Advertisement
Published: January 31st 2008
Edit Blog Post
Thursday 31st January Bus is 20 minutes late and the driver has no record of us to be picked up, which I find quite worrying, but still, we're on the bus (only because he was dropping some others off), and off we go. Bus is pretty full - most seats double occupancy, rather then 2 for 1! Find a double seat free though - bonus! Bus sets off en route. Bus driver Karl points out a few things, then stops at Mrs Jones' fruit stall - plenty of fruit, but also the option of a freshly made ice cream. I opt for raspberry and blackberry in yoghurt. Nice! 420pm and we're driving through a big gully, heading for the bungy jump stop. Never planned on doing a bungy, then started to think about it. It was $169 though, and looking at it, I know I can do it, and don't feel the need to do it to prove I can do it. Save my money for other things. I know, revolutionary!
We made it into Queenstown in plenty of time - Queenstown is the party/adrenalin town on New Zealand, but not in that zone right now! Bus driver is planning
on meeting everyone in the pub, but I am still tired and quite stiff from yesterday and not in the mood to go out, so am going to chill in the hostel. Have another night in Queenstown next week and may stay in a more central hostel/go out, but for now, this is fine! Am at YHA Lakeside - I'd love to say that my room has a lovely view, but it looks out over the washing line. The kitchen, etc though, has a beautiful view over the Remarkables, which is one of the top ski resorts in New Zealand (well, obviously not now!). Had bread, real butter, soup for tea, chatted to Netty and Vicki, then onto the internet - nothing taxing, chill out with my liquers from the other week - probably find someone to chat to, then a nice book I think! That was pretty much it, although I talked to Hamish's brother Campbell and will be staying with their family for 2-3 nights in Dunedin - looking forward to spending time with a real Kiwi family!
Friday 1st February Keep waking up about 6am, but stayed "asleep" until 8ish, then got up ready for the
day. Had arranged to ring Karen 9am my time, so nipped out for some photos first. I had misunderstood, it was to be 10am my time, so I spent an hour reading about New Zealand Tramps - the Lonely Planet Guide was in the book exchange, but they are all multi-day hikes so no good for me! I'll take local advice as I get to each place. 10am on the dot, Karen sent me a text to say she was in, so we had a good chat for 40 minutes or so (these phone cards give amazing prices - think it's cheaper to call the UK than New Zealand judging by how fast my credit is going down). That was a good start to the day, then I decided to book onto a wine tasting tour with a jet boat ride back afterwards as the weather looked too bad to go up to the Skyline Gondola for the picturesque views. All booked on fine, headed into town for a quick look round before booking in for my wine tour. The owner walked right past me - as far as he was aware there was no one booked onto the tour
so he wasn't expecting anyone - it was just coincidence that he was walking past. So, that tour was cancelled. Checked at the information desk and Canyoning, the only other thing I was too bothered about doing, was still available for 1.30pm, so got soaked getting back to the hostel but was ready in time. We headed off, still raining - we got kitted up (those wetsuits are so hard to get on), then climbed some steep bits to get to a 'Flying Fox' zip-line, from which we then rappel/abseil down into the Canyon. The water was looking pretty fierce, and once everyone was down, the guides in fact decided that it was too dangerous (it had risen by the best part of a metre in 1/2 hour, and a couple of tree branches floated past) - so we just had to belay-it across the river, back up the hill, and back down the hill, into the van and back for a refund (full refund, thankfully, as we'd not done any actual canyoning). Went for a wander round town, found the wine tasting shop ($20 card, then wine tastes are priced - most expensive is $30 for a 25ml taste
of a $599 bottle of wine) - didn't bother tasting though, found the fudge/sweet shop - tasted a few - Creme Brulee is the best. Didn't buy any OR the Fergburger, although I may have one on Tuesday when I'm here for the night. Surprisingly YHA Central is fully booked so have to decide where to stay for that night. Meantime, have just put this up, want my dinner! So, more curry/rice for dinner, then decided still did want to go and do something - the skies had cleared, so with the sun setting at 9.30pm, after packing my bags AGAIN (for tomorrow), I headed up the Skyline Gondola and appeared to catch it at just the right time. Amazing views! Got back in time to crash into bed just before the lights went out. Took a while to sleep as had a loud, but irregular, snorer close by!
Go to Milford Sound, Te Anau and Doubtful Sound over the next couple of days.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.251s; Tpl: 0.013s; cc: 18; qc: 37; dbt: 0.0678s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb