Changes brought about to breathe new life into New Zealand's Speight's Coast to Coast have proved to be a hit, with a huge surge in competitor numbers.
Twenty-four hour sunlight, -35degC temperatures, limited technology and weird and wonderful wildlife are among the more unusual aspects of life in the Antarctic, which Luggate builder Darryn Slee is adjusting to during his 13-month stint on the continent.
Work started this week on a whisky distillery, perfumery and museum development in the Cardrona Valley.
Mock firefighting drills at Scouts came in handy for teenager Josh Fluit when he was among the first on the scene of an out-of-control grass fire yesterday.
If the queues running the full length of the aisles of Wanaka New World were not evidence enough of the huge number of holidaymakers in the resort this summer, the one tonne of sausages sold at Mediterranean Market surely was.
The Otago Rural Fire Authority has asked farmers to carry out their farming activities earlier in the day after mowers caused two large grass fires at Luggate and Tarras on Tuesday afternoon.
Already considered a ''master'' by his peers and the New Zealand aviation industry, Wanaka pilot Simon Spencer-Bower has been acclaimed internationally as one of the world's best helicopter flight instructors.
Police have backed down on plans to remove Wanaka's senior sergeant position following consultation on a proposed restructuring of the Otago rural policing area.
A Queenstown jet-boat operator says it is ''pulling our hair out'' trying to find out how one of its boats hit a rock, injuring six tourists, in the second such incident in three months.
For almost three decades Bev Cason has ploughed a furrow for the Lake County A&P Society.
The Mainland Eagles women have had a successful start to their tour of the United States, boasting a 5-3 record and finishing second in the Green Valley Christmas tournament.
A tiny brown cabin in the centre of a paddock in Luggate has played host to many family gatherings. Lucy Ibbotson talks to its owners about what has kept it in the family all these years.
In April 1871 the Lake Wakatip Mail carried an article about the first show held by the Wakatip Agricultural and Pastoral Association - described as ''an epoch in the history of the district which will advance no insignificant influence in advancing agricultural interest''.
ODT Online correspondent Jeff Cheshire writes of his experience with depression.
Police are now routinely asking the public to catch poor and dangerous driving on camera.
Thrivers, rather than survivors, is how Wanaka woman Maria Fredatovich wants herself and other young people recovering from strokes to be described.
The weather gods didn't favour us on New Year's Eve. No matter. I had an excellent view of the Octagon fireworks from my window and they were noisy, Baroque and expressive.
The increasingly dry, unkempt condition of Wanaka's Allenby Park has angered neighbours, who say the Queenstown Lakes District Council's obligations under its reserves management plan are being ignored.
The immense popularity of the Hawea Picnic Races showed no sign of waning yesterday, more than 70 years on from the event's inception.
A few beers to lubricate the vocal chords is key to Gary Smart's success as commentator at the annual Hawea Picnic Races, he says.
