A giant whale with a glistening city on its back played centre stage at the most successful Dunedin Midwinter Carnival yet.
Mild weather and the carnival's growing reputation contributed to an estimated crowd of between 15,000 and 18,000 on Saturday night - the biggest yet for the 19-year-old event.
Performers carrying a variety of space-themed lanterns including UFOs, stars, rockets and moons paraded with more than 800 marchers through the packed area.
The heavy drums of the Mosgiel Brass Band marked the beginning of an underwater chapter of the parade, which included the giant whale and a team of children dressed as jellyfish.
The whale had a city on its back and those who looked closely would have noticed the glistening city included miniature versions of Dunedin's St Paul's Cathedral and Municipal Chambers.
Carnival artistic director Juliet Novena Sorrel said everything went to plan and she and the other organisers were "absolutely delighted'' with the performers, the turnout and the artwork created by the carnival's art team.
"It was an all-round success and the weather was just amazing,'' Ms Novena Sorrel said.
The whale was inspired by science fiction, including Dr Who, and fitted with the carnival's surreal "future worlds'' theme.
