for TSS Earnslaw.
Skippers, engineers, stokers and other former staff of the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw will be invited to join the party for the Lady of the Lake's centenary in 2012.