Strong winds disrupt multiple Queenstown flights

Multiple flights into and out of Queenstown Airport have been either diverted or cancelled this morning as strong winds buffet the region.

An orange strong wind warning is in place up until 8pm this evening (Monday, October 2).

Multiple flights have already been cancelled.

Long queues have formed at Queenstown Airport as passengers try to re-book. Some people at the airport were speculating it might take days to get a flight out given heavy bookings and the widespread nature of this morning's disruption.

A spokesperson for the airport is advising travellers to monitor flights online as ongoing disruptions are likely.

"Wind is definitely causing havoc with the schedule today...a couple of flights have departed and nothing has landed."

Meanwhile MetService is warning driving could be hazardous, especially for high-side vehicles and motorcycles.

Winds are expected to be particularly strong in Otago, with damaging gusts of 130 kilometres and hour affecting Queenstown, Wānaka Cromwell, and Dunedin, and gusts of up to 140 kilometres an hour further north in the Canterbury High Country.