Queenstown Scene

Hello you 👋

Spring’s turning up the volume! From Salmonella Dub’s big Saturday set to the Jurassic League playoff on ice, there’s plenty to cheer. Warm up with a Beech Tree tap takeover (and a fire-brigade BBQ on Friday), then dig in at Arrowtown’s beech planting day before a tasty Cultural Bites dumpling workshop on Tuesday. See you out and about!

🎟️ Events This Week

• 🎶 Salmonella Dub Soundsystem – Queenstown Memorial Centre

  Kiwi dub icons Salmonella Dub celebrate their 33.33rd birthday with a one‑off Queenstown gig on Saturday 4 October, 7pm – 11pm. Expect a career‑spanning set featuring re‑mastered classics and guest appearances from Whirimako Black, Mighty Asterix and the Sal Dub Horns. Tickets $59. It’s the perfect way to usher in spring with bass, brass and good vibes.

• 🏒 Jurassic League Playoff Tournament – Queenstown Ice Arena

  Cheer on local legends as the Jurassic Ice Hockey League crowns its champion on Saturday 4 October from 9am - 4pm. It’s free to watch, the café and bar will keep you fuelled, and there are games all day. Bring the kids, sip a coffee (or afternoon beer) and enjoy a family friendly day of fast paced action.

• 🍻 Tap Takeover – Beech Tree Craft Beer Bar

  Two Wellington breweries — Heyday and Choice Bros — join forces with Queenstown’s own Searchlight Brewing for a one‑night tap takeover on Friday 3 October. Each brewery will unveil a collaboration brew alongside their crowd favourites. Raise a glass (or two) and toast this limited‑edition lineup; entry is free and beer lovers won’t want to miss it

• 🌭 Volunteer Fire Brigade Fundraising BBQ – 93 Beach Street

  On Friday 3 October head to the lakefront from 12:30pm - 2pm for a sizzling sausage sizzle and soft drinks by gold coin donation. Meet the local volunteer firefighters, climb aboard the fire trucks and support the heroes who keep us safe. It’s a wholesome lunch break that warms the heart and stomach

• 🌳 Arrowtown Beech Party Planting Day – Chinese Village Reserve

  Roll up your sleeves on Sunday 5 October, 9am and help plant 3,000 native beech and Totara seedlings. This family friendly event is part of a project that’s already seen over 23,000 trees planted. Holes are pre‑dug, and there’s a free BBQ, refreshments and kids’ prizes afterwards. Bring a spade and help grow our native forest.

• 🥟 Cultural Bites: Chinese Language & Cooking – St Johns Rooms, Frankton

  Immerse yourself in Chinese culture with this hands-on language and cooking workshop on Tuesday, October 7, at 5:30pm. Held at St John Queenstown, you’ll learn some basic Mandarin and how to make delicious dumplings. Tickets are $35 per person. It’s a fun and tasty way to learn a new skill.

🏔️ Local and Sponsored Picks

• 🛍️ Strange Goods Pop-up Preloved Fashion Market – Athenaeum Hall, Arrowtown (Sponsored)

  Refresh your wardrobe the sustainable way on Sunday 5 October, 9am – 3pm at the Athenaeum Hall. Browse vintage finds and quality womenswear, menswear and kids’ clothing, plus shoes and accessories from local vendors. Don’t miss the Menswear for Mental Health stall, every piece sold raises funds for a local men’s mental health charity.

• ⭐ StarMatch Launch – The Sundeck Rooftop Bar (Sponsored)

  Meet founder Kathryn Tutill and the StarMatch team for an inspiring launch evening exploring how astrology can support modern relationships. Enjoy a choice of signature cocktails on arrival (first one complimentary), gourmet finger food, short talks and two door-prize draws. Sunday 5 October, 4pm – 7pm, The Sundeck, Queenstown. $25 entry. No matchmaking on the night—just insight, stories and good vibes.

😊 Good News in 60 Seconds

• 🥇 Local Athletes Shine on Gold Coast 

  Two Wakatipu High School athletes, Siena Mackley and James Weber, have returned from the Australian School Sport Cross Country Championships with two gold medals each. Siena won the women’s under-20 title and has been selected for the World Cross Country Championships in Florida. James won gold with his age-group team. Their success is a testament to their hard work and the strength of our local coaching.

• 🎉 Teacher’s Dedication Celebrated After 37 Years

  The community has celebrated the incredible 37-year career of retiring Arrowtown Preschool manager Jane Foster. She was praised for her grace, poise, and humour in nurturing generations of young locals, growing the preschool from a small prefab with 17 children to a thriving enterprise with 75 children across two sites. Her dedication to a nature-based learning philosophy has left a lasting legacy on the community.

• 🏆 Seven Queenstowners Nominated for National Snow Sports Awards 

  Seven Queenstown locals have been nominated for the 2025 Snow Sports New Zealand Awards, which will be held on October 10. The nominations recognise the incredible talent and dedication of our local athletes, coaches, and instructors, and highlight Queenstown’s position as a hub for snow sports excellence in New Zealand.

Here’s to blue skies, good company and great local picks! 💙