Queenstown, New Zealand

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Took an early flight down to Queenstown - barely 30 minutes in the air. The pilot announced that the arrival would be dramatic and that he loved this route. Well, he was right! It was not quite Paro, but pretty close as he turned between mountains and then dropped into the valley and the airport. The view from the plane of the snow-capped Mackenzie Range in the distance were stunning. We left Christchurch in bleak overcast weather; but the sky is brilliant blue here with a few puffy clouds. It is hot with just a hint of a cool breeze, especially on the lake. Queenstown is a holiday mecca on Lake Wakatipu. It looks like a combination of Switzerland and the Italian lakes; but the town itself is modern. Lots of hotels, youth hostels, B&Bs and nice shops. Queenstown is also the center of extreme sports in New Zealand (billed as New Zealand's Adventure Capital)- basically their birthplace. You name it and you can do it here...and they do. And they are all very young!!!! Hang gliding, bungy-jumping (NZ spelling); parasailing; gliding; sky-diving; jet boating and skiing in the winter and much more. And - lots of hiking trails, some taking days to complete. My hotel is a little gem right on the lake and I have a balcony with an amazing view of the lake and the mountains. I plan to be on it until the light fades round about 9 pm. I left my luggage at the hotel (the room wasn't ready) and took the gondola up the local peak (no name?) for spectacular views and a delicious buffet lunch with a local Otego Sauvignon Blanc. Watched the hang-gliders, some coming down right in front of the window! Also watched the lugers. If you want to luge, you rent a plastic luge and a helmet, you take a chairlift from the Skyline Restaurant to the very top of the mountain with the luge attached to the seat and then you race, as fast as you want, down the luge run. After lunch, I took an old coal-fired steamer for a little cruise on the lake. It was wonderful basking in the sun on the open deck. The scenery here is absolutely breathtaking. A picture is worth a thousand words, so I'll let you judge for yourselves. And here's the view from my balcony




Tomorrow I leave early for an overnight fiordland trip and I spend the night in Te Anau - try finding that on your maps!