AmyHuang
Let's talk about Queenstown
Seeing that New Zealand is such a popular destination at the moment (Just received another Qantas Deal email on cheap flights to New Zealand) - Let's talk more about it.
Queenstown
Our focus is Queenstown today, well known as the capital of adventure sports. As mentioned in my previous post, it is here that bungy jumping started and is well known to be New Zealand's top ski resort town. There is however plenty of other things to do around Queenstown that can keep you entertained throughout the year.
Apparently, hand gliding is the closest a human can get to actually fly; at least, that's what the instructor said. I personally have chicken guts and have never attempted the activity, I can however, quote a friend's experience where he thought once you get over the initial nerves, the entire gliding experience is spectacular. Without the limitations created by chutes with sky dives and paragliding, hand gliding allows you to control the direction a lot more and the flight is more horizontal rather than vertical. And the bird’s eye view over Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu, on a clear day, is just breathtaking.
So my guts couldn't take me on this extreme activity, so while my companion was at it, I took myself on the Ben Lomond Track, a 914 meters ascend to apparently the highest peak in the Wakatipu Basin, where Queenstown lies. The track took me from the foot of the hill through shrubs and a native forest before clearing up to reveal a panorama view of Queenstown and the lake. The changes in vegetation is rapid and although steep at times, is a rewarding experience once you reach the 'Saddle', where you have 360 degrees view of the surroundings, including the snow capped mountains a little further into the horizon. For those more fit and adventurous, you are able to ascend up to the summit of Ben Lomond, which is a steep incline requiring good shoes and adrenaline.
If you prefer to keep physical activities to the minimum, you’d be glad to know there is a gondola lift service running from the foot of the hill up to the Skyline Chatlet, at 450 meters elevation. There are cafes and restaurants as well as an information centre on the area at the end station, and there is still a great view onto the city from this point. Then you can trek a little to join up to the second half of the trail.
There are plenty of other activities to do in Queenstown – all you need to do is pop into the tourist information centre in the city centre, and ask them to help you book. One of my favourite is to hire a kayak and explore along the lake shores. Everything looks different from another angle!
Queenstown itself is not a bad city to roam – try not to drive, park your car somewhere and walk around the narrow streets on foot. Take a stroll in Queenstown Gardens, that’s the little green inlet off the map on the lake, where you can sit on the lake side for a picnic, or pay a small fee and play a bit of tennis. There are plenty of shops and cafes and restaurants to keep you entertained, and the laid back atmosphere of the pubs are great to rest your feet after a day of exploring.
Queenstown
Our focus is Queenstown today, well known as the capital of adventure sports. As mentioned in my previous post, it is here that bungy jumping started and is well known to be New Zealand's top ski resort town. There is however plenty of other things to do around Queenstown that can keep you entertained throughout the year.
Apparently, hand gliding is the closest a human can get to actually fly; at least, that's what the instructor said. I personally have chicken guts and have never attempted the activity, I can however, quote a friend's experience where he thought once you get over the initial nerves, the entire gliding experience is spectacular. Without the limitations created by chutes with sky dives and paragliding, hand gliding allows you to control the direction a lot more and the flight is more horizontal rather than vertical. And the bird’s eye view over Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu, on a clear day, is just breathtaking.
So my guts couldn't take me on this extreme activity, so while my companion was at it, I took myself on the Ben Lomond Track, a 914 meters ascend to apparently the highest peak in the Wakatipu Basin, where Queenstown lies. The track took me from the foot of the hill through shrubs and a native forest before clearing up to reveal a panorama view of Queenstown and the lake. The changes in vegetation is rapid and although steep at times, is a rewarding experience once you reach the 'Saddle', where you have 360 degrees view of the surroundings, including the snow capped mountains a little further into the horizon. For those more fit and adventurous, you are able to ascend up to the summit of Ben Lomond, which is a steep incline requiring good shoes and adrenaline.
If you prefer to keep physical activities to the minimum, you’d be glad to know there is a gondola lift service running from the foot of the hill up to the Skyline Chatlet, at 450 meters elevation. There are cafes and restaurants as well as an information centre on the area at the end station, and there is still a great view onto the city from this point. Then you can trek a little to join up to the second half of the trail.
There are plenty of other activities to do in Queenstown – all you need to do is pop into the tourist information centre in the city centre, and ask them to help you book. One of my favourite is to hire a kayak and explore along the lake shores. Everything looks different from another angle!
Queenstown itself is not a bad city to roam – try not to drive, park your car somewhere and walk around the narrow streets on foot. Take a stroll in Queenstown Gardens, that’s the little green inlet off the map on the lake, where you can sit on the lake side for a picnic, or pay a small fee and play a bit of tennis. There are plenty of shops and cafes and restaurants to keep you entertained, and the laid back atmosphere of the pubs are great to rest your feet after a day of exploring.
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They say bungee jumping is addictive - but I am not sure about that. I don't want to wet my pants again (and it wasn't from the river either) *ahem*