NEAR AND FAR

Over the course of a week, the hills and streets of Wānaka will be alive with the sound of music, laughter, and riotous applause as the biennial Wānaka Festival of Colour returns. Set against the stage of the Southern Lakes in autumn finery, the festival brings to the region the very best in dance, music, theatre, and cabaret for a celebration of the arts. The Wānaka Festival of Colour takes place in and around Wānaka from 26 March to 2 April 2023. The full programme will be released on 30 January, and tickets will be available from 8.30am on 3 February. festivalofcolour.co.nz oranawildlifepark.co.nz archiebrothers.co.nz arrowtown.com

New life abounds at Aotearoa’s only open-range zoo, Orana Wildlife Park. In December, a baby giraffe took his first steps. Named Kevin, the calf was born to first-time mother Kamili. He is just the latest addition thanks to the park’s conservation and education efforts which have provided refuge for many exotic and native threatened and endangered species, like gorillas, kiwi, and endemic reptiles.

Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq is the place where you can get a strike, a hole in one, and kill aliens from Mars all the while sipping on a cocktail and enjoying fresh fare.

Arrowtown, the winner of NZ’s Most Beautiful Small Town 2020, is a charming and character-rich gold rush village nestled beside the pristine Arrow river and below magnificent mountain peaks. Just 20 minutes from Queenstown Airport, it’s the perfect place to stay while exploring the region. Arrowtown is a thriving community that is packed with character and some of the best dining and shopping in the country. You’ll be enchanted by the heritage main street and historically listed buildings, the world-class walking and biking trails, its creative heart of galleries, and one of the best museums in the area.