The Challenge Wanaka Swim the Course event yesterday attracted at least 265 swimmers, believed to be the largest field to have participated in the fun swim in the event's six-year history.
Triathlete Simone Maier promises to be dancing on her bike during Saturday's 226km Challenge Wanaka and hopes locals will dance in the streets in support.
More than 270 junior triathletes triumphed over rough lake conditions yesterday morning and romped home in the Puzzling World Junior Challenge Wanaka.
Wanaka is abuzz with activity as junior triathletes prepare for the opening of the Challenge Wanaka festival tomorrow.
Wanaka triathlete Tony Dodds is ready to take on his New Zealand team-mates and internationals at the Contact Cup in Wanaka on Friday, but his competition is ramping up the (friendly) trash talk.
Wanaka swimmers Tane Duncan and Kenzie Findlay are on a mission for personal bests at the Otago championships in Dunedin this month.
A change of lifestyle has seen a former West Otago farmer swap deer for worms. Marjorie Cook finds out how going back to the good life has worked for Lloyd Thayer.
The cause of Thursday's early morning vegetation fire on Mt Iron is still being investigated, but the Department of Conservation believes it was not deliberately lit.
New Bevan St residents Jacque and Mike Regal say their neighbours gave them the "warmest welcome yet" to Wanaka at 4.30am Thursday as they stood shaking hands in the street in their underwear, while fire raged around them.
Izze Richardson (80) of Wakari, Dunedin has been holidaying in the Albert Town Recreational Reserve since 1971, when she and her late husband Stewart first created a caravan niche among rosehips and briar.
Freedom camping at Waterfall Creek, just 2km from Wanaka's town boundary and close to several commercial camping grounds, has angered Wanaka businessmen Richard Hutchison and Barry Bruce.
Tinder-dry conditions in the Queenstown Lakes district have prompted a total ban on all fires, including previously permitted fires, from midnight tomorrow.
A Maritime New Zealand report says Trevor Hawke was wearing an inflatable life jacket back to front and the carbon dioxide (CO2) cylinder was not positioned correctly inside the garment when he fell from his yacht into Lake Wanaka on November 17.
This summer, the Lake Hawea Holiday Park has been full of people escaping Christchurch earthquakes and liquefaction.
A single-car crash outside the Lone Star Restaurant on Cardrona Valley Rd yesterday caused minor injuries to the tourist occupants.
Circus Aotearoa opened its summer tour of Otago at Wanaka's showgrounds recreational reserve on Friday, unveiling the talents of former Circo Arts students from Christchurch Polytechnic.
What were you doing at 12.30pm yesterday? Chances are you were like hundreds of others throughout the region, out and about enjoying a brilliant Otago summer's day. On the dot of 12.30pm, Otago Daily Times reporters spoke to a handful of people about what brought them to their particular location. Here are their stories.
Wellington tramper Michael Gillard Taylor (60) died in a fall on December 31 while climbing Mt Twilight (2179m) in the Mt Aspiring National Park, Wanaka police confirmed yesterday.
New Zealand barrel racing champion Angie Perkins, of Wanaka, was thrilled to win her event in front of a large and supportive home crowd at Wanaka Rodeo's new arena yesterday.
Wanaka and Lake Hawea turned on a scorcher of a weekend for New Year's Eve revellers.
