Joe Dodgshun

Queenstown is set to get even chillier next month with the opening of a new ice bar, believed to be the biggest in the southern hemisphere.

Cure Kids youngsters (front, from left) Isobella Kloogh (15), of Dunedin, Dylan Booth (13), of Mosgiel, and Moneka Prasad (14), of Dunedin, cooked pancakes in Queenstown on Saturday, which were judged by MasterChef New Zealand winner Nadia Lim (rear, left) and The Almighty Johnsons star Ben Barrington (rear, right).

Hundreds of parents and tots turned out to Arrowtown Plunket's annual Trash and Treasure sale at the Athenaeum Hall on Saturday, with foot-traffic inside the hall coming almost to a standstill as bargain-hunters sought out pre-loved goods.

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.

The lack of snow is not fazing New Zealand alpine ski team member Adam Barwood, who says he has plenty of off-mountain work to do while waiting for the white stuff.

Responding to an urban design study criticising Lake Hayes Estate, the subdivision's community association has spoken out in support of the development.

As of last Monday, there is a new car in Queenstown taxi ranks, catering for the environmentally minded with a growing fleet of Toyota Prius petrol-electric hybrid cars.

TSS Earnslaw sits under wraps while contractors replace the 1950s foredeck timbers before the steamer's 100th birthday next year.

Lake Wakatipu's TSS Earnslaw is taking a well-deserved rest for maintenance leading up to the steamer's 100th anniversary in October next year.

Lake Hayes Estate is a "major urban design concern", an urban design critique of Queenstown Lake District's subdivisions has found.

Bass-loving investors could be in for a treat, with Queenstown's only purpose-built, sound-proofed underground nightclub, Subculture, officially on the market.

Fundraising will be a matter of fire and ice during this year's Queenstown Winter Festival, as firefighters attempt to ski as many runs as possible in full firefighting attire.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council is confident the Government's proposed Freedom Camping Bill will be passed in time to bring tougher fines before the Rugby World Cup starts.

Police are backing a tendered closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) network as a means to combat growing late-night violent crime in Queenstown's central business district.

A selection of New Zealand's best musical talent is set to rock the Queenstown Events Centre this August for the Burton New Zealand Snowboarding Open after-party.