Queenstown Adventuring                                                    February 13, 2000

Although many places in New Zealand provide tourists the opportunity to participate in outdoor adventures of one sort or another, Queenstown is the center of the adventuring universe.  Jet boating, bungy jumping, parasailing, hang gliding, parachute jumping, however you want to get your adrenaline rush, the streets of Queenstown are lined with businesses just waiting for your charge card.  There are actually only a small number of companies in the adventuring businesses, but seemingly every store in the city will help you book your excitement fix.  The activities themselves are generally conducted outside the city, but transportation is included in the admission price.  This means you can arrive in Queenstown by bus or air and then rely on shuttle services to get to your adventure destination.

Adventuring has been raised to an art form here.  You can sign up for package deals that will have you flying in a helicopter, jumping off a bridge, rafting in white water, and jet boating through narrow canyons almost all in the same day.  The prices are inexpensive by U.S. standards.  I think the preceding grouping can be had for under US $200.  There are shops, restaurants, bars, a casino and some night-life in Queenstown, but the main event is definitely adventure.  Nearly every visitor participates in one or more of the thrill opportunities. 

The photo above is of a jet boat, zooming though the Shotover River.  It's a great ride, one that truly makes you sit up and take notice.  You get to careen at speeds up to 70 kph down a river gorge, coming incredibly close to rocky outcroppings and overhanging trees, and doing 360 degree "wheelies" at full speed.  The one at the boat dock (where they store the LPG) ends up so close to the dock that you can get off the boat!  For the best and scariest ride, sit in the back of the boat.  Here the momentum on the turns really makes things spin. 

Queenstown is also a departure point for bus tours to nearby NZ scenic sites, Milford Sound in particular.  Add these buses to those bringing in tourists and the adventurer transporters and you get more buses running around than you can possibly imagine.  They are everywhere!  Drive into residential neighborhoods and you find them parked in driveways.  Hotel parking lots are full of them.  A third of the vehicles in the streets are buses.  We drove in the early evening south from Queenstown toward Milford Sound and fully half of the traffic we encountered coming from the Sound were tour buses.  They are an excellent alternative to driving even though you lose a little flexibility.

Those less drawn to adventure will enjoy Queenstown's beauty.  The city sits on the northern end of Lake Wakatipu.  Mountains rise steeply all around the lake, providing a stunning backdrop.  There are scenic drives up into the hills.  We took one up to the local ski slopes, closed for the summer.  Nice view, eh?  

Also, there are three totally different golf courses.  The one at Millbrook was recently played by President Clinton and is beautiful, although pricey by NZ standards.  Kelvin Heights is a scenic challenge, and Arrowtown's rocky outcroppings make you wonder where the ball will go next.  There's also historic Arrowtown to visit, wineries to enjoy and hikes to do.  It's a great place to spend a week, but more stay too long  and you won't have any adrenaline left.

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