Queenstown
Rolled into Queenstown on the evening of the 7th, after a failed detour to Wanaka, to the tones of Kiwi rock band The Feelers "As good as it gets". The drive into Queenstown was beautiful, and the placement of the town almost is as good as it gets. It is located at the shore of a huge, clear blue lake, surrounded by towering, beautiful, mountains.
Regarding the failed detour to Wanaka, we had originally planned on going hiking in a remote region of Mt Aspiring National Park, but after driving on a gravel road for more than an hour, we came across what used to be a small creek, which was now a not so small creek, that we simply could not cross in our car. So, all that way for nothing. However, it was still beautiful where we had to stop, although we would have liked to see more.
Back to Queenstown; yesterday we had a paraflight scheduled. However, the wind was apparently too strong to let us do it, so it was cancelled and rescheduled for today. Instead of doing the paraflight, we took the car to the small town of Arrowtown for lunch. Not much to see there, but the ice cream we had was nice. After lunch we travelled to another little town called Glenorchy, where we were going to go horse back riding the next day. Even though it was blowing, the weather was great, and it was absolutely beautiful there. A lot of the scenes from the Lord of the Rings movies where shot in these surroundings, and it was truly beautiful.
Later in the evening we were on our way to the Skyline Gondola where we were going to have dinner. Its a restaurant located high up on one of the mountains surrounding Queenstown, with some spectacular views. However, before we went up we decided to go to a birdlife park to see some Kiwi-birds. Well, it cost us 350 kronor, to see two Kiwis, in a pitch black room, eating worms. Perhaps not really worth the entrance fee, but at least we got to see some Kiwi-birds :)
Kiwis are apparently nocturnal, and the chance of spotting them in the wild is infinitesmal. And they are endangered too... or well, there are 70 000 of them, which the guide said sounded like a lot but that a 1000 years ago there were 12 million kiwi-birds on New Zealand. But how can they possible be sure that there were so many, a thousand years ago?
Dinner at the Skyline Gondola was nice. We got a table right next to a window, and the food was great. We also fit in a couple of rides on the Luge while up there, which is a downhill race course, and loads of fun.
Today, besides the rescheduled paraflight, we were going to go horseback riding in Glenorchy. But once again, this activity was cancelled due to heavy rain. And, of course, the paraflight was cancelled too because of rain and wind. So, today was spent waiting, and having everything being cancelled on us. Sophie got a necklace cheap, and yeah, thats the most eventful thing of the day.
Tomorrow we were originally scheduled to be on a small boat cruise in Milford Sound, but we just got a call that we can not be on that cruise because that too has been cancelled. Instead we've been moved to another bigger boat, which kind of sucks, but what can you do. And while we've rescheduled the paraflight, and horseback riding, for the 11th, besides booking a paragliding trip, right now it feels that with our luck here all of that will be cancelled as well.
So we are a bit bummed out at the moment. As beautiful as Queenstown is, there's really not that much to do in this city if you are not off doing some sort of activity. Only 13 000 people live here, and well, whats that, twice the size of Boden? You do the math... :)
Guess its good that they don't do the trips if it is potentially dangerous. Erik and Annica got into problem on their rafting trip here, because of heavy rainfall and elevated levels of water, and two days ago two people died while being where they were not supposed to be on a glacier. But still... bums you out a bit.
But, if all else goes to hell, and all activities are cancelled on the 11th, Joakim has pledged that he will do a bungy jump, just to have done something here. Sophie wont jump, but will watch and do the screaming.
PS:
Patrik mentioned something about intrigues and stuff, and specificially what hobbits where sleeping together... isn't it obvious that Sam and Frodo must've been doing it? As to what role Gollum played in their hobbit/goblin "menage a trois" is really best left alone.
We had to turn back from the hike into Mt Aspiring National Park... didn't want to end up like this cow
Regarding the failed detour to Wanaka, we had originally planned on going hiking in a remote region of Mt Aspiring National Park, but after driving on a gravel road for more than an hour, we came across what used to be a small creek, which was now a not so small creek, that we simply could not cross in our car. So, all that way for nothing. However, it was still beautiful where we had to stop, although we would have liked to see more.
Minutes before paraflight being cancelled.... does the weather look calm? Yeah, we thought so too
Back to Queenstown; yesterday we had a paraflight scheduled. However, the wind was apparently too strong to let us do it, so it was cancelled and rescheduled for today. Instead of doing the paraflight, we took the car to the small town of Arrowtown for lunch. Not much to see there, but the ice cream we had was nice. After lunch we travelled to another little town called Glenorchy, where we were going to go horse back riding the next day. Even though it was blowing, the weather was great, and it was absolutely beautiful there. A lot of the scenes from the Lord of the Rings movies where shot in these surroundings, and it was truly beautiful.
On the way to Glenorchy, "the gateway to Paradise" (Yes, Paradise is a town...)
