Right now, there are scores of workers across the globe staring vacantly out of their office windows, oblivious to the drool dripping down their tie, breathing heavily as they absently give in to their daydreams. Their body may be there, but their mind is far away, usually somewhere sunny, perhaps with a beach. Less common are the head-drooping voids filled with visions of shivers and snow, longings for the year’s darkest months. These are the thoughts that belong to the people for whom the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival exists.
36 years ago, in accordance with their hedonistic heritage, an inspired group of Queenstown locals decided the beginning of winter was a good enough reason to throw a party, and the first Winter Festival was born. It was ‘an excuse to get locals out from underneath their duvets during what was traditionally a pretty quiet time of year,’ Simon Green, the festival’s Director, says.
Since then, the event has grown year upon year and news of the festival has spread across the globe, attracting ever more visitors in the process. This year, 45,000 people will attend the 10-day celebration at the foot of New Zealand’s Remarkables mountain range, which Green proudly proclaims to be ‘the biggest winter party in the southern hemisphere.’
And what can revellers expect to see?
‘The festival team works hard each year to keep the programme fresh and sexy,’ apparently, which means this year you can look forward to ‘a magical outdoor ice skating rink in Queenstown’s CBD [and] our biggest fireworks display on opening night (Friday 24 June), alongside exciting new programmed events such as the Firefighter Chill Factor Challenge, AJ Hackett’s CycloCross Championships, a Burlesque themed Masquerade Ball and dining events at the brand new Hilton Hotel.’ Add this to the usual selection of street parties, music concerts and comedy shows, along with a Mardi Gras parade and an Invitational Slopestyle event, and you can be sure that no visitor will run out of things to do.
It’s easy to become overwhelmed by such a packed itinerary, but those attending the Winter Festival for the first time should stay calm and concentrate on simply getting ‘amongst as many events as possible [to] soak up Queenstown’s electric vibe.’ Green adds that ‘out of the 50 scheduled events, 32 are absolutely free and 16 require tickets,’ which means thrifty festivalgoers can retain their pennies, and the festival is open to all.
So what are you waiting for? All that’s left is to book flights and turn up when the festival opens on 24 June, a date that renders the festival’s slogan, Winter Starts Here, somewhat inaccurate (strictly speaking, winter in the southern hemisphere begins on 1 June).
If you are going to head all the way to Queenstown for the Winter Festival, you mustn’t miss the opportunity to take a gondola ride up Bob’s Peak. Once at the summit, you’ll breath will be stolen by the expansive views that span the town and mountainous backdrop. Alternatively, to get a truly bird’s eye view of the area, take to the skies in a tandem paraglide. Those able to stomach a flight before 9am can enjoy an ‘early bird special’ deal – $169 instead of $199 – with G Force Paragliding.palomarmedical
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