Queenstown, Part 2

Queenstown, New Zealand

There's something about fall that I love.  In a place like Queenstown there's so much to see with such a diversity of people.  This is a wonderful thing for people watchers...which I TOTALLY am guilty of being.  I could sit forever and watch people come and go.  For at least this weekend, Queenstown provided a never ending supply of things to sit and enjoy.

We rode the Skyline Gondola to the top of a mountain overlooking Queenstown.  I vibrated with the excitement of a kid while views of the city and the vast landscape surrounding came into view.  Did I mention how grateful I am that my husband invested in a good camera? 

Views from the top were more spectacular than we could have hoped for.  Again, it's hard to convey the vastness of this place.  Photos just don't capture how insane it is to be looking out over such a place.

Since both of us are really just big kids (ok maybe more me than Mark), we SO rode the luge down the mountain multiple times.  I didn't tip over (it was close a few times), we didn't crash into anyone, and we didn't get kicked out!!  So much fun!  Here's is the lift for the luge:

Amoung the MANY things to do in Queenstown is Frisbee golf.  I'm a big fan... even if I'm more into seeing how far I can throw a Frisbee between my legs than I am of the whole par concept.  I'm mean seriously... who ACTUALLY gets a hole in one in Frisbee golf?  I vote for style points any day!

The disc golf goes through the gardens of Queenstown.  So, what do you suppose she's pondering?

Mark tells me this is a quintessential "Carrie" shot.  I dont' really know what that means, but I'm watching the ducks having a rather aggressive conversation over something apparently very important... somebody was getting a lecture!

We miss all of you!

Queenstown: Part 1

With the bulk of first semester behind me, I gladly piled my books in a corner and started packing my bags.  We decided to get out of town for my mid semester break and head to Queenstown.  Queenstown is a HUGE tourist spot, and thus one of the main places known by foreigners.  Being a couple of those foreigners, we thought... when in Rome...
So, here we go:

We jumped on a bus and settled in for almost 5 hours of the most spectacular scenery I've ever seen out a bus window.  Silly me brought a NON school book to read that never even got touched.  It's hard to describe the vastness of it all.  The way the emerald rivers snake around the base of the mountains creating the most perfect undisturbed mirror images of the world above.  It really is just humbling.  There's no way to capture this with a camera through the smudged windows of the bus, but here's at least one that came out...

Once we all fell out of the bus in Queenstown, Mark and I gathered our bags and headed to our backpackers accommodations.  What a cool experience this was!  You never know what you're getting yourself into with these places, but this was fantastic.  We met such awesome people from all over.  Stayed up late laughing and sharing life stories every night.  Five star hotels are nice... but isolating.  Here, you share meals and adventures of the day.

The first thing Mark and I did in Queenstown was tramp up a hill.  Not feeling quite up to the 7 hour "hard" trail, we chose the 3 hour "moderate" trail for our first real tramping experience.  And holy cow... the views were insane.  First off, it's fall here so there are these occasional bursts of color on the trails that are just stunning...

This wasn't really on the trail, but the path leading up to the trail.  It was a perfect fall day!!

On this particular trail, they have artwork that has been commissioned and strategically placed periodically.  This gate marked the beginning of the trail.

This would be me getting a closer look at the number of pine cones on the tree above.  No joke...there were too many to count!  I've never seen so many in one tree, let alone ALL the trees up there.  AND pine cone bombs would attack the unsuspecting passerby causing them to holler like a little girl!



Every so often on the way up the hill, there would be this break in the trees and then wow...

Mark taking it all in....

This wire basket was one of the art installations.  My favorite part was the chocolate Cadbury egg someone had left in the middle...

In addition to the installations by local artists, hikers have left their own mark on this trail.  Right at this one bend were tons of stones in piles all over.  It was actually a really cool thing to see.  Gathering his own stones, Mark joined in the quiet display.



The summit at the top of our hill was worth the hike.  It offered a 360 view of Queenstown and all the surrounding area.

It was an amazing morning on top of Queenstown hill.  I'll return and do a part 2 blog about the rest of our trip.  Until then...