Adventure (empty pockets) capital of the world.
Trip Start
Oct 01, 2007
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43
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Trip End
May 07, 2008
Queenstown, New Zealand
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
The gondola to the top of the mountain behind us was two minutes walk so we headed up for some nice views and of course you can't come back down any mountain that offers luge rides without having a go. They also have an AJ Hackett ledge bungy and ledge swing at the top but they didn't look as good as some of the others we had seen.
We spent the next couple of days chilling out and going for drives out to Glenorchy and then up to Coronet peak. Coronet peak is a ski resort in the winter and a mountain biking haven in the summer. Apparently the Kiwi version of intermediate mountain biking would pass for advanced in Ireland with large jumps and crevasses to clear on the way down this steep slope. There are loads of Hang Gliders and Paragliders jumping off the peak too to catch the thermals from the valley. Everywhere you look in this country there's some way or another to climb and then jump off something high and frightening. Excellent news for the adrenaline junkie inside. On our last night in Queenstown and before hitting the shower to go out I noticed Kieran and Orla, a couple we had met back in Chile on the Navimag druise, driving out of our campsite. Lou and Orla had been keeping in touch but we didn't think we'd cathc up with them until further north. So I ended up running out of the camp site in me new flippity flops nearly falling all over the place before I finally got them to stop shouting Kierans name. It turned out they were a few steps down from us on the camp site and had just checked in. So after some brief chatting and of course in true Irish spirit we hit the bars that night for a pissup.
We went to the Ice Bar, "Minus 5" and we were the last group in for the night. It's not a bar you can walk in and out of. They give you big overcoats and gloves and a free cocktail (not very alcoholy) on entry. It was very nicely done all the same with lots of ice sculptures and seats and very cold indeed. After that we hit the bars for some more drinks before myself and Kieran savaged the nicest burgers in the world possibly. The "Fergburger". So nice you could feel your heart almost seize with every bite.
Next day we went to the National Rugby sevens finals which have been held in Queenstown for the last 3 years. Plenty of rugby played and plenty of talent on show in the sunshine. The hangovers were setting in so we chewed down a couple of beers before heading out to the Kawarau bridge for the moment of destiny. It's fair to say that having someone else sign up for the Bungy with you makes it no less easier but it does make you look like a wuss if you don't so myself and Kierna signed up got harnessed up and like the idiots we are we jumped off the 43 metre bridge to the water below. Great buzz although not as good a rush as the Skydive. The big difference between the two is that with the Bungy you make all the decisions and throw yourself off. I in my usual nervous style couldn't stop cursing before jumping which I'm sure will come out just splendid on the DVD. Lou and Orla watched us and I think the girls were just as nervous for us. Sure what else would you be doing on a Sunday?
After that we all just got drunk back at the campsite and were entertained later that night by a fella called Vincent who taught us all how to juggle without any great success. Great to meet with Kieran and Orla again and go on the rip for two days. Cheers lads..
Back north we go.
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