5 days of hangovers, 5 nights of fun, one Nevis arc swing, one river boarding and some beautiful scenery = Queenstown Love it!!!

Sunday 24th January 2010

The bus picked us up this morning at 9am destination Queenstown!!! First stop of the day was just down the road from the hostel to puzzle world which had a giant maze and three illusion rooms which where very confusing and one of the rooms made us feel very sick!!! We didn't complete the maze because it started raining and it wasn't that important to us to get wet for. We had a well deserved bacon sandwich in the middle as we hadn't had time for breakfast.

From here we all got back on the bus and drove for an hour and half to Mrs Jones fruit store to stock up on fruit and veg as we had been told the fresh produce in Queenstown is rubbish. We also got a fresh fruit ice cream here which was lovely. From here it was another one hour drive to the AJ Hackett Kawarau Bridge bungy which was the first commercially operated bungy site in the world. While here we got to watch a video called the secrets of Bungy which nearly made Suzie cry just watching it! Bungy jumping is definitely not for Suz!! After we had watched the film we watched a few people Bungy jump off the bridge and then I got the biggest shock when Suzie turned to me and said should we book the Nevis Arc, the world's highest swing then! I've been trying to convince her for 3 weeks to do it with me and she'd been refusing point blank!!! So after I'd checked that she did actually want to do it and she wasn't just doing it for me, we booked it. I was very excited but Suzie couldn't quite bring her self to be excited yet!!!

After here we went into Queenstown,first stop was the lake for a group picture and then we were dropped off at our hostel. Once we'd checked in and got sorted we went for a walk by the lake and bumped into some of the girls from our last bus who'd we'd become friendly with, but they'd got to Queenstown before us because we had extra days else where. We sat by the lake with them for a bit before heading back to the hostel to get some food before getting ready for the pole dancing party tonight.

Tonight we had decided to go to a pole dancing party which is organized by a English lady that now lives in Queenstown which is for girls only and she has started offering it to the Kiwi experience. Most of the girls from the bus had also decided to go so it was a really good night. They picked us from the hostel in taxis and took us to the studio. We got a glass of champagne on arrival and a bit more after but we were also allowed to take our own booze as well which was good. They then split us into two groups and we had to learn a routine which was very amusing since I've got no co -ordination, Suzie did a bit better at this than me. I was good at swinging around the pole but anything else my co-ordination got the better of me!!! We all had a brilliant time though, they then dropped us back at the hostel where we met up with everyone else and had our first proper night out in Queenstown and we then understood what all the fuss was about!!!

Monday 25TH January 2010

This morning we were both pretty fragile from last night so the morning was canceled out as our beds took priority. We eventuallygot are selves together and went for some lunch at the bakery before heading to AJ Hakett Bungy office ready for our Nevis Arc Swingwe got there at around 1.30pm. First we got checked in and weighed and then we had around a half an hour wait for the bus to pick us up to take us to the Nevis Arc swing which was about an hour's journey away. The whole bus was filled with nerves as there were people like us doing the swing and the others were all there to do the bungy jumping.

Just in case you are all a bit confused what the Nevis Arc swing is here is a bit of a description for you all:

The Nevis Arc is the World's Highest Swing! Located next to the Nevis Bungy in the Nevis Canyon... Swing forwards, backwards, alone or with a friend. You will be suspended high above the canyon floor and release yourself, let your mates release you or leave it up to our crew. Then experience a massive rush of adrenaline as you find yourself accelerating through the canyon at mind blowing speeds in a 300m Arc!

Once we arrived we had a quick cigarette to calm our nerves and we then headed over the bridge to the swing site. As we were first over the bridge he asked if we wanted to go first which Suzie gave a very firm no to the idea!!! So we made the German girls who had been on bus with us go first and then it was our turn. We opted to do it backwards so we got all harnessed in and attached together as we were doing it as a tandemand then we were all set go and the nerves where starting to kick in!!. We were then transported out slightly so we were just hanging over the edge. The man asked us if we wanted a surprise or a count down, we opted for a count down so he started the countdown 5-4-3-2-1 and we were prepared to go then he just stood there and smiled at us as you can imagine there was a few choice words before he eventually pressed the button and let us go. It was amazing and we both loved it after we had stopped screaming and realised we had survived, the scenery was also lovely and we were just swinging through the air looking at the views it was great. We were then transported back up to the platform but as we got nearly to the platform the machine decided to break and we were just dangling above the canyon, I think we were both a bit scared at that point!! Luckily he managed to fix it fairly quickly and we got safely back on the platform.

Once the adrenaline that was pumping through our bodies had started to calm down we stood and watched other people doing it for about 45 minute before we decided to do it again as it was only $35 to do it a second time. This time we decided to do it backwards and upside down as I'd not really found the first time very scary. I met my match doing it upside down, I must admit I was scared the second time. Again we were both harnessed and attached together they then transported us back so we were hanging over the canyon again we then had to flick our legs over and attach then to the harness straps it took us ages to sort our legs out and we both got a little light headed from the blood going to our heads. We then had our pictures taken before he decided that our legs still weren't in the right place, so we got that sorted and he then decides to have a chat with us about what our plans are in New Zealand (B**tard)!!! We requested a count down again and by this point we had a bit of a crowd as some people were about to leave but when they heard we were doing it upside down they all stayed to watch. So everyone on the platform did us a countdown and then we were off again and it was AWESOME!!!! So much better than the first one. Once we had calmed down and stopped swinging so much we had a bit of a dilemma as we wanted to get back up right but we were both a little bit scared to move in case something went wrong or the harness broke so after a bit of a debate we decided to go for it and luckily nothing went wrong except Suz got her leg stuck but we managed to sort that out quickly.

