Waterworld
Queenstown: 3rd February
Although slightly lacking in charm, Queenstown is the adventure capital of New Zealand and therefore somewhere that is on most people's itinerary. Every possible activity is on offer and if you need some dutch courage, or want to celebrate being alive after a bungy jump or three, then there are also plenty of bars willing to take your cash. If you're an adrenaline junkie, with a thirst for beer, then this is the place for you.
We had a weekend to amuse ourselves in the town and on our first day were booked in for the 'Queenstown Combo' which included a half hour ride on a jet boat and an afternoon of white water rafting.
Feeling slightly apprehensive once again, we climbed onto the jet boat on the narrow Shotover river surrounded by canyon walls.
After a brief introductory talk, basically telling us to hold on tight, particularly when the driver signalled that he was about to do a 360 degree turn, we sped off for the nearest canyon wall. The boat was fast, apparently the monster guzzles two gallons of petrol a minute.
Strangely enough, I found it fun to be driven straight at canyon walls, barely missing them and spun round in this jet.
After some time of this, the driver obviously decided we were enjoying ourselves too much, and wanted to inject some fear into us. He told us to keep in our seats at all times and not put our heads up. Apparently a Japanese couple were in New Zealand for their honeymoon and also took the jet boat ride. Unfortunately, the groom was too keen a photographer and decided to sit right up to get a shot just as the boat careered alongside a jutting canyon wall. According to the fable, his head landed on her lap. This slightly freaked me out but Ed reassured me that it was nonsense. However, from then on, whenever we came right up close to the canyons, I told Ed to duck. Safety first and all that.
Next up was white water rafting on the Kawarau river. This involved a few grade 3 rapids before the final infamous dog leg rapid of grade 4. It was pretty smooth at first but the first rapid took us by surprise. All being first timers, and mostly feeble girls, we just weren't prepared for the force, and just froze; it seems unnatural at first to paddle your way into a rapid but really is the only way to get out. Being at the front of the raft, I was also the lucky one to get hit in the face front on by these waves.
No one fell in however, and by the time we reached the biggest rapid we were all powering our way in and came out intact. The weekend we were there the Shotover river was closed for rafting, but now that we've tried the slightly tamer river, I'd definitely like to give some of the more adventurous rapids a go. Just as long as I'm not at the front again of course.
Although slightly lacking in charm, Queenstown is the adventure capital of New Zealand and therefore somewhere that is on most people's itinerary. Every possible activity is on offer and if you need some dutch courage, or want to celebrate being alive after a bungy jump or three, then there are also plenty of bars willing to take your cash. If you're an adrenaline junkie, with a thirst for beer, then this is the place for you. We had a weekend to amuse ourselves in the town and on our first day were booked in for the 'Queenstown Combo' which included a half hour ride on a jet boat and an afternoon of white water rafting.
Feeling slightly apprehensive once again, we climbed onto the jet boat on the narrow Shotover river surrounded by canyon walls.
After a brief introductory talk, basically telling us to hold on tight, particularly when the driver signalled that he was about to do a 360 degree turn, we sped off for the nearest canyon wall. The boat was fast, apparently the monster guzzles two gallons of petrol a minute. Strangely enough, I found it fun to be driven straight at canyon walls, barely missing them and spun round in this jet.
After some time of this, the driver obviously decided we were enjoying ourselves too much, and wanted to inject some fear into us. He told us to keep in our seats at all times and not put our heads up. Apparently a Japanese couple were in New Zealand for their honeymoon and also took the jet boat ride. Unfortunately, the groom was too keen a photographer and decided to sit right up to get a shot just as the boat careered alongside a jutting canyon wall. According to the fable, his head landed on her lap. This slightly freaked me out but Ed reassured me that it was nonsense. However, from then on, whenever we came right up close to the canyons, I told Ed to duck. Safety first and all that.
Next up was white water rafting on the Kawarau river. This involved a few grade 3 rapids before the final infamous dog leg rapid of grade 4. It was pretty smooth at first but the first rapid took us by surprise. All being first timers, and mostly feeble girls, we just weren't prepared for the force, and just froze; it seems unnatural at first to paddle your way into a rapid but really is the only way to get out. Being at the front of the raft, I was also the lucky one to get hit in the face front on by these waves. No one fell in however, and by the time we reached the biggest rapid we were all powering our way in and came out intact. The weekend we were there the Shotover river was closed for rafting, but now that we've tried the slightly tamer river, I'd definitely like to give some of the more adventurous rapids a go. Just as long as I'm not at the front again of course.
Labels: New Zealand
posted by Hels at 12:01 am
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