Queenstown summer/autumn key event listings (Feb-May 2012)

Creedence Clearwater Revisited Summer Tour – 5 February
Rock legends Creedence Clearwater Revisited, formed from the original supergroup Creedence Clearwater Revival, return to Queenstown in February after last year’s hit concert. The gig, to be held at Queenstown Events Centre, will featuring hits like Proud Mary, Bad Moon Rising, Green River, Travelin’ Band, Lookin’ Out My Back Door, Suzie Q, Down on the Corner, Fortunate Son, and Who’ll Stop the Rain. www.ticketek.co.nz

More FM Summer Vineyard Tour – 9 February
Each year the More FM Summer Vineyard Tour takes hot international acts on tour to perform at beautiful vineyards around New Zealand. Headlining the 2012 tour are legendary Australian roots band the John Butler Trio and funky American soul singer Aloe Blacc & The Grand Scheme who’s back after recent sell-out shows and top 40 chart success in New Zealand. Kiwi pop-sweetheart Annabel Fay also joins the lineup off the back of a stint in the US. The Queenstown concert will be held at Peregrine Wines in Gibbston. www.summervineyardtour.co.nz

Gibbston Valley Winery Summer Concert – 11 February
Legendary international rock bands the Doobie Brothers and Little River Band will perform all their greatest hits against the stunning backdrop of the Kawarau River at Gibbston Valley Station, next to one of Central Otago’s most internationally recognized vineyards. With performances spanning the ‘70s and ‘80s until today, the Doobie Brothers have enjoyed broad appeal, with hits such as ‘Listen to the Music’, ‘Long Train Runnin’’, and ‘What a Fool Believes’. Little River Band, often considered to be one of Australia’s most significant bands, has also had chart success through the last three decades with classics including ‘Cool Change’, ‘The Other Guy’, and ‘Take it Easy On Me’. www.gibbstonvalleynz.com

Summer Playground Series – 15 January – 1 April
Every second Sunday from 15 January until 1 April, see some of New Zealand’s best musicians in the stunning setting of The Winehouse in the premier winegrowing region of Gibbston valley. Audiences will be treated to performances from Greg Johnson (15 Jan), Barry Saunders & Lindon Puffin (29 Jan), Jason Kerrison (12 Feb), Hollie Smith (4 Mar), Anika Moa (18 Mar), and Julia Deans & Seth Haapu (1 Apr). www.eventfinder.co.nz/search?q=winehouse

Motatapu – 10 March
The Motatapu is New Zealand’s premier mountain bike and off-road running event between Wanaka and Arrowtown and is held in March each year. From recreational runners, riders and walkers to elite athletes, the Motatapu offers a challenge for everyone with a 47km Mountain Bike, 42km Off Road Marathon, 49km Adventure Run or 15km Miner's Trail – all through the magnificent landscapes of the Motatapu and its surrounding valleys. www.iconicadventures.co.nz/motatapu-home

The Exponents 30 Year Anniversary Concert Tour – 13 March
Much loved Kiwi rock band The Exponents will celebrate three decades of music with a nationwide tour. Their concert at Queenstown Memorial Hall on 13 March will feature their major hits, including ‘Why Does Love Do This To Me’, ‘Who Loves Who The Most’, ‘Victoria’, ‘I'll Say Goodbye (Even Though I'm Blue)’ and ‘Whatever Happened To Tracey’, which have become part of the fabric of life for generations of Kiwis.

Gibbston Harvest Festival – 19 March
The annual Gibbston Harvest Festival is held on the third Saturday of March and attracts gourmands to sample the delicacies produced by local vineyards, smaller boutique wineries and many fine food establishments. The festival is a celebration of the wine harvest from the Gibbston and toasts the spirit of a community that transformed itself from a sleepy sheep-farming valley to a high profile winemaking area. www.gibbstonharvestfestival.co.nz

New Zealand PGA Pro Am Championship - 29 March-1 April
Watch some of the world’s best golfers and well known celebrities in action at the inaugural New Zealand PGA Pro Am Championship at The Hills.
The tournament, a partnership between the NZ PGA and The Hills (owned by Sir Michael Hill), has been agreed for a minimum 5-year term and will initially be part of the Australasian PGA Tour with total prize money of $500,000 in 2012. Professionals will play for the NZ PGA Championship over four rounds, but in a unique event format, 64 invited amateurs and celebrities will be each paired with one of the 64 professionals that make the cut, playing together as a team for the NZ PGA Pro-Am Championship over the final two days.
The Hills has hosted three consecutive New Zealand Open Championships since opening in 2007 and is one of New Zealand’s most spectacular golf courses.
www.pgachampionship.co.nz

Queenstown Bike Festival – 31 March-9 April
Grab your bike and helmet and head to Queenstown this Easter for the Queenstown Bike Festival. It’s an exciting 10-day event for all ages and abilities and it gives you the chance to check out Queenstown’s world-class cycle tracks, trails, roads and spectacular lake and alpine scenery.
Whether you’re a biking novice, recreational cyclist or serious biker there’s plenty of action. Events range from the Tour de Wakatipu, Dirtmasters Downhill, Super D and Peleton road bike ride to a Kids Ride, Wine Trail ride and an Around the Mountains ride on the far side of Lake Wakatipu. www.queenstownbikefestival.co.nz

Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow – 6-8 April
This spectacular biennial event held at Wanaka Airport is fun for all ages. There will be awesome air displays from all kinds of aircraft as well as dozens operated by the RNZAF including Sioux, Seasprite and Iroquois helicopters, Corsair, Kittyhawk and Mustang fighters and Vampire and Strikemaster jets. The action packed ground programme features military Warhorses, vintage machinery, and Ford Vehicles Through the Ages - an extraordinary display of both old and new Fords over the years. There are also plenty of food stalls and stands where you can purchase memorabilia or aviation items.
www.warbirdsoverwanaka.com

GODZone Adventure Race – 7-14 April
Queenstown will the host inaugural GODZone Adventure Race at Easter 2012. The new multi-day, non-stop, expedition-style adventure race is the first unsupported (no support crews) expedition style, adventure race to be held in New Zealand since the world’s inaugural event, the Raid Gauloises, 22 years ago.
www.godzoneadventure.com

Arrowtown Autumn Festival - 20-29 April
The Arrowtown Autumn Festival provides a superb reason to get out and enjoy the slowing pace of autumn and the magnificent colours of the season. The region focuses on its gold mining history and celebrates its heritage in the streets of Arrowtown with a street parade and a programme of community-based events. www.arrowtownautumnfestival.org.nz

Routeburn Classic – 28 April
An amazing 32km 'adventure run' over New Zealand's world famous Routeburn Track.
www.goodtimesevents.net

TRENZ – 7-10 May
In 2012, Queenstown will once again host Tourism Rendezvous New Zealand (TRENZ), New Zealand’s largest and most important international tourism trade event. The multi-day event brings together New Zealand tourism businesses that exhibit and sell th eir products and services with buyers from New Zealand’s major and emerging visitor markets. TRENZ also includes a media programme for international and domestic journalists. The event is managed by the Tourism Industry Association (TIA) in partnership with Tourism New Zealand, Air New Zealand, Qantas, the host region (Southern Lakes) and other industry supporters. www.trenz.co.nz

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