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Published: April 19th 2006
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Deer Park Heights
For you Lord of the Rings fans, this should look familiar. This is where Rohan was fleeing to Helms Deep. Beautiful no matter what! I decided yesterday to take a day and go explore Queenstown, and since it's only an hour out of Wanaka, it could be a day trip. Instead of taking the nice leisurely way around some of the ranges, I thought I could cut some time off the journey and take the range pass way. It was pretty hair raising at times. I mean, only if you don't think about falling off the road due to no guard rails. If I could do anything, I would run for government here, and have my cause go towards putting guard rails up here in this lovely country.
After that, I went to a lovely little town called Arrowtown. It (back in the day) was used as a goldmining town. It's quite quant, and they have lovely mining houses that are restored. It's quite nice down here because I'm finally seeing some of the fall colours that I'm so missing. I mean, nothing will ever compair to the colours at home, but at least some trees are giving a good go at it. I mainly went to Arrowtown because I was running out of gas after that trip up and down and side to side.
Deer Park Heights
This is Aragorn's Cliff where women openly cry. Looks like quite the drop, well, it's only about a 4 foot drop then some more grass. I thought poor Pip was going to give up the ghost, chugging up some of those hills. I also stopped because there were two LOTR filming sites that were easily accessable. The first one being where Arwen declares to the Black Riders, "If you want him, come and claim him." I did not, yes did not, put my hands in the air to reinact the film. There were just too many people around...hahaha. The second is close to it, and that is where Isildur was attacked by Orcs and the one ring was lost until Gollum found it.....Very lovely, but the trees seem to close in on you.....
I then headed south to Queenstown, adrenalin capital of the world. It's quite surprising because around here in the south, you can pretty much find free parking anywhere. Nice little parking lots that let you stay up to 10 hours for FREE!
I found such a place in lovely Queenstown. If you get beyound being completely overwhelmed by the tourist side of it, it's quite nice. I sat on the pier and listened to a high school band play. I then decided to splurge and go up the gondola (one of the
Deer Park Heights
Aragorn's cliff isn't much at all is it? Amazing what perspective can do.. steepest in the world) and do some luging. Yes, luging. They view is amazing of Queenstown and The Remarkables ( a lovely range of mountains).
I took many pictures and decided to take the chairlift even higher to access the luge. I strapped on my geeky, but safe helmet and started slowly by doing the scenic track which isn't fast at all. I almost rammed into a family because they all decided to stop in the middle of the track, let alone a corner to have a nice peek at the view. After that, I craved some speed so I did the "advanced" track. People have hurt themselves on this one due to obviously driver stupidity.
Well, I went pretty much full blast down this track, hooting and hollering, and having a couple not too choice words coming out of my mouth because I swear I got some air on one of the bumps.
I really really really want to do some paragliding here.........what I don't want to do is bungy. I looked at one bungy that they have there, and I just about lost my lunch. I have no idea why......I've done it before, it's nothing new. For some
View of Queenstown
This is the view that I got treated to after the gondola ride. The Remarkables are the mountain range in the background.
reason it just turned me off, big time! But Paragliding is something I haven't done, so we shall see. Remember, I need to do one somewhat stupid thing a year.....
I've met up with MJ, who lives down here in Wanaka. I've managed to pick up another job for a couple of days. And yes, it's grape picking again. Which isn't a big deal, but it will let me do a couple of activities that I really want to do here!
I then went to Deer Park Heights, which is just outside of Queenstown. It's quite lovely, it's like a big almost mounty petting zoo with deer, bison, llamas, goats (two of which I renamed Gandalf and Pippin). Here was where 6 scenes were shot for LOTR. The most famous is of the Rohan people leaving for Helms Deep, Gimli falling off his horse, Legolas doing his wonderful gymnasic skills and jumping on a running horse, and of course a place they call Aragorn's Cliff where it is said to witness women crying in fits of woe. On this occassion, I did act a little and pretended I was Legolas, and also did a little weeping for our poor Aragorn.
It's still quite mild down here just as long as the sun is out. Today it's about 18, considering I'm in the mountains is pretty decent, but I hear that it's even better back home?
Enjoy the pictures, and Happy Late Easter. Thank goodness they had Cadbury Creme Eggs down here.
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uncle joe
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kool
glad you got to do some reiancting lol hope you are having fun, miss you out here! Jordan