Alice’s Gap Year Travels

On our way to the big QT we stopped at Puzzeling World which has a ton of frustrating puzzles, a big outdoor maze and illusion rooms. It was all terribly confusing and funny and we all came out feeling slightly drunk. Further down the track we stopped off at ‘The Bridge’ Bungy Centre where we watched a dvd about the creation and idea behind the Bungy, we then had the opportunity to book bungy jumps for any of the ones in Queenstown… we went for The Nevis (the 3rd largest in the world with an 8 second free fall and a height of 134metres!!) With everyone booked up we also got to watch people who were doing the bridge jump which is a 43metre bungy over water. It looked scary but most of us who had chosen The Nevis were a bit preoccupied with the fact that our one would be about 3.5 times bigger than that one 😮

Finally we arrived in Queenstown, not only party capital of New Zealand but honestly one of the most beautiful locations I have ever seen with the surroundings of Lake Wakatipu and various mountain ranges. We’ve been here just over a week now and we basically hit the bars and clubs every night (Blind leading the Blind bar-crawl being the best night so far – basically a blindfolded pub crawl) but in the days there is lots to do too. For example, ‘Frizbee Golf’ is huge here and free 😀 haha so we’ve had a couple of rounds of that in the park plus we’ve climbed up one of the mountains with which was HORRIFICALLY tough but well worth it for the views and we managed to get the gondala back down! Thank God. We went ice-skating yesterday as well which was hilarious as none of us have many skills. Also a must do in Queenstown is getting one of the famous burgers from FERG BURGER… amazing but if you’re planing on having one you don’t need to eat for about 3 days afterwards haha., delicious.

With the boys from our room (Sam, Ru and Nick) we did a tour to Milford Sounds which was really stunning but with a four hour drive there and back it was a pretty long day. Great scenery though as you go out to see the Sounds on a 2hr boat cruise which was really pretty and we all got some good snaps.

By far the best thing we’ve done in Queenstown though has to be our Nevis Bungy Jump, our friend Ben who we met in Airlie Beach whilst back in Oz is actually living here for the ski season so he came with us too. We were all feeling nervous as we headed to the Bungy Station in the morning, we had to be weighed which was pretty terrifying for holly and me in itself haha and then once they’d written our weights and group on our hands we got on a bus and drove up to the Nevis base. We were harnessed up and then had to get a cable car across to the jumping platform, they play loud misic to get everyone pumped and the atmosphere is crazy either with people who are psyched having just jumped or who are nervous and still waiting! Like the skydive it is hard to explain what it was like but before your go you sit in a chair and they strap up your feet and then you have to shuffle to the edge. Jumping seems like the most unnatural thing to do but thats why it’s so thrilling I guess – its probably one of the scariest things I’ve done… you’ll see my reaction when the videos go online haha! Incredible though.

Anyway – probably staying here a few more days so will have updates soon XXXXXXX

Having already skydived in this beautiful town the next morning our whole group headed down to the Glacier Centre to get kitted out for a glacier hike.. we were told to wear shorts which sounds crazy but it is better than getting long trousers all wet on the ice, we were given over coats, socks and boots, crampons for gripping the ice and later on a little pic-axe to help us climb.

We were split up into 5 groups, group 1 being very comfident on the ice and wanting to move quicker and group 5 not reaching so high up on the ice but going at an easy pace with lots of photo stops etc. Naturally group 1 was all lads but holly and myself decided to go in group 2 as we wanted a challenge 🙂 Our guide was called Jack and it was such a fun day, the guides all cut steps into the ice etc and you go down into big cravasses and ice caves – we got pretty wet and cold but it was well worth it! When we got back from the glacier we headed for the natural hot pools to relax and warm up before heading to the hostel bar in the evening for some dinner and chocolate cake!

Next morning was yet another early start as we drove out to see the Lake Matheson (the Mirror Lake) which on a good day can give a perfect reflection of the mountains and then continued on our journey through to Wanaka. Some how we managed to get a 6 bed dorm to ourselves which was wicked and the boys came through for a chat before we all headed down to the bar for some free ladies night punch! The Dj made us all do dance routines like the ‘Maccerina’ and ‘Call on Me’ etc as he knew we were from the kiwi bus and would be up for a laugh but I accidentally let it slip that I knew all the moves to Beyonce – Single Ladies and before I knew it the song was on and I had been dragged onto the dance floor by the barman to perform it infront of everyone. POSSIBLY ONE OF MY MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENTS EVER.

Anyway, after an eventful night in Wanaka it was time to head for Queenstown!..

XXXXX

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