The bulk of a massive slip, which has been hanging precariously above the Shotover River for six weeks, has finally been swept away.
Queenstown Rafting has funded several attempts over the past few weeks to sluice the 100,000 cu m slip away.
Its manager Vance Boyd says local residents heard a loud crash early Friday morning, when the major part of the slip collapsed.
He hopes his company will be able to resume rafting trips soon.
Mr Boyd says he'll talk to his insurance company about recouping the cost of the work, which could total tens of thousands of dollars.
