Thursday , August 21st, 2003 – Day 184
I had a poor nights sleep. I am in a four bed dorm but two Irish girls snored their heads off. I would have done my South American thing and slapped with a pillow but as they were IRISH girls, decided I might come off worse. I was up and out by 8.30am. It was damn cold and about to snow. Temperature have been dropping below ZERO at night. The hostel is warm though.
Post about people who snore – I hate people who snore, well I hate them if they know they snore and still enter a hostel to share a dorm. If I knew I snored and still went to hostels, I would be embarrassed and ashamed. You are deliberately keeping the people you share with awake. I have mentioned this to a few people and they agree. They should be taken out and shot.
I went on the NET early as it happy hour (3 NZD per hour) before 11.00am. After that I walked towards skyline which is the viewing point for the city.
In Queenstown there is no better place to appraise Queenstown than from the Skyline Gondola (tel. 03/441-0101), which takes you up to Bob’s Peak. The view is breathtaking. You can stay for lunch or dinner at the buffet restaurant or cafe. The gondola operates from 9am until the restaurant closes around midnight, with a round-trip fare of NZ$14 ($6) for adults, NZ$5 ($2.10) for children. The complex includes shops and an 800m (2,624-ft.) luge. The 30-minute thrills-and-spills film Kiwi Magic shows hourly from 10am.
I decided to walk. This was a steep walk through forest track and simple forest. It was quite hard but I enjoyed it. I am done little exercise since leaving South America and have ate nothing but junk food, muffins and fries since I have arrived. It took 40 minutes and you would need to be reasonably fit for it. For the last 15 minutes I had to walk through fresh snow which was up to 2 cm.
As we do not get much snow In Ireland, I was like a little boy taking pictures of it. It was heavy but fresh powder. It was getting colder and colder as I walked up.
Skyline is reached by Gondola cableway which whisks you smoothly up 450 metres as Queenstown drops away below. Breathtaking views from the top extend almost full circle, from Coronet Peak around to The Remarkables and on to Cecil and Walter Peaks on the other side of beautiful Lake Wakatipu.
The views are great once you get there.
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Queenstown – New Zealand – Gondola Views (21-08-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Queenstown – New Zealand – Gondola Views (21-08-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Queenstown – New Zealand – Gondola Views (21-08-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Queenstown – New Zealand – Gondola Views (21-08-2003)
I saved 15 NZD by walking up so I decided to do 2 Luge rides for 9 NZD. I had done 5 Luge rides (the only other place in New Zealand to have it) so I went straight for the advanced track. It had some nice fast corners and dips but two rides were enough. It was very cold and my hands were freezing. It was now snowing heavy.
What is Luging?
The tracks are 4 metre wide reinforced concrete that wind 800 metres through the trees and end at the Skyline Gondola and Restaurant Complex.
You ride a 3 wheeled Luge Cart that has a unique braking and steering system which allows you to travel as slow or as fast as you dare, controlling your ride and creating your own fun!
There are two tracks, one scenic for those wanting a more sedate ride and an advanced track for those wanting the thrill and excitement of dips, bends and tunnels. There are stopping bays where the rider can rest, admire the view or catch their breath. The Skyline Luge (tel. 03/441-0101) is 800m (2,624 ft.) of downhill fun for NZ$26 ($11) per adult, NZ$19 ($8) per child, which includes the gondola ride up and five luge rides. It operates from 9am to dusk; tickets are available from the Skyline Gondola terminals.
I walked back down after having coffee and a fantastic blueberry Muffin (my favorite) at the Skyline. I walked back down as its all down hill. It only took me 15 minutes. I met some Japanese tourists who were exhausted half way up.
It was 1.50pm by the time I reached the city centre. I walked into the tourist office and picked up the A. J. Hackett Bungy brochure.
I walked to their office. I wanted to do the Kawarau Suspension Bridge Jump, at 43m (141 ft.) high. It was the world’s first commercial bungee operation, and since it was the “original,” it seems to hold a special place in jumpers’ hearts.
I had done a jump a few weeks ago but I wanted to do a water touch jump for a different experience. Its expensive at 125 NZD but when will I ever get the chance to come back to new Zealand and do one. It took me 30-40 minutes before I decided to do it. Buses leave for the jump site at 9.00am, 12.00am and 3.00pm.
I got on the 3.00pm bus. There was an Aussie, an American Couple, a English guy and me. The jump great for water touches in the Kawarau River and is located 23km (14 miles) from Queenstown. It took 20 minutes to get there and we got weighted.
The heavies jump first which was the American guy. He was harnessed up and got ready to jump. He could not DO IT. He was there for 10 minutes on the edge looking over and down. He tried lots of times but could not let go of the structure. His wife was up next and we were all giving me encouragement, but no. He refused and cam out. His wife was next and she jumped with her arms folder all the time. It was weird and she never screamed or uttered a word all the time. At the bottom they lower you into a dingy.
I was up next. I was harnessed in and I was quickly moved to the edge. I asked for a water touch. Its up to you if you want a dry jump or a wet one. If wet, you can a get what you want from just hands or all the way to your waist. It was very cold up there and snow flakes were evident. Everyone was shivering. I asked for my arms and head to get the water treatment. I got to the edge but did not jump on the first 5 second countdown. I steadied myself and jumped on the second count. They complicated things by saying I had to hit the water with my arms out and my head down to my chest. It was pretty cool and I enjoyed the jump. You always get Japanese tourist clapping.
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Queenstown – New Zealand – Kawarau Bridge Jum. Thuis is the picture of me (for 12 NZD) doing the jump. Nice pic yeah! (21-08-2003)
Everyone else jumped and we were all finished by 4.15pm. The American guy felt like shit. I can imagine what’s its like especially with his wife jumping. Imagine the politics of marriage. When push comes to shove in any of their arguments, she jumped and he did not. Imagine the balance of power shifting in that marriage. He said he was going to come back tomorrow.
I got back to town at around 5.00pm and got something to eat. I headed back to the hostel. I then watched Memento on TV and headed down town. I booked a bus ticket with Atomic Shuttles for 3.10pm tomorrow. I also rang Quantas to change my flight from the 30th of August to the 26th. I simply want to enjoy a weekend in Melbourne!!