The sensational Winter Festival in Queenstown has acquired the reputation of being one of the most extravagant winter parties in the entire southern hemisphere. The American Express Winter Festival as it is now known promises a great time for everyone, celebrating Queenstown’s unique culture and heritage with fireworks, street parties, performances by local and international artistes with comedy and jazz features, a ball, a Mardi Gras and the well known Mountain Mayhem events. In town you will also see drag races, food and wine specialties, birdman action, street parades, and a charity boxing contest. Meanwhile in the adjacent mountains there is plenty of excitement with skiing and snowboarding, ski races and dog races. No less than 45,000 people turn up for the joyous celebrations.

The history of the Queenstown Winter Festival stretches back to 1975 when a group of enthusiastic locals decided to observe the onset of winter with great fervour and merry-making. They arranged various competitions such as races in town and on the mountain, treats for children, a selection of beers for the adults, an expansive ball and a number of concerts. In subsequent years the fame of the festival grew steadily attracting an ever increasing number of revellers. 

Queenstown is well known as a delightfully picturesque area with mesmerizing landscapes and scenery. Located in New Zealand’s South Island, the region is renowned as one of the most attractive locations in the nation. Situated on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, the town is encircled by the Southern Alps; perhaps the most spectacular aspect of the surrounding scenery is the captivating Remarkables, a range of jagged scenic mountains.