Tourists get into the swim

Summer holidaymakers have well and truly arrived in Wanaka and Queenstown, with hundreds of people flocking to their favourite watering holes and seeking relief from the district’s scorching summer heat.

A Christmas Day ‘‘orphans party’’ in Queenstown and a ‘‘party’’ on Ruby Island on Wednesday have passed without major incidents, but local leaders are keeping a close eye on proceedings.

Queenstown Lakes mayor Jim Boult has already promised a review of public liquor bans after the orphan’s party attracted 1000 revellers.

The Ruby Island ‘‘party’’ went without a hitch this year, harbourmaster Marty Black said.

Last year, up to 500 people went to the ‘‘party’’ with many intoxicated people having to be escorted from the island by the Coastguard.

Ruby Island management committee spokeswoman Jude Battson is warning anyone thinking of using the island as a New Year’s Eve party base to think again.

‘‘Don’t bring alcohol, don’t light any flame at all ... any type of cigarette,’’ she told Radio New Zealand.

‘‘Enjoy it for a walk around, it’s a great place to have a barbeque [and] go for a swim.’’

Black said the only ‘‘trouble’’ on the water so far this summer holiday season occurred on the Clutha River, where a father and three children were reprimanded for attempting to go down the river from Wanaka to Albert Town on sit-on-top kayaks, without life jackets.

‘‘It’s all been good, except from some wayward Aucklanders on the Clutha River.’’

Thousands are expected to attend the Rhythm & Alps festival at Cardrona and the Top Paddock country music festival at Lake Hawea at the weekend.

There are also two public street parties on Queenstown and Wanaka lakefronts tomorrow night.