Queenstown Scene

Hello you 👋

Spring is in full swing and Queenstown’s buzzing. This week you can plug in for an EV test-drive and pancakes at Remarkables Market, toast life at a mountain-view wine weekend, get around a rainbow social at Searchlight, and dive into composting and low-waste workshops. Plus QT Run Club is on hand to kick-start your morning.

🎟️ Events This Week

• 🎡 Te Atamira Community Carnival – Te Atamira

  Bring the whole whānau to Te Atamira’s big fundraising carnival on Sunday 9 November, 10:30am – 3:30pm. Enjoy live music, performances from resident artists, food trucks, face‑painting and lawn games. Entry is free and every dollar spent supports this much‑loved creative hub. Grab your picnic blanket and soak up the spring vibes. community spirit has never tasted so good!

• 🍷 Wine Weekend: Where the Mountains Meet the Sea – The Rees Hotel

  Treat yourself to a three‑day celebration of New Zealand’s finest wines and food from Friday 7 November, 6pm – Sunday 9 November, 12pm. A welcome dinner pairs a three‑course meal with wines you bring from your cellar, Saturday’s masterclass in Bannockburn features Felton Road and Neudorf wineries, and the winemakers’ dinner wraps up the weekend. Tickets start from $110 and places are limited.

• ⚡ Plug In & Pancake: QT Community Electric Car Test Drive Day – Remarkables Market

  Curious how much you could save by going electric? Head to Remarkables Market on Saturday 8 November, 9am – 2pm for a free community EV test-drive day. Chat with local owners, take an EV for a spin, enjoy a pancake cooked on an electric hotplate and bust the myths around charging and batteries. Free, no registration needed – just roll up with the whānau.

•  🌱 Power of Composting with Dr Compost – St John Queenstown Ambulance Station

  Healthy soil grows healthy plants! Join Dr Compost on Tuesday 11 November, 6pm – 8pm to discover three easy ways to turn kitchen scraps and garden waste into nutrient‑rich compost. Learn which method suits your household and how to avoid smelly mistakes. This workshop, funded by the QLDC and delivered by Wastebusters, is free! Your garden will thank you.

• 💡 Green Drinks: Save Money & Live Sustainably Through Smarter Energy Choices – Sudima Hotel

  Curious about cutting your power bill? Head to this friendly networking session on Thursday 6 November, 6:30pm – 8:30pm. Experts share real‑world stories on electrifying homes and businesses, from heat‑pumps and EVs to solar panels. Enjoy nibbles, a chance to win a night at Kinloch Eco Lodge and leave with practical tips. Tickets are $11.50.

• 🎶 True Colors – When the Stars Align - Charlotte Graf - Tiny Room Concert – The Blue Door, Arrowtown

  Join Charlotte Graf and her band Ginger & Tonic at The Blue Door for an intimate 80s-soaked tiny room concert on Thursday 6 November, 6.30pm – 7.30pm (with a late session 8.30pm – 9.30pm). Expect Cyndi Lauper, Stevie Nicks, Tina Turner and more in a cosmic journey of self-discovery and big vocals. Perfect for a glittery Arrowtown night out. Tickets are $30.

• 🧼 Natural Cleaning: Low Waste Living Workshop – Sherwood

  Get hands‑on making eco‑friendly cleaners at Sherwood on Wednesday 12 November, 6pm – 8pm. You’ll create room perfume, toilet bombs and all‑purpose sprays, take home your own products and enjoy a sample of Sherwood kai. Tickets are $10 and include materials and food. This fun workshop will inspire a low‑tox lifestyle and leave your home sparkling without harming Papatūānuku.

🏔️ Local and Sponsored Picks

• 🏃 QT Run Club × Drop Toasties – HOKA Queenstown

  Rise and shine on Tuesday 11 November at 8am for a friendly 45‑minute run or walk around the gardens, starting from HOKA’s downtown store. Afterwards, enjoy a toastie and free coffee deal at Drop Cafe. All paces are welcome and the event is free. It is a great way to meet locals and kick‑start your day.

• 🌈 Queers & Beers: Rainbow Social Queenstown – Searchlight Brewery

  Join the crew at Searchlight Brewery for Queers & Beers on Thursday 6 November, 6pm – 9pm – a safe, inclusive LGBTQIA+ social hosted by drag queen Miss Kaysey-Leigh. Expect drag shows, music, Jingo, games, trivia and plenty of good vibes over cold brews and tasty food. Free entry, just rock up with mates, allies or fly solo and be welcomed.

😊 Good News in 60 Seconds

• 🍦 Sweet Success: Duck Island Ice Cream Heads South

  Popular Hamilton based specialty ice cream company Duck Island is opening its first Queenstown store on December 1. Taking over the corner of Beach Street and Cow Lane, the new scoop store marks the brand's second South Island location. Locals and visitors alike will soon be able to enjoy the artisan ice cream that's already a supermarket favourite across the region.

• 🖼️ Creative Spaces Project Brings Art into Everyday Life

  Over 19 local artists are transforming shopfronts, libraries and community spaces into mini‑galleries this month. The Creative Spaces Project pairs artists with unexpected locations, showcasing everything from light installations to performance art and making creativity part of daily life. It’s a celebration of our creative energy and an invitation to connect with art on your morning coffee run.

Cheers for being here! Wishing you a week full of good vibes around Queenstown 🙌