The snow from the night before already had us excited, but as we drove through Queenstown we were practically shaking, as we realised that choosing to spend 4 days here would not be a mistake. Queenstown is home to all the young people, and it has the most beautiful surroundings, but a great social life and buzz. As it was clearly snowy season, the town transformed to a winter sports haven, but unfortunately for us we were a couple of weeks early for ski season, although it is a place we would love to come back and discover, as we both enjoy snow sports.
We would be staying at a Nomads hostel, just a stones throw away from the beautiful lake.
That night, Mangee said that as Queentown was a party place, that there would be a bar crawl for our bus to take part in. As Mindy was throwing her party the day after, we decided to take it slow and just go for a few drinks. It started at a pub that offered an exceptional pulled pork burger, and Mangee told us that Queenstown should be the place we gorge ourselves, as it is a bit of a food capital, of course being home to the infamous Fergburger which we were dying to try.
After a very tame bar crawl, we all managed to get a good nights rest, and catch up on some well needed sleep. The next day we all slept in till fairly late, and caught up on things like washing clothes, talking to our family and friends, and taking advantage of the Sauna our hostel had on offer! Archie who was someone particularly in love with the Nomads Spa, managed to get Tom in for an hour and a half long session that morning, and they both came out very pink!
As we were going to Mindy's that night, we spent the day leisurely exploring Queenstown which is only a fairly small place realistically, so it didn't take us too long. As the snow was still very much there, we wrapped up and took a walk around the town, and we also came across the biggest duck we had ever seen!
As the evening approached, we all got ready for Mindy's party, and got some alcohol from the local shops. Mindy's house was up in the mountainous part of Queentown, so we took a very windy taxi journey up to her house.
As it was dark we had a bit of trouble finding her house, but after a calling out Mindy a few times, one of her housemates came to our rescue and let us in through her giant front door! Her house was amazing, and had a lovely view of the lake. Mindy's house was as cool as her, with snowboard after snowboard lined up against the front door, along with skateboards and other equipment that made us jealous of her laid back outdoorsy lifestyle. Other clues to Mindy and her friends fun lives, was the giant pool table and kitchen which was boasting loads of red cups in order for us to play beer pong.
We got to know her lovely housemates, and started on the beer pong.
Needless to say, the night is a huge blur to all of us, so we only have pictures to help us piece together what actually happened that night.
We know we had fun, and we know we ended up heading out in to Queenstown, but coming home shortly after (with a McDonalds in hand of course, probably not what Mangee meant when he suggest we try out the local food!) realising just how much of a state we were all in.
The next day we all felt pretty bad, and Steph had managed to get a large bruise on her back, with no one having any recollection of how she got it! We knew the only thing that cure these hangovers would be a trip to the almighty Fergburger, so we did just that, and prayed that the burgers would live up to the hype.
We would be staying at a Nomads hostel, just a stones throw away from the beautiful lake.
That night, Mangee said that as Queentown was a party place, that there would be a bar crawl for our bus to take part in. As Mindy was throwing her party the day after, we decided to take it slow and just go for a few drinks. It started at a pub that offered an exceptional pulled pork burger, and Mangee told us that Queenstown should be the place we gorge ourselves, as it is a bit of a food capital, of course being home to the infamous Fergburger which we were dying to try.
After a very tame bar crawl, we all managed to get a good nights rest, and catch up on some well needed sleep. The next day we all slept in till fairly late, and caught up on things like washing clothes, talking to our family and friends, and taking advantage of the Sauna our hostel had on offer! Archie who was someone particularly in love with the Nomads Spa, managed to get Tom in for an hour and a half long session that morning, and they both came out very pink!
As we were going to Mindy's that night, we spent the day leisurely exploring Queenstown which is only a fairly small place realistically, so it didn't take us too long. As the snow was still very much there, we wrapped up and took a walk around the town, and we also came across the biggest duck we had ever seen!
