To Queenstown

We found ourselves in Puzzling World, first stop out of Wanaka. Buzz certainly knows how to wake us all up. First we were presented with a series of brain teasers and optical illusions,

then we had to deal with a seriously difficult maze. I’m not sure if anyone actually managed to complete it but we all certainly got plenty of morning exercise!

It was beautifully sunny all the way to Queenstown. There were vineyards on either side of the road and I noticed now that the Lupins were in bloom, lots of yellow ones but some blues and mauves. There were also Californian poppies on the grass verges.

Two guys at the front of the bus had taken my seat and I ended up behind Buzz but I just couldn’t believe how two blokes (one of these guys and Buzz) could sustain a conversation on rugby for over an hour!

Now we were following the Kawanau River which was Veridian in colour, in fact the colours on this part of the journey were more incredible than ever with the lupins and poppies, the river, the mountains and the heather and broom, all against a backcloth of snowcapped mountains and clear blue sky! I’m still in paradise.

We passed through the Gibston Valley to the Kowanau Gorge where some of our guys were planning to do their bungy jump – not for me! I chatted to a local. He had done this about 10 years ago and said he was too old now, it was not for the faint-hearted.

This would not have stopped me but I had absolutely no inclination to do it and especially at $195. Happy to have spent this on the Bottom Bus to see penguins and wildlife and the Milford Sound.

We eventually arrived in beautiful Queenstown. Wow! I wandered down to the lake only a 100 yards or so from the Nomads Hostel where I was staying.

I just sat on the beach and absorbed the scene before me for an hour or so before wandering up to the Botanical Gardens which was on a peninsular jutting into the Bay.

I found myself on the other side which gave a new angle to the mountains reflected in the lake. I was just in total awe.

The sun was dropping down behind the mountain although the paragliders were still floating on the thermals from the top, and I made my way back to the hostel.

They were offering free dinner at Nomads but I didn’t expect too much. However it was quite a substantial barbecued burger with salad and onions in a bap. I had to queue for it along with my fellow travellers.
Later I was invited to join a pub crawl, a regular event organised by the Nomads Hostel. I did question whether this was a wise move but decided to go with the flow. 130 turned up for this and we all marched around town in a semi-organised mob taking a different short at each venue. Each short was a different colour and taste although I haven’t a clue what they were.

By the fifth venue we were dancing on the tables and soon after this various competitions were announced. One was where the women were asked to supply some article of underwear for a prize. Suddenly all these bras appeared from nowhere! The next one for the prize of a bungy was the first into the lake stripped down to knickers. Five blokes took the plunge in the dark….. and one of them completely naked …… crazy!!!!

Although I’d had a fun time, I decided enough was enough by midnight when they all piled into a nightclub.
I fell asleep fairly quickly after disturbing one of the girls who was already tucked up in her bunk. However there were still two more to come in and they arrived giggling at about 3.30am.