Queenstown and Milford Sound

January 26th - 29th

Got into Queenstown at a decent time and got our bungee jump booked straight away for the following morning - best to get these things out of the way.

We were both pretty terrified on the drive there and I'd had about 3 dreams/nightmares about it the night before. At least they got it over with quickly - we turned up and within 20 minutes we were looking out over the edge of the Kawarau bridge (the world's first bungee jump). We decided to do a tandem so at least we'd have some company on the way down / into the next life. After nervously waving to the cameras and thousands of Japanese tourists we took the plunge. Pretty amazing feeling apart from the massive pressure on your lower legs from the rope - after a couple of bounces we got pulled into the boat at the bottom and felt re-born.

We walked up Queenstown hill the next day which took us about 2 hours and gave us spectacular views over the town and lake Wakatipu. Also met the most aggressive American bloke ever at the top which was very funny. The forest on the way up the walk was full of mini fields of huge funghi which was pretty cool.

Only gripe about Queenstown was the campsite which charged for EVERYTHING - $2 for a shower, what a joke.

We headed south the next day, planning to stay just outside Milford Sound and we made a couple of stops to look at some of the amazing scenery. We made really good time (I was driving) so we managed to make the last boat trip of the day meaning we stayed at Te Anau that night and avoided the horrific Milford Sound sandflies.

We'd heard a lot about Milford Sound and it's views from a lot of other people, but nothing prepared us for the jaw-dropping views as we chugged up the Sound and back. Saw a few waterfalls as well and cursed our decision not to take jackets as it was so hot. In the wind on the boat it was absolutely biting cold - arrrgrhgrhrgh.