SOMEONE told me that Wanaka is what Queenstown was 20 years ago. Known as the adventure capitol of New Zealand, Queenstown has become a haven for backpackers.
The nightlife, the activities and the accommodation are all geared towards the thrill seeking, night owl travellers. With this in mind I departed the adorable town of Wanaka for Queenstown with some trepidation.
Queenstown in the shade of the Remarkables
We approached Queenstown from behind The Remarkables, an impressive and aptly named group of mountains. As we rounded them, the setting sun was radiating a pink glow across their snow dusted peaks. As I spotted the town, curled neatly around the stunning Lake Wakatipu I realised that any half baked assumptions I may have had about the town and its appeal were probably wrong. I found that here’s a lot more to Queenstown than getting drunk and eating the famous Ferg burgers. That said of course I’d recommend the latter to anyone.
We said goodbye to the Stray bus in Queenstown and were free to enjoy a week there before flying to Melbourne. The speed at which we flew through New Zealand on the bus was necessary due to time constraints. It wasn’t until we stopped however that I realised just how much I needed a break. The whole country had been zipping past my eyes in a blur. I sat on the beach in Queenstown for a few hours and everything became still and in focus. It was essential having time to process everything that I had seen and the sheer beauty of where I was.
The peace and tranquillity was unfortunately tainted by a niggling feeling of anxiety. As previously mentioned Queenstown is all about danger and is the birthplace of bungy jumping. It would have been rude of me not to try it.
The Ledge bungy jump juts out over Queenstown from the top of a hill. A short and aesthetically pleasing gondola ride brings you to the top where you’ll also find a restaurant and go carting track. When I saw the platform from which I was to leap my stomach turned. My friends and an unsettling number of bystanders had gathered to watch me. Backing out was not an option. Attached to the bungy by the waist I walked to the edge to have a look at the forest below. Legs shaking uncontrollably I took five paces back, ran and jumped into thin air. Down I fell, grabbing at the air for something that wasn’t there. It was over in seconds. I took in the view for a few moments as they dragged me back to safety, bobbing up and down at the end of a glorified elastic band.
The full article contains 457 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
