Queenstown

Queenstown

After saying goodbye to S’wacky, I flew to Queenstown.

I typically like everything to be organized, but I intentionally decided to show up in Queenstown without a plan. The only reservation I had was my departing flight in a few days' time.  So when I landed, I grabbed some brochures and hopped on a bus for the middle of town. Once there, I talked to an agent at an information station, received a list of the names of many hostels, and started walking to find one.

I secured the last room in the hostel (and they had cheap wireless!)

Having no responsibilities, no plan, and no structure was freeing. Finding my way when dropped into a new environment boosted my self-esteem. 

Yet, I don't feel the need to repeat the experience. If I go somewhere, I want to experience the best that place has to offer instead of spending my time while I'm there trying to figure out what there is to see. A lot of the best opportunities can only be taken advantage of if planned in advance.

Fun fact

In the northern hemisphere, we always turn our clocks back an hour in November (fall for us) and an hour ahead in March. It’s easy to remember because you fall back and you spring ahead. New Zealand does the same thing, but the months are opposite. They “spring ahead” towards the end of the year (their spring) and “fall back” in April (their fall).

Fergburger

Tourists and Kiwis agree that the best restaurant in Queenstown is the burger joint Fergburger.

After being in Asia, it was unpleasant to go back to paying Western prices.
Every day in New Zealand cost as much as a week in Thailand

The burger was scrumptious and huge. It was so good that I ate the majority
of my meals in Queenstown at Fergburger

Sacrilegious, but delicious

The views

I enjoyed taking a gondola up to the top of the mountain.

Gondolas take tourists from near the center of the city
to the top of the mountain

From the top, the views are breathtaking

 

Can you spot the plane against the mountain?

Can you spot the helicopter? (hint it's right above the shadow on the hill)

 

Big boats slowing crossed the bay

I love how the city is nestled between mountains and a lake

The clouds hover just over the mountains

Adventure capital of the world

Queenstown is the adventure capital of the world and people come from all over to enjoy the hang gliding, helicopter rides, and sky diving among many activities. Queenstown is home to the first permanent commercial bungee jumping site and there are many places to jump around the island, including the top of the hill.

While I was admiring the view, I saw a guy about to bungee jump. As I stood poised with my camera, I waited and waited and waited. Eventually, he stepped back from the ledge and walked away.

Walk of shame

The worst part is that a lot of people wait for you to jump so as you take the long walk back towards the main lodge, you have to go through a walk of shame as everyone thinks you are a wimp and a coward while you are also wallowing in self-loathing for being a chicken.

The next guy jumped successfully

While these adrenaline inducing activities would be fun, they are not as fun to do alone. Since I didn't have a buddy with me, I stayed pretty tame during this visit in Queenstown. Life, like all journeys, is vastly improved when you have the right company.

Chasing the weather

Like any resort town, there is huge turnover in the population. Half of the people follow the sun and only come for the summer and the summer activities. The other half of people love the snow and they live in New Zealand during its winter and then go to Canada to work on the mountains there during the northern hemisphere’s winter months. As a Minnesotan, I appreciate all four seasons and would find it hard to move halfway around the world every six months.

I made new friends at a wedding last year. They had decided to quit their jobs
and travel around New Zealand for a year. While I was in Queenstown, I saw on their blog
they were there too and they generously gave me a ride to the airport. They are
a couple of the small percentage of people that stay for both the winter and summer seasons.