Birthday Pleasantness in the Southern Alps

Very lovely mountains. Ahhh...I was a happy lady!
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I'm still in Queenstown...wooohooo we're almost up to date. Sort of...have been here for a week!

After declining an offer of a free hottub with the lads from Leeds I got on the bus to continue the journey south through the mountains. And wasn't it nice of fate to make sure the best scenery was saved for that very special day.

Instead of feeling lonely, nackered and homesick I was on top of the world and loved every minute of this trip. Every turn was breathtaking and again I thanked my lucky stars for bringing me here. Surely the best bday pressie in the world is sitting looking out the window at a beautiful landscape going happily by whilst listening to the tunes of my choice! Not bad at all. Will get pics on here when I have time to download cos you just can't describe the views.

The birthday bird!
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So, arrived in Queenstown and instantly loved the place. It's a real tourist town but has loads of charm in a ski area kind of way. Also it's the adrenalin capital of the adrenalin capital of the World. That's an adrenalin double wamy and the leaflets are as plentiful as the activities on offer. However, I have done a good chunk of this stuff already so it was time to book some more unusual things. I'm getting ahead of myself here though...there were more instant mates to meet!

I found myself in a 3 bed dorm with Father Ted (Irish would you believe) and Dawn French! Not bad. They were a hilarious double act and took me out on the town immediately for bd fun. Ended up being quite a quiet one though as Friday night is the biggy around here, so called it in early to save our strength for the next day.

This is the Tasman sea..and very nice it was too.
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Fri 29th Sept

Queenstown is not only a lot of fun, it's stunning too. Surrounded by snowcapped mountains, there's skiing a gogo and some very cool shops to purchase very cool ski gear in. I bought a t-shirt that you design yourself with logos of the activities you've done on. Nice memento.

Took a walk around town and booked in for adventure number 1 here...jet boating. This is something I've wanted to do for years and it didn't disappoint. It's a high speed jet boat that shoots down a river and narrowly misses the sides of the canyon you're hurtling along. ACE! I was sat at the front next to the driver and had an empty seat next to me. This meant that I wasn't really wedged in like the other ridders and I damn near came out on the first 360 degree spin! I was advised to brace my feet more firmly...yep no kidding.!..I thought this was going to seem a little tame after all my other shenanigans! Loved it!!

Wanika...didn't stay here but would have happily done so for the rest of my life with that view.
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We started off the evening revels by having a party in our room. Strange as it's the smallest room in the hostel if not the world I think. Now, these people I'm hanging out with range in age from about 19 to 28 and I'm suprised to find I get on with all of them. That's the thing about traveling, you'll all of a like mind and it works out fine. If you'd told me I'd find things in common with 20 year olds a year ago I'd laugh in your face, but I'm learning how irrelevant age can be.

We moved onto a few bars, one with a circular fireplace in the middle of the room (with lit fire, not something you'd catch in the UK as someone would inevitably fall in whilst showing off to their mates!) and ....a pole dancing pole. Horrraghhhh!!! My new mate Katy was straight up it of course and I know it may suprise you but I did not partake as was representing the older and wiser generation...yeah right!!! Several fantastic dance offs later and many more bars I found myself walking into a glass door and decided it was time to go home.