Thousands of young revellers poured into the small Dunedin street in the city's student quarter for the annual Hyde St party on Saturday.
They came as lightsabre-waving Jedi and Baywatch surf life-savers clutching flotation devices, or as various sorts of fairies, tie-dyed hippies and construction workers.
Military personnel were spotted manoeuvring in the street, while an entire cricket team decked out in whites played outside a flat dubbed the Hydely Oval.
They soon lost their ball, thrashed away into a growing crowd that included R2D2, C-3PO and the Tin Man.
And, as they demanded the ball's return, the Joker grimaced at a photographer's camera and Jesus looked on serenely.
By midmorning, the first revellers were showing signs they might not make it to the end of the big day ahead, and by late afternoon five people had left Hyde St in an ambulance, headed for Dunedin Hospital.
But, far from the broken bottles, riots or roof collapses of the past, this year's event passed without major incident.
Instead, flats turned over to DJs pumped out music while an estimated 3600 students danced in the street, smiled and laughed, and, of course, drank alcohol.
For Rotorua-born student Soltice Morrison (21), perched on the front veranda of a Hyde St flat, the annual party showed off the university lifestyle at its best.
''It's a great social event. People go to great lengths to find awesome costumes.
''This is like culminating the Otago student life in one day, in a safe and controlled environment,'' she said.
Hyde St resident and marketing student Cody McIlroy (22) agreed, saying it was a chance to enjoy the company of friends at a big event before the final year of their studies was over.
''Any chance for a good dress-up is awesome. That's what it's about - it's really, really cool,'' he said.