As the evening approached, we all got ready for Mindy's party, and got some alcohol from the local shops. Mindy's house was up in the mountainous part of Queentown, so we took a very windy taxi journey up to her house.
As it was dark we had a bit of trouble finding her house, but after a calling out Mindy a few times, one of her housemates came to our rescue and let us in through her giant front door! Her house was amazing, and had a lovely view of the lake. Mindy's house was as cool as her, with snowboard after snowboard lined up against the front door, along with skateboards and other equipment that made us jealous of her laid back outdoorsy lifestyle. Other clues to Mindy and her friends fun lives, was the giant pool table and kitchen which was boasting loads of red cups in order for us to play beer pong.
We got to know her lovely housemates, and started on the beer pong.
Needless to say, the night is a huge blur to all of us, so we only have pictures to help us piece together what actually happened that night.
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| this sets the tone for the evening really |
We know we had fun, and we know we ended up heading out in to Queenstown, but coming home shortly after (with a McDonalds in hand of course, probably not what Mangee meant when he suggest we try out the local food!) realising just how much of a state we were all in.
The next day we all felt pretty bad, and Steph had managed to get a large bruise on her back, with no one having any recollection of how she got it! We knew the only thing that cure these hangovers would be a trip to the almighty Fergburger, so we did just that, and prayed that the burgers would live up to the hype.
We got in the que which was actually quite short for Fergburger, and ordered our food. Steph went for the standard Fergburger, but treated herself to blue cheese inside, whilst Tom opted for the 'Mr Big Stuff Burger' which was 2 burgers in one, complete with Bacon, cheese and BBQ sauce.
They were absolutely enormous, but also really really tasty! We would go back to Queenstown for the Fergburger alone, and in the small space of time we spent in Queenstown, Wise John went a bit of the rails from being wise, and ate about 6 Fergburgers in total!
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| Charlotte's amazing burger |
With food in our bellies, we felt slightly more alive and decided to have a go at the lugeing at the top of Queenstown. The sun was shining so we knew it would be a great view from the top, so we ascended the cable car to have a go!
At the top, we really weren't disappointed, and it allowed us to see just how beautiful the area was, and how lucky the Queenstown residents were to have all this on their doorsteps.
After taking in the views, it was racing time, and we got geared up to have a go on the luge. The inner child came out in us all once again, and it was honestly so much fun! We were racing one another and went down about three times, catching the chair lift back up to the top making us remember to take in the breathtaking backdrop surrounding us.
After a few goes of lugeing, we started a small snowball fight that was destined to end in disaster. Tom threw a snowball at Mark, which he decided to bat away with his water bottle. However his hand were so slippy from the snow, he accidentally launched the full water bottle over the edge of the mountain, towards crowds of people, including the elderly and children below. His face was one we had never seen before, and he spent the whole journey down wandering if he had killed someone.
After the previous night and a day of lugeing, we were quite tired which was just as well, as the following day we were having a very early start at 7am, for our extra add on day trip to Milford Sound, which was a huge day so is in a whole new post of it's own! So find that
The evening after Milford Sound would be our last as the tight knit group we had formed over the last few weeks. John and Iqra, were staying on to do the Deep South add on of the kiwi experience, and Dan would be staying permanently in Queenstown to find a job.
To cheer us all up, we decided to go to Fat Badgers which was a pizza place Mangee had recommend to us, on his spiel about gourmet Queenstown. Although we were sad, we enjoyed the GIGANTIC pizzas, and had some laughs.
The next morning we were leaving at 9am to Lake Tekapo, and this would be the start to our group becoming smaller smaller each day. John and Iqra waved us off, and the bus felt very quiet without them, (especially Iqra!) Although we had lost a few people along the way like David and Mindy, this really felt like the beginning of the end.
We really did make some life long friends on the bus, and have every intention of staying in contact in the future, and since we are still away, there have been a few Kiwi meetups back at home, we just can't wait to join them!
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| Our kiwi bus family! |
Next stop Tekapo!
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