It was then back up to the platform where he told us somebody had payed for us to go again and were we ready!!! At this point Suz shouted a very loud no but he was only joking and we got back safely onto the platform. I was so proud of Suz as it had taken me so long to persuade her to do it and I don't think she had really wanted to do it but had done it for me and then she does it twice and upside down as well but she did love it and we were both buzzing after. Since we had enjoyed it so much we had to buy both the DVD and photo's so we could have the memory for when we get home.

Once back safely at the hostel we went to the bar for dinner and got the bar man to play our DVD as we hadn't seen it properly in the shop. After dinner we went up to the room and read our books for a bit and Suz fell asleep before Dad rang for a quick chat. We were then heading to bed as we had an early start the next morning but we popped to see the girls who we had met to apologise that we wouldn't be coming out. Suzie got persuaded to go for a few they tried with me but I was so tired I wanted to go to bed. So I went to bed and Suz went for a few but she wasn't too late and only had a couple.

Tuesday 26th January 2010

Early start this morning as we were doing a day trip to Milford Soundsfrom Queenstown so our pick up time was 8am. The bus was a bit late but that was good in a way as it gave us chance to get a coffee and to say goodbye to some friends that were leaving. The bus eventually turned up and we all got on, the scenery leaving Queenstown was lovely. Then about 45 minutes after we left the bus got driven off the road by a big truck and crashed in to the rocks so that was an eventful start to the morning luckily no one was hurt, the window of the bus smashed and it had some nice dints in the side of it and the driver was very shaken bless him!!So we all had to get off and wait for a replacement bus to come so unfortunately that cut our day a bit short as we lost about an hour.

Once the replacement bus arrived we got on our way and drove for about another hour and a half to the ferry terminal. The scenery from the bus once we entered Milford sounds was out of this world sooooo beautiful. We arrived at the ferry terminal collected our tickets and then boarded the boat straight away and then as soon as we got on the boat we were served an all you can eat buffet which was really good. Once we had filled our bellies we went out onto the top deck for our two hour boat cruise through the Flords and out to the Tasman Sea it was lovely you'll have to look at the pictures to understand how beautiful it was.On the way back we were dropped off at the Milford deep underwater observatory which was ok for a quick look we got to see some very weird looking fish but you wouldn't have wanted to stay for too long there. The boat then picked us back up and took us to the ferry terminal to catch the bus back to Queenstown. On the way back we stopped at many view points to take pictures and we even got to see our first snow/ice of the year which was quite exciting since we've been so jealous of how much you've had this year and we've missed it all (but don't think we can really complain….can we???). The drive back took us about 3 hours and we got back to Queenstown at around 8.30pm.

Tonight once we had showered and got sorted we had dinner at Fern Burger as they are famous and everyone was raving about the burgers we thought it was quite nice but not the best burger we've ever had. After we had eaten we met all the girls in Altitude bar which is the hostel bar and I think you can guess the rest of the night……..

Wednesday 27th January 2010

Another morning wasted from the joys of alcohol and late nights!!! Once we eventually surfaced and got sorted we had a quick bite to eat then it was time for river surfing that we had booked to do. River surfing is basically using a body board to go down rapids instead of using a raft. We arrived at the office and again had to sign our life's away I promise we'll stop doing dangerous activities soon!!! It was then onto a mini bus and we drove for about 45 minutes to the river and another one of there offices to get all kitted up with wet suits, helmets, flippers etc. Once we were all sorted we got back on the bus to drive a short distant for training on the river before we got to the real rapids. It was a lot harder than we expected but great fun. Once we had had our training it was back on the bus to drive to the real thing. Once we were there we had another prep talk before starting the rapids. It was great fun but unfortunately we only got to do 3 rapids which took about 15 minutes, we were under the impression it would be for longer considering how much we paid for it!!! After we had finished the rapids we had a bit of a play, first off we got pull along by the jet ski which was great fun, and then we did a 7m rock jump which was good but rather scary neither of us rushed back to do another one and then we went on the slide into the river 3 times which was fab and even better as we got taken back to the ladder on the back of the jet ski. It was then a well deserved warm shower, a hot drink and then back on the bus to Queenstown!!

Once back at the hostel we ate in the bar again as it was a 5 dollar meal deal so it would be rude not to. Then we got ready for our final night out in Queenstown sad times!! Once we were ready we went to the girl's room for drinks before going out, we all got a bit carried away and didn't end up leaving the room until 1am but it was still busy everyway and we had a great night and we all had a cocktail tea pot at world bar!!

Thursday 28th January 2010

A bad thing happened this morning we woke up at 09.30am and our bus left at 08.30am whoops!!!! I suppose that's what happens if you don't go to bed till 05.30am. I don't really know how we thought we were going to get up anyway. So after a few frantic phone calls and checking we could stay another night we got back into bed and slept until lunch time. By this time the girls had heard through the grape vine that we had missed the bus so they were pleased that we could have another leaving party tonight. So we went for lunch with Steph and Kerry and then we sun bathed by the lake for the afternoon before going to the hot pools. We hadn't really thought about going to the hot pools but Kerry had won a competition and that was her prize so she invited us to join her and Steph. It was lovely we had our own private pool for one hour with a retracting roof with views of the mountains and the river below us. We said after as Queenstown is a skiing resort how nice it would be to go there after a day on the slopes the views would be amazing!!!

Tonight we hit the town again but since there was 4 of us catching the bus in the morning we made a pact to all wake each other up and with a little help from Dad we all made the bus the next morning!!!