Central Otago

With the 2010 FIS Snowboard and Freestyle Junior World Champs over, elite junior winter sports athletes from around the world are packing their bags – but many will leave with high hopes of returning.

The change of seasons marks a special time in Arrowtown's calendar - the Arrowtown Autumn Festival commemorating the town’s pioneering history and natural beauty.

Already considered the tourism jewel of New Zealand’s South Island – Queenstown has now been crowned top spot for TV commercials with a bumper number of big-budget shoots in the region this year.

Kiwi golfers missed out on top placings in the Michael Hill New Zealand Open yesterday (15.03.09), but the dramatic local scenery of mountains, lake and tussock hills provided a breath-taking backdrop to the final rounds.

Top international snow and ice sports athletes are due to descend on New Zealand’s Southern Alps this winter, for 16 days of cool action in the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games.

Snow has been falling thick and fast in New Zealand in an unseasonably early arrival that spells good news for winter sports enthusiasts.

New Zealand's focus is turning to cooler times as the country’s top skiers ready for the Winter Olympics and the ski industry begins its early-bird marketing campaign.

New Zealand's southern winter slopes are a-buzz with high adrenalin activity as international snow and ice sports stars take their places for the second 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games.

A British couple from Hong Kong, on honeymoon in New Zealand, have paid what is believed to be a record price for a bottle of the country’s fine wine – shelling out NZ$1000 for a Gibbston Valley Wines 2000 Pinot Noir.

Kiwis love pies – they’re an iconic national food – but spare a thought for judges of this year’s bid to find New Zealand’s top pie baker as they chomp through a record 4336 entries.