The cemetery resembled a bomb site on September 22, when heavy rain led to mud and logs finding their way down Bobs Peak into the cemetery, wrecking gravestones and tearing up the ground.
But by yesterday, thanks to the work of many, the cemetery reopened.
Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Glyn Lewers said he could sleep a bit easier now, having managed to get the cemetery back open.
He paid tribute to Ngāi Tahu and all the contractors who had worked on the cemetery restoration.
It had been a massive effort and some great teamwork had been carried out by all those involved, he said.
It was quite a confronting sight back in September when the rains came and the first job was to make the site safe, he said. He did not have to encourage the workers much as they were keen to get the job done.
It was great to get the cemetery open before Christmas, he said.
The job involved removing 800 tonnes of soil and debris by hand and in bags. All the gravestones were stabilised and the water which was running through the cemetery had to be diverted.
Logs which had been brought down into the cemetery by the rain had to be cleared.
In all, 207 of the 1643 plots in the cemetery were affected.
The affected part of the cemetery will close again temporarily in mid-January so grass can be sown and to ensure safety while forestry clearance work resumes up the hill.
A large-scale operation to remove forestry debris from the front face of Bobs Peak is under way. That is expected to take several months.
A debris fence is being installed above Reavers Lane, where excavated fill travelled down the catchment and into a stormwater culvert.
