Winter Festival gets under way
The silent paddle of three waka across Lake Wakatipu into Queenstown Bay at dusk heralded the opening of the 43rd Queenstown Winter Festival.
Greeting them were 200 people carrying fire torches, kaumatua Michael Skerrett, his wife Winsome and Queenstown Lakes mayor Jim Boult.
A haka and powhiri took place before the crowd of more than 2000 people dispersed to begin taking part in the annual celebration of winter.
Some headed toward musician Tiki Taane, performing on the Bath House stage – a new location for the festival’s main stage on Queenstown Bay.
Nearby, a rail jam got under way, an event not seen in central Queenstown for some years.
Mountains of snow were carried from Cardrona and dumped in central Queenstown to allow 16 ‘‘Legends of Steel’’ snowboarders and skiers show off some of their best tricks.
The two teams were championed by Olympic bronze medallists Nico Porteous and Zoi Sadowski-Synnott and included rookies competing for a spot.
The events last night were the first during four days of Real Journeys Queenstown Winter Festival events.
Others include the popular fireworks display tonight, dog derby and dog barking at Cardrona skifield, comedy shows, a Viva le Cirque Ball, the crazy Birdman and Undy 500 events and a free concert by The Feelers and The Black Seeds on Sunday.