Park News

Over the weekend of 17th – 18th February we had the pleasure of welcoming back guests staying for the Austin Vintage Car Rally. The group made a range of excursions in the area and are shown here gathering on the Village Green. Special thanks to Mary Jobberns and her husband from Blenheim; who kindly drove our son Leonard around the Park for a special treat.

Also taking place that weekend was a three day horse muster from inland Albury to Fairlie, which crossed stunning high country that had never before been trekked. The muster ended in Fairlie where a Hoe Down took place at the Mackenzie Showgrounds on the Saturday night. It was a night of music, great food and fun.

Another event taking place that weekend organised by MTB Pursuits was Howes Cycles Fairlie Sherwood ENDURO. There was a choice of three rides for elite, fit and recreational riders, based at Sherwood Hall near Lake Opuha. These riders finished at Fairlie, and this stowaway was sighted.

Racing again on 23rd – 25th February with The Bloody Good Race. This spectacular journey took participants on an adventurous, three day, twelve stage, four discipline (kayak, cycle, mountain bike and run) race from Aoraki Mount Cook to the New Brighton Pier in Christchurch, taking in varied terrain and scenic landscape. We welcomed the organisers of this annual event.

February also saw a rather curious picnic on the pavement of Allandale Road. Not the most scenic spot, but maybe they were very hungry. If this is a photo of you, please let us know! Email relax@fairlietop10.co.nz

Also this month this Monarch butterfly emerged from it’s cocoon one sunny morning. An incredible metamorphosis to witness.

In March, golfing guests stayed with us for the Fairlie 500 Mens Golf Tournament – a 72-hole tournament at the Fairlie Glencairne Golf Course, and later in the month for the Fairlie Ladies 36-hole tournament.

March also saw guests taking part in the Pass to Pub Mountainbike Race, an exciting event over the hills from Burkes Pass to the Albury Pub.

On Easter Monday 9th April Fairlie was buzzing with the annual Mackenzie Highland Show - the largest one-day show of its type in the Southern Hemisphere. Farming through the ages was the theme for the Show, and there were plenty of stalls, food and competitive events to watch. Something for all the family.

The month of May saw the Fairlie Lions Charity Golf Tournament, and in June he Irishmen’s Creek Vintage Car Rally on Queen’s Birthday weekend. Ski-ing started late this year, with Mt Dobson opening on 4th August and closing just six weeks later. Better snow next year!

October saw the return of the Heathcote Fishing Club from Christchurch, who swapped stories about the one that got away.

In November we hosted meeting of the members of the Jowett Car Club of New Zealand for the first time in Fairlie. This event saw Jowett owners from all over the country coming together to share their passion for their cars and have fun participating in a gymkhana. Drivers demonstrated their skill by taking part in a “car agility” course, performing tasks such as posting and collecting mail, and reverse towing a skateboard loaded with a bottle of water and keeping the bottle upright. Thank you to the Club’s President, Gary Corner, for organising this event and holding it here in Fairlie.

We learnt that our application to ECAN (Environment Canterbury) for funding to plant native trees and shrubs along our creek had been successful. We will start our planting in March.

Our snow damaged ponderosa trees were tidied up by an intrepid arborist, who scaled up with a rope some 50ft to remove dead branches that had snapped off with the sheer weight of snow back in June 2006.

A recent news article reported that more bicycles had been sold in New Zealand in this last year than new cars – well this is the first one we’ve seen like this! Back-to-back cycling – what a fantastic looking machine.

If you’ve stayed with us, please take a moment to write a testimonial about your stay on the home page of this website. We appreciate your comments.

Fairlie Top 10 Holiday Park

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