Up to 20 classic boats from throughout the southern South Island - including a steamboat - are expected to converge on Te Anau later this month (23-25 May) for Fiordland's very first classic boat festival.

The brainchild of Te Anau tourist operators, Adam Butcher and Megan Graham, the festival is planned to coincide with their own classic motor sailer ketch - MS Faith's - 90th birthday.

Classic Sailboat 'Meteor', with Te Anau's 'Faith' in the background. Photo: Megan Graham/Supplied

Butcher's 66-foot classic boat was built in Scotland in 1935 and spent the first thirty years of its life as an English pleasure boat before eventually being sold and sailed to New Zealand in the 1970s.

In 2014 it was relocated to Lake Te Anau and two years later opened as a tourist venture offering classic boat excursions around the Fiordland lake.

Butcher said in planning Faith's birthday they realised that this could also be an opportunity to celebrate the many other beautiful and historic old boats that were at the local marina or tucked away in sheds.

Festival supporter Janet Cloak, from Mossburn, with her classic boat 'Little Honey'. Photo: Supplied

Feedback from other classic boat owners had been really good, he said, with really strong interest from Wanaka, Dunedin, Temuka, Oamaru and Mossburn.

"We've got a steamboat coming over from Dunedin. He's going to come in and do a steamboat demonstration of his own."

"Some of [the owners] have got boats that haven't been in the water for a long time, or ever, and they've [said] great, an opportunity to aim for that weekend to be operational."

"Other people are just really grateful to have something put on, something planned for the local area, without having to go too far away to be able to enjoy wooden boat festival."

Butcher said there would be a variety of activities over the weekend including the popular cardboard boat race, last run in 2016, and a Seagull engine boat race - inspired by festival supporters (and Seagull fans) Russell and Janet Cloak.

Butcher also said they wanted to make the event a festival that attracted people to Te Anau in the shoulder season.

"We just thought it was a great time to showcase what the town has to offer - the people that make our amazing community and all the boats that are part of it."

Nathan Scurr's Classic Steamboat 'Sooty'. Photo: Supplied

Fiordland Classic Boat Festival

Friday 23rd May

• 2-4 pm; Arrival and gather at the Fiordland Community Event Centre Car Park
• 4pm; Show & Shine
• 5pm; Boat Parade (Down the street)

Saturday 24th May

• 9:00am; Registration & Briefing
• 10am; Cardboard Boat Race
• 11:30; Sail boat racing
• 11:30; Big Dig for children
• 12pm; Search & Rescue display
• 1pm; Boat Parade (on the water)
• 2pm; Dingy Darby
• 2:30pm; Sea Gull Racing (Le Mans start)
• 3pm; Time Trial for outboard & Inboard engines
• 4pm; Steam boat display
• 5pm; Parade (Repeat)
• 6pm; Activities at Steamers Beach

Sunday 25th May

• 9am; Breakfast (TBA)
• 10am; Educational Opportunities
• 12pm; Boat run to Dome Island
• 3pm; Event Conclusion

CLICK HERE to learn more about the Fiordland Classic Boat Festival.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the classic ketch 'Faith'.