Queenstown, NZ

Trip Day 18

February 24, 2010

This is day 3 in Queenstown. Yesterday, while I didn't blog except to reprise the day before, I did get several nuts/bolts kinds of things done. First on the list was getting rid of some of the 'stuff' I'd brought for the hike and things I've acquired since arriving two weeks ago. The post office isn't far away. Unlike the USPS offices we're used to, this one was modern, well appointed and staffed by people who don't look like they'll 'go postal' at any minute. I bought a good box and packing materials and went back to the hotel. Into the box went about 16# of things I'll be glad not to lug around anymore. It only cost $122NZD. Yipes!

I'd begun to think about my flights to Sydney via Auckland a couple of days ago. I began to realize I hadn't allowed enough time for the connection. Had treated it lightly and not given enough thought to the fact that I would be connecting to an international flight and that I would have to claim my bags and recheck them in a different terminal with a different airline. Sooo…I tramped over to the Air New Zealand office and chatted up Lucille, a friendly Kiwi agent. Bingo. She told me I wouldn't have made the connection (a), and she could book me on an earlier flight (b). It would only cost me an additional $250. Arrrgh, said I. That was half again as much as I'd paid for the entire NZ itinerary (internal flights are very affordable), but there really wasn't any choice. There was only one seat left on the airplane and I grabbed it. I'll sleep better tonight.

Queenstown is a vibrant, energetic and youthful small city. There are outdoor gear shops and adventure tour agencies everywhere; and if you're not biking, hiking, kayaking, trekking, skydiving, bungee jumping or some blend of everything people wonder if you've got a pulse. Oh, and did I mention the beer? [I think I did.] Speights? Monteiths? Tui? Emersons? Wonderful! The wine is mighty good and everywhere, too. I worked on some of that last night and will practice some more tonight. Practice, practice, practice.

Then there's the Fergburger. This little joint has people lining up to get in most any hour of the day.

I mentioned the youthfulness of the city. Student-aged kids are everywhere doing what student-aged kids do everywhere: hanging out with their friends and having fun. The little city green on the waterfront had bodies strewn everywhere yesterday in fine warm sunshine. A little later in the afternoon, 'flat-white' time for me (espresso, hot water and steamed milk), two barely resisting girls were carried a couple hundred yards from a pub to the pier and tossed into the lake. I missed the airborne shot, but here's the landing. That's one of the New Zealand Americas' Cup boats in the background.

A gondola nearby takes visitors up the mountain behind the city and offers a spectacular view of Lake Wakatipu, The Remarkables and the other nearby mountains. Of course there's a popular luge course up there (you would expect as much,no?) as well as, yes, a bungee jumping platform (unused at least for the moment). And hang gliding when the wind is right. The mini-golf course is at the bottom of the mountain...can't imagine why. There's also a graphic indicator of just how far we are away from home.

The population, both permanent and temporary, is overwhelmingly white and English-speaking. It is certainly very popular with Asian cultures, too, but Canadians, Brits, Scots and Irish are in the main with the USA heavily represented as well.

I rented a mountain bike this morning with the [unrealistic, as it turns out] goal of visiting some nearby vineyards. Ted Schrauth, my Perthian friend and host come March 1^st, had recommended seeing a half dozen particular vineyards. Not today, at least not on a bike. The closest one was about 25K away. They'll have to wait. I took the bike on a largely beautifully maintained trail around the lake and only crashed once. Rookie mistake. There were even bathrooms at convenient locations. What a concept!

Tomorrow is travel day. I leave for Auckland at 9.50am and will arrive in Sydney around 5pm. Bidding farewell to New Zealand the BIG little country will be bittersweet. It's been a wonderful experience.