Within Queenstown’s hustle, bustle and ever-changing face, one of the resort’s longstanding institutions the Creative Queenstown Arts and Crafts Market, remains staunch held every Saturday in Earnslaw Park.

Artists and craftspeople come from around the South Island every Saturday to the Earnslaw Park venue to sell their goods, with around 40 regular stallholders and visiting artists adding variety.

Market manager, Jasmine Clark, believes the market, which is almost 30 years old, has stood the test of time because the arts and crafts sold by the tall holders are unique, made from locally sourced materials and of a very high quality.

With Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountains as the market’s backdrop, Jasmine says bands and performing artists help create a vibrant atmosphere and keep shoppers entertained as they browse the stalls which range from macramé wool wall hangings and art prints to photography, ceramics, jewellery, clothing, pounamu carvings, natural wool blankets, flax weaving and a whole lot more.

“It’s a wonderful part of Queenstown’s rich tapestry and a real testament to it is the numerous emails I get from people who have returned home and regretted not buying something they saw at the market, or who want to source more of what they did buy,” says Jasmine.

“I’m very happy to connect up the relevant stall holders with these people and to know New Zealand and Queenstown are being celebrated around the world. Visiting the market gives people a memorable Queenstown experience and more often than not they walk away with a treasure that will remind them of their holiday here for years to come.”