Some of the region’s very best food and wine – along with legendary parties and fun times – will showcase Queenstown at its best during DNA Gay Ski Week QT later this year – 29 August to 5 September 2015.

A fabulous and exclusive culinary taste-fest is on the menu during the week for the first time, courtesy of The Rees hotel’s True South Dining Experience.

An intimate number of guests will be taken by courtesy shuttle to The Rees and welcomed with a glass of champagne and canapés, before getting the chance to drool over a private cellar of one of the most comprehensive collections of fine Bordeaux wines in the Southern Hemisphere.

Taste buds will be put to the test by The Rees’ internationally-renowned Executive Chef Ben Batterbury who will present a five-course dinner with matching wines. The menu is being kept tantalizingly under wraps until the evening.

Organisers Sally and Mandy Whitewoods said it was shaping up to be a truly memorable ‘don’t miss’ evening.

“For lovers of fine food and wine it doesn’t get much better than this,” said Sally.

The dinner’s being held on Tuesday 1 September and limited tickets are available online at www.gayskiweekqt.com.

As the week draws to a close the partying gets harder – heading into the weekend on Friday 4 September Family Bar & Nightclub presents ‘Life is a Beach’ at Brazz for the penultimate night of GSWQT. Family Bar will be adding their flavour to the event, which includes BBQ-style food and music from Sydney DJ Adam Love.

Not to be outdone in the party stakes, on Saturday 5 September Broken Shed presents the ‘Once Upon A time Final Dance Party’ at Queenstown’s Memorial Centre, the final fun night of Gay Ski Week QT 2015.

After a huge response last year, DJ Kate Monroe from Sydney is back again with Adam Love, ruling the roost over all those fantabulous Cinders or Prince Charmings.

“They’ll be the parties to end all parties and we can’t wait to see the amazing costumes at ‘Once Upon A Time’ after the bar was set pretty high last year,” said Sally.

Tickets are already flying out the door for events throughout the week – including the MoreFM opening night, LYC Wet & Wild Foam party, Monday night’s Durex ‘Queer Quiz’ at Ballarat Trading Co, and the inaugural ‘Highlands Hook Up’ adventure day at the Highlands Motorsport Park. Also promising fun, glitz and plenty of sequins are SKYCITY Queenstown’s karaoke with Miss Ribena from Auckland’s Family Bar, and Gibbston Valley Wines’ ‘Caluzzi Queen’s Cabaret’ returning to Skyline Gondola.

The Southern Hemisphere’s largest Winter Pride event sees hundreds of people converge on Queenstown for a week-long celebration of skiing, socialising, adventure and dazzling entertainment and frolics.

Giving it the town’s Mayoral ‘seal of approval’ will be Mayor Vanessa van Uden who will officially open the event at The Find, 7pm Saturday 29 August 2015.

Organisers Sally and Mandy Whitewoods said they were “thrilled” with new additions to the exciting line-up of events and delighted with pre-event ticket sales.

“Each and every year we love adding some new elements of adventure, love and fun to DNA Gay Ski Week QT and many events are close to selling out already, so don’t miss out!”