Getting to visit Queenstown was undoubtedly one of the highlights of my time so far abroad. The variety of scenery and activities that were available to us were a great change from the Sydney metropolitan area.
On the first day we arrived we rented a car and traveled around the town getting to see some awesome views of the lake on Bob’s Cope. The breathtaking views in combination with the serenity of the area was exactly what I was looking for after spending the past couple months in Sydney. The wildlife there and their passion for exploration is clearly an important part of their culture as many of the trails are well preserved and the majority of people spend time out exploring the wilderness and being active. Many of the people were extremely friendly and more than willing to offer advice on which hikes to complete.
The next day we completed a relatively strenuous hike up the Wye Creek trail. At its peak, Ryan and I decided that we wanted to continue further up the mountain and made our own trail up to near the peak. The view was breathtaking and totally worth the 4 hour round trip up and down the steep cliffs. The emrison and assimilation of wildlife and nature into the Kiwi’s way of life was certainly somewhat of a shock to me. All of their homes are built with careful detail to the surrounding area. Furthermore, the town is very conscious of their waste and not to disturb the nature that has made their city so unique. That level of respect for the environment is something that I have yet to experience in the United States and something that I hope Americans will adopt in the future.
On our last day we got to go out on a jet boat on the lake and spent some time out exploring local restaurants and bars. We even went to an American themed bar which wasn’t too far off from the real deal with its combination of mechanical bull and ear piercing karaoke. Overall, Queenstown was eye opening to a more nature focused way of life and was an unforgettable trip.
