Milford Sound
Queenstown’s LUMA long weekend
It’s that time of the year again, when we’re all getting ready for another great winter in Queenstown, that means the LUMA Southern Light Festival is back. After a year off last year due to COVID-19, LUMA festival is back and better than ever. It has become iconic in Queenstown and every year it gets more popular.
LUMA is much loved among Queenstown locals, it’s great annual event for everyone and especially for families – oh, and did we mention it’s a long weekend?! So, why not make LUMA your excuse to come and explore your own backyard and see what all the fuss is about?
What is LUMA?
LUMA Southern Light Project is four evenings of entertainment, performance and illuminated art in the Queenstown Gardens. It showcases stunning light sculptures that are beautiful, interactive and designed to inspire creativity and learning. Each year different artists from around New Zealand use the lights to convey messages or just show you a truly beautiful scene. It’s so colorful you’ll almost think it’s Christmas!
The event runs from Friday 4 June – Monday 7 June over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend. For four nights, the lights will be on display from 5.00pm to 10.00pm. Within the Queenstown gardens, there will be food stalls and bars where you can try some local food, or warm up with a delicious mulled wine.
What to do at LUMA
LUMA is about getting family and friends together and heading off to enjoy a fun atmosphere. Although the festival begins at 5:00pm and finishes at 10.00pm, the fun of the LUMA festival is around all day and night.
This year there will be free bus shuttle from Frankton to town, so it’s the perfect excuse to leave the car at home. Come in early with the kids for a family dinner, or stay late with for drinks with friends With endless choices for delicious restaurants and bars, the hardest part of the weekend will be deciding on which ones to choose.
The action won’t just be in town, after the success of last year, LUMIFY is back. So, it’s time to dust off those party lights, get the Christmas lights down from the attic and get creative. LUMIFY lights up the town, where local family’s put together impressive displays in there homes for people to enjoy. It is about togetherness so get the neighbours involved and get working on lighting up your neighbourhood.
Make it the Ultimate LUMA Long Weekend
Regardless of whether you’ve travelled from your house down the road or from as far as Auckland, it’s time to make the most out of this long weekend. Of course, LUMA is the main attraction but why not explore the area and enjoy some of the local activities. Here are some of the best activities to pair with your LUMA long weekend that won’t break your budget.
Remarkables winter market
The first of the winter markets will be on Saturday 5 June and they will be celebrating LUMA in their own way. The perfect place to start your Saturday, grab a coffee and a pastry and have a wander around the stalls filled with locals produce, crafts and winter specials. There will be live music and free face painting for the kids between 11.00am – 1.00pm. The market is on from 10.00am – 2.00pm so the perfect place to grab breakfast brunch or lunch.
Spirit of Queenstown Wine & Cheese Cruise
If you’re in Queenstown for the weekend then you have to explore Lake Wakatipu and a cruise on Spirit of Queenstown is the perfect place to enjoy the views. Departing daily over the long weekend at 11.00am, 1.15pm and 3.15pm, enjoy the stunning scenery from inside the cosy cabin, or wrap up warm and take them in from one of the outdoor decks. You can add to your booking, delicious Gibbston Valley Cheese board and glass of central Otago pinot noir from Akarua. The perfect accompaniment to your cruise.
Cycle the Frankton Track
Winter is arguably Queenstown’s most beautiful season. This weekend it’s very possible the mountains around us will have had their peaks dipped in snow. What better way than to take in the stunning views than from a bike along the Frankton Bike Trail? With plenty of options for bike hire, you can rent bicycles and head off with the whole family to enjoy a day surrounded by mountains.
Jet Boating
Kiwis love adventure sports (I mean we invented one of the most popular – bungee jumping!), jet boating is the perfect adventure activity and KJet are one of the best and most trusted jet boat operators. Their jet boating tours leave from right in Queenstown saving you the hassle of travelling to one of the river sites! So in true NZ fashion, why not venture out onto the rivers around Queenstown for some jam-packed family fun!
LUMA is a great community event and always delivers so make sure you don’t miss out and book your ticket now.
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