Let me just start off by saying this is a MUST DO for anyone travelling to New Zealand. Seriously, google image this place or just read up on it if you're interested, it's just breathtaking.
http://www.queenstownnz.co.nz/information/
Next word of caution, this will be a long post, and I've cut it down soo much haha. Lots of words, lots of pictures. Hope that's alright...................
I have been here before on my first trip to New Zealand years ago and I remember loving it but don't think I spent too much time there. It was my first time snowboarding and I'm pretty sure it traumatized me but still amazing nonetheless. Last time I went in July, this time it was in May.
This time around it was still pretty short, 3 days and 2 nights but my 2 friends and I managed to pack in so much stuff during that time, including all our travel time. I think this is my first post about these two girls, I met them doing housekeeping and also worked at the restaurant with one of the girls. Their names are Sarah and Ariana. The thing about Queenstown is that it has something for absolutely anyone! It's an amazing city to visit in both the summer and the winter, I don't think anyone would ever tire of it. Furthermore, it's picture perfect. EVERYWHERE. You look around and it's gorgeous, mountains, blue skies, clear waters, just incredible. I've never seen anything like it before (although I've heard it's somewhat comparable to the gorgeous areas of BC). I'll give a little run down of what I accomplished there, although as I'm sure people have seen on facebook or heard the complaints my parents have made, most of you already know the shenanigans I got up to whilst there. Albeit, here's another look:
Day 1.
After arrival we settled into our hostel (keeping it in the family we stayed at the popular BASE Hostel there as that was our place of employment in Auckland). We decided to walk around a bit and get familiar with the
immediate surroundings, take in some of the beautiful sites. We walked through
a park, along the Lake Wakatipu and in the downtown core stopping off at little
shops here and there.
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| yayy arrival in Queenstown :) |
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| Sarah - me - Ariana |
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| Walk in the park |
Before heading to the boat cruise we grabbed a bite to eat at this burger joint I was WAY too excited to eat at. It’s pretty infamous around New Zealand, Australia and I’m sure parts of the world know about it. Only one location, in Queenstown. It had an incredible variety of burgers to choose from. It’s called “Fergburger” and honestly you cannot go to Queenstown without eating there, everyone will tell you to go! The only downfall of it is that you’ll want to try every single burger haha, unfortunately I don’t think your wallet or stomach would appreciate it. What’s also really interesting is that they opened up this new bakery beside it called “FergBakery” (wasn’t there when I was here years ago). You can get dessert baked goods, pies, sausage rolls, etc. All amazing as you would imagine.
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| Fergburger smile |
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| chowing down |
Next on our list to enjoy the city was to take a boat cruise around Lake
Wakatipu. Gorgeous views and the water was incredibly clear. We went during the
fall time so it was a little chilly but very refreshing, nothing a Canadian
couldn't handle ;). Our boat driver stopped in the middle of the lake and let
us have a drink of the lake water, and honestly it so good haha. Tasted clean
and fresh and obviously untreated, delightful. We heard some history about the
area, the towns around the lake and headed back to the city after some tea and
biscuits. After
returning from our boat cruise we wandered more of the town, seeing it in a
different light at night time. We had a nice little dinner at the casino
restaurant, and called it an early night as we had big adventures the next
morning we were so anxious for and didn’t want to be tired or feeling ill after
a night of drinking! EEEEEEEE :D I get excited just thinking about it!!
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| our cute little vessel |
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| drinking our lake water! |
Day 2.
Waking up BRIGHT AND EARLY for our day of facing fears and
fun. I honestly don’t think I can explain to anyone how amazing and incredible
and thrilling and nerve-wracking and exciting and heart stopping and gosh so
many other things this adventure is. On our way to do the heart racing Nevis
Bungy – a whopping 134 m high wire bungy jump into the valley. The HIGHEST
bungy in all of Australasia. After being weighed, and branded with your jump
number and weight we set off on a bus ride up the Nevis Canyon, steep ride up
but spectacular views. Once you have your harness on you take a cable car ride
into the middle of the canyon and step onto another little high wire waiting
pod with everyone else doing the jump at that time. You wait and wait for your
name to be called to prepare for your jump. This thing is incredible, you’re
just suspended in the middle of nowhere with the wind blowing you ever so
slightly. There are window panels in ground so you can see the little creek
running beneath you. Your name gets called and you say a frantic goodbye to
your friends as you walk to the holding chair. Take a seat and enjoy the brief
conversation the very good looking male workers try to make with you to calm
you down. Give a wave to the overhead camera as they tie your legs together and
wobble on over to the edge of the platform once everything is secure. It’s
about a 1.5 ft x 1.5 ft square that juts out from the rest of the pod. You look
down/up/side to side and all you see is canyon and nothing else. So so
breathtaking. Give another little wave at the camera or a nervous smile, which
ever suits you and just wait for their call. “THREE, TWO, ONE, BUNGYYYYYY!”
That’s your cue, don’t you dare hesitate, just jump out and do not, I repeat,
do not close your eyes. And, don’t jump feet first or else you’re in for a
world of pain haha. You’ll never see anything like it. You’ll never feel
anything like it! The feel of flying, you don’t get that dropping sensation
like on a rollercoaster, you just feel blissful. Even the bounce backs are so
relaxing and so smooth, no jerking of the back, no neck snapping, just very
easy bounces. After a couple of bounces at the height you pull this cord out of
your leg wraps, tug on it a little and you’ll flip upright- giving you the best
seat in the house for this remarkable land. Enjoy your ride back up to the pod
and feel proud of yourself for accomplishing this incredible feat. Once you get your feet back on almost solid
ground you just wait until they’ll cart you back over to real ground on the
cable car. Spend immense amounts of money on your pictures and videos because
why not and you put on that Nevis Bungy shirt to show off to everyone how
awesome you are! Woooooohoooo :D that’s
about it for the Bungy. But you’ll never really understand unless you do it
yourself, so please go go go and do it, or do any bungy anywhere, it’s amazing.
Just one thing I ask of you, bring me with you because I’m already addicted and
I’ve done it once haha.
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| This was taken for my parents, notice the palms of my hands! |
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| first time and couldn't help but be smiling and excited instead of nervous |
After
that adrenaline rush we decided to some more fun but low key stuff, the
Queenstown luge. Take the gondola up the mountain providing you with yet
another reason to take hundreds of photos and take a few rides down the luge
track, fast track and scenic route. It’s so much fun and worth the money, as
well as the rickety ride up one of the gondolas haha
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| not a fake background! |
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| suited up for our luge |
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| panorama of beautiful queenstown up on the luge area |
Day 3.
This day was just a day for rest, a few more walking treks, and nursing our heads after a night out of celebrating. Had lunch on the water and got the catch of the day, absolutely mouthwatering. Snapped some more pictures of course and got our butts back on the plane to head to what now seemed like boring Auckland haha
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| sharing the best views with the best friend |
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| still act like children at a restaurant |
there's so much more to do in Queenstown, definitely going to make a solid effort to head back that way one day!
another post to come very soon! won't be nearly as exciting however
