Queenstown

I have a feeling my blog post about Queenstown will not be as entertaining as Janet and Will's (http://janetandwill.blogspot.com.au/) I will try....

I arrived in Queenstown Thursday morning and was already impressed before I left the airport. Besides the amazing mountains that surrounded me and the fresh crisp air that greeted me as I stepped out of the airplane, I had a strawberry chocolate muffin that was probably the best muffin I've ever had in my life (actually not kidding right now).

Janet, Will and I started out exploring downtown, interestingly enough Will ran into one of his coworkers! He had forgotten that she was taking a family trip to NZ. Small world. We didn't waste any time checking out Fergburger, which I was a little disappointed about. There was way more bread than meat.

We did the gondola ride up the mountain. Janet and I decided to walk down, which was the worst idea ever. Besides getting lost, the trail was way too steep and we could hear in the distance trees being cut down. There also wasn't a view. But the time up on the top of the mountain was amazing! After an afternoon exploring we headed to Te Anau for the night.

beautiful Queenstown

The next day we drove to Milford Sound, which was beautiful. Just amazing. After Milford we took our time getting back to Queenstown, stopping a few times to check out Mirror Lake, the Chasm and a few other short walks. Of course we also counted road kill and deer and sheep farms while driving back. Yes friends from the States, they have deer farms here. It's weird. No Kea spottings unfortunately.

Almost perfect...
waterfall in Milford


Milford Sound

The Chasm




Queenstown

Friday night we went to Moon's Thai (dad I figured you would appreciate that, more appreciation will come later...) where the waitress asked how old I was. For those unfamiliar to NZ, most restaurants and bars have signs that say "Please don't be offended, but if you look under 25 you will need to show ID." So basically the waitress refused to serve me because I said I was 23. Janet had to go up to the manager and explain the situation and eventually the laws of NZ. But the story ended happily, because I was served!


After that we went to the Mac's pub by the water and watched a little Rugby. Saturday morning Will go up early to go sledging, while Janet and I had breakfast, walked around town and went to a local crafts fair (nothing "crafty" about it). Then it started raining, hard. So we went back to the hotel, waited for Will to get back and then went to Gibbston Cheesery, for a cheese and wine tasting, of course! Not just any wine tasting, but my very first wine tasting! I've decided I'm a sauvignon blanc and riesling kind of gal.

After Gibbston, we went to the Winehouse where I remembered why I don't like red wine. Then to the Kawau bridge. Janet, Will and I got hooked watching all the bungy jumpers. And before we knew it we were all planning how we would want to jump. I would want my hands to lightly skim the water, while Will liked the idea of jumping with a few other people to get a good bounce....I think you know where this is headed...

And if you know me at all, you know there is no way in hell I jumped!

But Will did!

Will gets ready to bungy jump!

After the jump, we went back to town and had dinner. After dinner we went to Winnie's (dad, more appreciation here). I met a German guy, who was nice, but also kind of annoying me at the time so we went to look for a local bar to watch the Otago vs Australia rugby match. But eventually we figured out that there are no locals in Queenstown. All of the bouncers we asked for local bar tips were all foreigners and everyone just looked like tourists. So we ended up back at Mac's to watch the rest of the rugby game.

I've decided that I could like rugby, if I knew the rules. It's kind of like a car accident, with all the injuries, but you still just have to watch. Blood seems to be all over their faces and clothes at the end during their wrap-up interviews, while others faces are so swollen you can't see their eyes. It's disgusting, and yet strangely entertaining...

Anyways, Sunday was my last day so we had breakfast in front of a fire in Arrowtown (probably the best pancakes by a fire that I've ever had) and walked around the town. Then we ended up doing more wine tastings! And eventually I made my way back to the Queenstown airport.

Basically the best weekend ever. I never wanted it to end. I loved traveling with Janet and Will too.