If I haven't been laying it on thick, it's because it would get redundant...but I just gotta say again that is place is EXQUISITELY pretty. I mean, coming into Queenstown was borderline outrageous. Phenomenal. Visual masturbation for the wilderness pornographer
Damn. I'm still reeling. Basically, the road from Wanaka to Queenstown says 58 km, so I'm like, "cool, it's less than an hour." What the map did not show me is that the road included a high, snowy pass crossing, multiple washouts, ribbon-like switchhbacks, and the occasional sheep herd traffic jam. Plus, I was stopping every third minute to check the view. In other words, your typical NZ drive.
Queenstown is a major tourist hub, providing access to Milford Sound and the Routeburn Track (Fjordland NP and Mt. Aspiring NP, respectively.) It also enjoys a setting on par with Tahoe, with deep blue lakes and wild, fin-like mountain peaks all around. Whether you are driving or walking, every turn brings a new view.
This is also where the first bungee jump was legalized in 1988, and is basically Disneyland for the outdoor/adrenaline junkie. I find it overwhelming, and I'm eager to eat my Mexican meal and blast on to Glenorchy, which is the gateway town for my next 2 tramps (Rees/Dart Valleys and Routeburn).
NZ has sooo much going for it that the guidebook didn't even mention that I was about to pass through a world-class view. They're a dime-a-dozen down here.
Incidentally, I had an interesting conversation with a waitress from Maryland. She says that NZ suffers from talent flight, as the best and the brightest leave for Oz, Europe or the US. Then, I heard on the radio today, that outmigration is at an all time high. Maybe its the sandflies.
Damn. I'm still reeling. Basically, the road from Wanaka to Queenstown says 58 km, so I'm like, "cool, it's less than an hour." What the map did not show me is that the road included a high, snowy pass crossing, multiple washouts, ribbon-like switchhbacks, and the occasional sheep herd traffic jam. Plus, I was stopping every third minute to check the view. In other words, your typical NZ drive.
Queenstown is a major tourist hub, providing access to Milford Sound and the Routeburn Track (Fjordland NP and Mt. Aspiring NP, respectively.) It also enjoys a setting on par with Tahoe, with deep blue lakes and wild, fin-like mountain peaks all around. Whether you are driving or walking, every turn brings a new view.
This is also where the first bungee jump was legalized in 1988, and is basically Disneyland for the outdoor/adrenaline junkie. I find it overwhelming, and I'm eager to eat my Mexican meal and blast on to Glenorchy, which is the gateway town for my next 2 tramps (Rees/Dart Valleys and Routeburn).
NZ has sooo much going for it that the guidebook didn't even mention that I was about to pass through a world-class view. They're a dime-a-dozen down here.
Incidentally, I had an interesting conversation with a waitress from Maryland. She says that NZ suffers from talent flight, as the best and the brightest leave for Oz, Europe or the US. Then, I heard on the radio today, that outmigration is at an all time high. Maybe its the sandflies.
1 comment:
Trek on. We visited Milford Sound --but no bungy jumping. YOu still hae the Kiwis to look forward to.
Give a ring on Christmas if you can.
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