The new kid on the block, which has been waiting patiently at the docks since its arrival on Lake Wakatipu in August, is unable to be launched for its maiden cruise this morning as planned.
Southern Discoveries marketing manager Anita Golden said she could only cite ''operational issues'' for the postponement of launching the Spirit of Queenstown catamaran as the details were sensitive.
Asked if the delay involved issues with certification, she declined to comment, saying only that the new launch date for passengers would ''definitely'' be before the end of the year.
''It [the new date] won't be far away.
''We should have a much, much better idea in the next couple of days.''
The Spirit of Queenstown was purpose-built in Australia and sailed across the Tasman to New Zealand before making its way to Lake Wakatipu from Bluff to Kingston by road atop an oversized truck.
It then cruised to O'Regans Wharf in Queenstown Bay, where it is now docked.
The $4 million catamaran is part of Southern Discoveries' latest venture and destined to take up to 150 passengers per trip to Mt Nicholas Station.
Last week, Ms Golden said recent wet weather had hampered work at the station but ''we are very, very close''.
The catamaran's summer cruise schedule was to begin tomorrow but pre-bookings have had to be stopped.
The Spirit of Queenstown has an enclosed area with seats, a cafe and bar and a sheltered open top deck.
A statement from Southern Discoveries last week said in late November the company would be opening the next stage of its Queenstown tourism product range, including activities at Mt Nicholas Station.
