Hot weather, 'getting drunk' and a new decade: Central Otago sending off 2019 in style

Tuesday has been one of the hottest days central Otago has seen so far this summer - a perfect end to 2019 for the thousands attending the three-day Rhythm and Alps festival in Wanaka.

It's a New Year's Eve hotspot, with 10,000 revellers setting up camp for a long weekend of partying, music and celebrating the beginning of a new decade.

"It's a celebration of the end of the decade... it's turned on a beautiful New Zealand summer's day," festival director Alex Turnbull told Newshub.

For other partygoers Newshub spoke to, "getting drunk" and "females" are at the top of the agenda.

People across Otago were getting their kit off on Tuesday, some taking the moment to reflect on the year that's been.

"The worst thing about 2019 is that President Trump is still in office," American tourist Claire Yoda said.

While also looking forward to the year ahead - and the things that really matter.

"Watching these two grow up," a proud local dad said of his twins.

Watch the video above.