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Published: January 21st 2008
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View of Queenstown
From the top of the gondola After spending nearly a week here, I am completely smitten with Queenstown. Touted as the adventure capital of the world, there is always
something going on here. The town is set right on a huge lake and surrounded by huge mountains, just unreal. Every store in the downtown area is selling some crazy activity, like jet-boating, bungy jumping (Queenstown is where bungy jumping originated), sky diving, white water rafting, and heaps more. Take all that action, and then add in a bumpin (yes I said bumpin, but Queenstown deserves it!) nightlife, and I am pretty much in heaven. Queenstown is the area where the Kiwi Experience groups usually split up, as people tend to spend more time here, and I can totally see why. We checked into this cute hostel called Southern Laughter, in a 4 bed dorm with 2 of our friends from the Kiwi Bus, Heather and Jayne from London. The first night we got in, our whole bus went out for a "goodbye party", and things got really crazy. A girl from our bus got so drunk that a bouncer at one of the bars wouldn't let her in, and she just kept going to the back
Canyon Swing
Holding on for dear life! of the line trying to fool the bouncers, and he was like "yeah...I just turned you down 3 minutes ago, I'm not letting you in now." Also didn't help that she would trip or fall literally everytime she got back up to the front. So it was a pretty crazy night.
The next morning we got up bright and early to go Canyon Swinging!! This is another Q-town conception, and basically what it is is you jump off a 109 meter high platform over a canyon, and then when you get to the bottom and the bungy cord catches you (hopefully!) you swing back and forth across this canyon. And you pay someone to let you do this. Me, Ash, and a few of our friends went, and it was the most insane thing I've ever done. If you look at the pics, I jumped off backwards, and for the first "Posed pic" before I jumped, you can see the veins bulging out of my arms b/c I am holding onto the guy for dear life. But once I jumped it was the sweetest thing ever!! About 45 meters (4-5 seconds) of pure freefall before the cord catches. I
Canyon Swing
Falling 109 meters through the air! bought the DVD of me pre-jump, it's pretty hilarious to see how high-pitched my voice gets before I actually jump. A bunch of my friends did the Nevis bungy jump, which is the world's highest at 143 meters in the air. Atleast you get a free t-shirt with that one for risking your life.
It's still bizarre living a lifestyle with zero commitments. I don't know how I'm going to adjust into the real world when I get back. I'll probably just have to become a professional vagabond and paint pictures on the beach for people to make money every now and then. Here is a rough timetable of how things go around here, although Ashley and I usually wake up earlier.
Average Day for a backpacker in Queenstown 11-1PM: Wake up
1-2PM: Forage for Food
3-5PM: Sightsee, lay at beach, etc
6PM: Dinner Time + Shower (If nessecary)
7.30PM: Begin Drinking
2-5AM: Go to bed
Wash, rinse and repeat the next day!!
.....Ok before you shake you're head at me, we're not that bad. Ashley and I do heaps of touring, and are not complete wastes of space. I'm just saying this is
Milford Sound
Rainy but still pretty amazing views a schedule that
many choose to live by in Queenstown! 😊
We also took a day trip out to Milford Sound, which a bay in a sheltered cove-type area, on the very south west part of the South Island. It's touted as one of the most scenic day trips in NZ, which is a pretty strong statement to make, and although I really enjoyed it I found all of the South Island equally impressive. It was also absolutely pouring the day we went there, but I still got a few token shots in.
On Ellie and Rich's last night in Queenstown, a bunch of us went to Minus 5, which is this bar constructed entirely of ice! They give everyone these big parkas and ugg boots, and you are only allowed in for 30 minutes, but it was so awesome, the bar, the couches--even the glasses were made of ice!! Definitely a unique experience. I was so sad to see Ellie and Rich move on, I have only known them about 2 weeks, but being together 24/7 during that time got us pretty close! Hopefully I'll see them again in Thailand, or atleast it will give me
Milford Sound
On rainy days, all these natural waterfalls are created-pretty cool! an excuse to go to the UK!
On our last day in Queenstown, we took the Gondola up to the top of the mountain, where there are just insane views of the city, and the lake. At the top of the lookout point, they have a luge track that loops down the mountain, and a chairlift to bring you back up. I wasn't too keen at first, but once I did the first run, I was hooked! I pretty much felt like I was in super mario, it was awesome.
So sad to leave Queenstown, EVERYONE MUST COME HERE! The whole place has got such a great vibe, and so much to do.
Now off to the North Island, where Ash + I will begin our incredible road trip, and attempt to drive on the left side of the road. Wish us luck!!!!!
Postscript added a few days later We are here in the North Island! After leaving Queenstown, we had a 2 day whitewater rafting trip on the Rangitata river. So much fun! People from the Rangitata rafting co. came and picked us up, and took us to thier lodge in the middle of nowhere,
with about 5 other people from the Kiwi Bus. We spent the night there, watching movies and playing with the employee's dogs, and then the next day woke up bright and early to conquer the river. It was about a 3 hour raft trip, with 2 grade 5 rapids! (Highest grade of rapid) I fell out twice and managed to look like a complete drowned rat when we got back, but it was an awesome day. After that we went back to Christchurch, where we spent a night before taking a bus up to Picton, where the ferry to the North Island departs from. The Ferry was so much fun-the boat is like a cruise ship! It had a full food court and even a movie theater on board. Now we are in Wellington, which is the capital city of New Zealand. I have been staying with Laura, one of Meaghy's friends from home, in her adorable flat that's walking distance from the city. Unfortunately Ashley has been on her deathbed with the flu the past couple of days, so we are in the process of nursing her back to life before we take off. Everyone send good thoughts her
Minus 5!
Heather and I at the Ice Bar! way!
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Jill Siebers
non-member comment
Wow
You are the bravest of the brave. I stand in awe. xxo, j