Mr Gay World, Andreas Derleth, will be ‘star of the show’ when he attends DNA Gay Ski Week Queenstown. (August 25 – September 1 2012)

Crowned Mr Gay World 2012 in Johannesburg earlier this year, the 32-year-old also holds the Mr Gay NZ title. He will be making himself right at home among Queenstown’s adrenalin-fuelled adventure tourism operators by attending the event’s Adrenalin Day. He will go skydiving over Queenstown’s spectacular mountains and lake.

Adrenalin Day (August 28) is one of two specially-organised trips being held during Gay Ski Week to encourage visitors to Queenstown to make the most of the resort’s awesome surroundings.

The Southern Hemisphere’s largest Winter Pride event is organised by owners Sally and Mandy Whitewoods of Queenstown, with the support of Australia’s best-selling magazine for gay men, DNA magazine, and numerous Queenstown business partners.

The theme for the final night celebration at the GAYDAR Mystery Dance Party, with DJ Haylenise from Melbourne. The venue is The World Bar which is the perfect location for a huge dance party, and the theme is bright, bright ‘fluoro’.

Hundreds of gay men and women are expected to converge on Queenstown for a week of fun in the sun and snow.

• 2012 Programme, Events and Accommodation
• Also see Rainbow Tourism NZ Places

A winter holiday jammed packed with skiing, snowboarding, fine food and even a spot of pampering is now just one, easy-to-use pass away.

OnePassNZ gives visitors access to the best skiing and snowboarding the South Island has to offer, including the longest runs in the South Island at over 4kms, the only two permanent superpipes in New Zealand and the most comprehensive children’s programmes and facilities.

Eight of the country’s top ski fields have joined forces to create OnePassNZ – an initiative which provides visitors access to a massive 2230 hectares of lift-serviced terrain in the central South Island – including operators at Cardrona Alpine Resort, Treble Cone, Snowpark, Snowfarm, Ohau, Mt Dobson, Roundhill and the Porters Ski Area.

OnePassNZ holders simply load up their card with snow dollars to gain unlimited access to lifts at the participating fields, plus they can use it to rent gear and pay for skiing and snowboarding lessons.

And after an action-packed day on the slopes, OnePassNZ can then be used to buy dinner at restaurants in the surrounding areas, for unwinding at the spa, or taking in some more action at a raft of other local tourist attractions.

Rainbow Tourism Approved Accommodations near ski fields:

• Queenstown
• Wanaka
• Canterbury

Gay Ski Weeks are held all around the world and are enjoyed by so many people. You may have been to several of them for your holiday, but have you ever been to Queenstown, NZ?

If yes, then you know exactly why you’ll be going back from Saturday, August 25th until Saturday, September 1st. If you have never been Gay Ski Week QT, then maybe it’s time for you to discover skiing and snowshoeing in New Zealand’s breath-taking mountains.

You may decide to come for just the week or arrive earlier to and enjoy what the South Island has to offer.

Organisers Mandy and Sally prime up the mirror ball.

This year GSW will have many new events during the days as well as apres ski. The lineup of events and entertainment is great – on and off the slopes.

• Earlybird Registrations Gay Ski Week QT
• Places to to Stay Around Queenstown
• Snowshoeing in Queenstown
• Queenstown is Winter Wonderland for Skiing and more.
• Queenstown Stories from Rainbow Tourism NZ

Bring Back the Bikini! Think pink!

The annual K2 Rip Curl Bikini Downhill event is Saturday 24th September. Skiers and snowboarders alike will be donning bikinis in the name of raising money for New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation!

And with wicked prizes to win from Rip Curl and K2 it’s set to be a great day on Turoa.
With over 150 entrants last year this is one fun filled event – so don’t miss out the chance for some bikini fun in the spring snow!

• Mt. Ruapehu event information 
• Rainbow Tourism accommodation

With just weeks to go before the annual Burton New Zealand Open, the skies have finally opened and layered the Southern Alps in a blanket of snow. This news has created a flurry of excitement with snowboarders and NZ’s premier snowboarding event is pumped, to once again take Wanaka by storm.

Comprising of Half Pipe and Slopestyle disciplines, the 2011 Burton New Zealand Open yet again promises to be an exciting spectator event.

From 8 – 13 August, visitors can watch world-class snowboarding action featuring some of the sport’s highest profile athletes at Cardrona Alpine Resort.

• Places to Stay in Wanaka 
• Mt. Cook to Wanaka Tour 
• Burton New Zealand Open

While the snow may be late in Queenstown this Friday (24 June) the skies will be set alight with a cracking fireworks display for the opening of the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival. (June 24 – 3 July). The best viewing places to this year’s fireworks will be at Earnslaw Park or anywhere along Marine Parade.

Getting the crowds warmed up before the show will be a 100% NZ music show featuring all the greatest Kiwi hits, a guest appearance from the Dukes and local talent Anna Leat and Sarah Foley. Afterwards its kiwi rocker Jordan Luck before the celebrations move indoors at the American Express Ice Box for the ABSOLUT NZ Party with the DUKES and People of Paris playing live.

• Check the full festival program at www.winterfestival.co.nz
• Queenstown information
• Queenstown Rainbow Tourism Accredited Accommodation
• Queenstown and Fiordland Attractions and Sightseeing

New Zealand has some of the best skiing in the world and for non skiers why not explore Snowshoeing.

Whether you’ve never felt snow before or you’re permanently in powder, New Zealand offers ski adventures that will keep you begging for “just one more run”.