Later in the evening we were on our way to the Skyline Gondola where we were going to have dinner. Its a restaurant located high up on one of the mountains surrounding Queenstown, with some spectacular views. However, before we went up we decided to go to a birdlife park to see some Kiwi-birds. Well, it cost us 350 kronor, to see two Kiwis, in a pitch black room, eating worms. Perhaps not really worth the entrance fee, but at least we got to see some Kiwi-birds :)
A not entirely live sighting of a not entirely live Kiwi bird
Kiwis are apparently nocturnal, and the chance of spotting them in the wild is infinitesmal. And they are endangered too... or well, there are 70 000 of them, which the guide said sounded like a lot but that a 1000 years ago there were 12 million kiwi-birds on New Zealand. But how can they possible be sure that there were so many, a thousand years ago?
View from the Skyline Gondola
Dinner at the Skyline Gondola was nice. We got a table right next to a window, and the food was great. We also fit in a couple of rides on the Luge while up there, which is a downhill race course, and loads of fun.
View from the bar
Sunset over Lake... uhmmm... over The Lake
Today, besides the rescheduled paraflight, we were going to go horseback riding in Glenorchy. But once again, this activity was cancelled due to heavy rain. And, of course, the paraflight was cancelled too because of rain and wind. So, today was spent waiting, and having everything being cancelled on us. Sophie got a necklace cheap, and yeah, thats the most eventful thing of the day.
The Gondola
Tomorrow we were originally scheduled to be on a small boat cruise in Milford Sound, but we just got a call that we can not be on that cruise because that too has been cancelled. Instead we've been moved to another bigger boat, which kind of sucks, but what can you do. And while we've rescheduled the paraflight, and horseback riding, for the 11th, besides booking a paragliding trip, right now it feels that with our luck here all of that will be cancelled as well.
View over Queenstown
So we are a bit bummed out at the moment. As beautiful as Queenstown is, there's really not that much to do in this city if you are not off doing some sort of activity. Only 13 000 people live here, and well, whats that, twice the size of Boden? You do the math... :)
Guess its good that they don't do the trips if it is potentially dangerous. Erik and Annica got into problem on their rafting trip here, because of heavy rainfall and elevated levels of water, and two days ago two people died while being where they were not supposed to be on a glacier. But still... bums you out a bit.
But, if all else goes to hell, and all activities are cancelled on the 11th, Joakim has pledged that he will do a bungy jump, just to have done something here. Sophie wont jump, but will watch and do the screaming.
PS:
Patrik mentioned something about intrigues and stuff, and specificially what hobbits where sleeping together... isn't it obvious that Sam and Frodo must've been doing it? As to what role Gollum played in their hobbit/goblin "menage a trois" is really best left alone.
Labels: New Zealand
posted by Joakim at 9:05 PM
7 Comments:
Ser väldigt vackert ut men vädret tycks inte vara att lita på, men bungy jump är väl ändå att ta i lite i överkant, säger Kocoo.
Tillbringa dagarna med Luge & den der baren po huvudgatan som serverar drinkar i tekannor. Prima liv.
Satsa po trippelhoppen Jocke for extra halsoppningar... ;)
Ladda kamerorna infor Milford & ha det gott!
Cheer up! Ni har ju för fasen redan gjort aktiviteter så det slår härliga till. Slå till med en redig fylla vettja!
Nyss hemkomna fran Milford Sound, och lite gladare idag :) Det var verkligen jattevackert dar, men mer om det imorn (formodligen).
Daniel:
Tveksam till trippelhoppen, men drinkar i tekannor later genialt :)
Mistress of reqs (Olle?):
Sant sant ... det far bli en redig tekannefylla istallet :)
Hej!
Så fina bilder, inte minst Hector och Kiwifågeln! :-)
Ni måste ha upplevt väldigt mycket!
Tiden går fooooort. Imorgon är min ledighet slut. Vi kome hem från Liverpool och London inatt. Lyckad resa. Liverpool var riktigt fint, och mycket att se. Kul också med allt Beatlesrelaterat...köpte en synnerligen flummig väska, mycket vacker ;-)
Kram!
Hedvig
haha
Well maybe if you say Mr of reqs. Olle hälsar så gott. Vi har det så bra och mysigt. Vi skulle dock vilja att du såg över det där medlemssystemet... Vi har diskuterat funktionaliteten över julledigheten och har nu kommit överens om att det är bättre om det där med tillfällig adress fungerar så att det även passar såna som turistar över stora områden och höga höjder. Det behövs ju flera tillfälliga adresser då. Gärna ska det kunna bli nån multifunktionalitet så att systemet känner av vilken färdplan man tar. Om det skulle bli dåligt väder tex. Man kan ju behöva styra om sin tur. Teoretiskt sett.
Haha
Gaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!
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