Wanaka Agricultural And Pastoral Show, 1

In two plus months of driving around New Zealand we'd seen a number of signs advertising A&P shows, although always missing them by a few days or weeks. In Wanaka, however, we hit the jackpot, the Wanaka A&P, occurring the entire weekend following our Rob Roy hike, and taking place in the immense fairgrounds between our holiday park and the lake. Wanaka is not a huge place, but it's in the middle of a large agricultural zone, Central Otago, and, with COVID, hasn't had an A&P in probably a couple years. We extended our campground reservations and bought tickets for the opening day with high expectations. From the campground, we could see them putting up the tents and such all over the fairgrounds...450+ exhibitors, shops, services, etc., plus all the paddocks and pens and such.

"A&P" stands for "agricultural and pastoral." Sort of like county or state fairs in the US, although rather less in the way of textiles, cooking, and such. Maybe even rather less in the way of agriculture, too, depending on how widely you construe the term. (Gin, for example, is definitely agricultural, in my view). We've seen our share of county and state fairs, having lived in places like Tallahassee, Columbus, Dallas, and Missoula. And we love going to markets anywhere we're visiting. Always an opportunity for learning and amusement. And for interesting food and arts and crafts. And amusement. So Wanaka's A&P was a natural. And we were not disappointed.

It is immense, many rows and aisles, 454 exhibitors...probably
visible from outer space

Nice, nice day for a show

"Ssshhh. Be vewy vewy quiet. I'm hunting wabbits"

Interesting; dogs are not permitted at the show, except for 

service dogs and show dogs; such a contrast with British shows 

and fairs, where one is constantly tripping over dogs and their 

leashes; but here the "Dog and Country" clothing brand is a thing

Street scene

Scary seed planting device

Ag and pastoral heavy drone; can be used for bombing/strafing wabbits

Hobbyist shop...all the models were of tractors and combines and such

Salt lick

Nice grill/fireplace

Among several kiddie areas

Kiddie zorbs

What? your farm/ranch doesn't have a Maserati?

For pasta and tomato farms; goes with the Maserati

About every fifth shop was selling/exhibiting merino things; I'll 
spare you the others

NZ survival packs...what? no bear spray?!

Beef wrap samples; we have noses for the free samples

Loved ones' hands and feet casted...not just baby shoes...

At the Mismatched Shoes store

Wondering now whether there is an all black tartan

Abundant metal sculpture, mobiles

Rent a beehive...another business opportunity...NZ's most famous
citizen, Sir Edmund Hillary, was a beekeeper; here you can follow
in his footsteps, without getting stung

The first of many wineries and distilleries, which I personally
checked out in detail

Good on 'em; NZ, and particularly the South 
Island, need way more rhodos

They can't call it "scotch" but the several I tasted would have

been impressive Islays