Outdoor Options Galore in Queenstown

Queenstown, New Zealand

Queenstown is New Zealand's main center for adventure sports, offering such activities as hiking, skydiving, bungee jumping, mountain biking, and boating. It's also a great place to keep young kids entertained for a few days.

Many New Zealanders complain its become overrun by tourists, so don't wait until the last minute to secure accommodations. I paid a lot more than I wanted because I thought I could just show up and find something.

Queenstown, itself, wasn't my favorite place because of the throng of visitors, but as with every other stop in New Zealand,

a scenic hike lay nearby.








just minutes outside the city.

I checked out the Ben Lomond Summit Track – a six-to-eight hour, seven-mile round trip. I discovered firsthand how quickly the weather can change in New Zealand.

I left in sunshine but a couple of hours later found myself in heavy fog,

followed by rain and snow.







Make sure you bring gear for all possibilities before venturing into the mountains.

I can't say enough about the friendliness of New Zealanders.

I found these at the beginning of my hike – a walking stick, as well as sunglasses and a hat,

seemingly for anyone to use.









In America, it's called "trail magic." Along the Appalachian Trail, well wishers sometimes perform random acts of kindness for the hikers, such as leaving fruit behind.

Since Queenstown is so popular, expect prices here to be a bit higher than elsewhere in New Zealand.

One of the hardest parts about visiting New Zealand is deciding what to see because there are so many beautiful spots.

Wherever you end up, expect to find some great, outdoor adventures and some of the nicest, most helpful people on Earth.

Majestic Mount Cook

Mt. Cook, New Zealand

You're looking at New Zealand's highest mountain. Mount Cook stands at 12,218 feet (3724 meters).

Sir Edmund Hillary – the first person to climb Mt. Everest – trained here for his epic, alpine achievement.

The mountain is part of the 435-square-mile Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Sight.

Accommodations are limited and should be booked well in advance, but many bus lines stop here for a few hours along the route from Queenstown to Christchurch. It's well worth a visit on any tour of the South Island.


Next Destination: Options Galore in Queenstown

Star Gazing at Lake Tekapo

Lake Tekapo, New Zealand

The village of Lake Tekapo is little more than a handful of buildings scattered along the highway between Queenstown and Christchurch, but as with most of New Zealand, the highlight is the outdoors.

Some come to admire the Southern Alps or swim in these glacial waters, but eventually everyone wanders down to this idyllic church

nestled on the shores of the lake









to witness what happens after the sun goes down.

Courtesy of www.newzealand.com

The atmospheric conditions, as well as the absence of light pollution, provide some of the best star gazing on Earth.







This is just a glimpse of what you'll find on any clear night, a sight of such radiance that it's hard to believe it's real.

The village is also said to have some of the cleanest air in the Southern Hemisphere, all of which make Lake Tekapo a great stop for a couple of days of relaxation on a tour of New Zealand's South Island.

Used with permission from Wikimedia Commons
Author: Paul Bica

Oamaru and the Moeraki Boulders

Oamaru, New Zealand

Oamaru owes it's Victorian splendor to the 1800s, when the town was a flourishing port

and railroad center.









When the port closed in the 1970s, Oamaru fell on hard times. The town reinvented itself by embracing it's architectural heritage.




  Tourists soon
  followed to
  experience the
  charm




                                             and to view two penguin colonies

Used With Permission from Wikimedia Commons
Author: Richard Giddins

                                                 along the nearby shores.

An hour away you'll find the famous Moeraki Boulders.

Over 60 million years ago, the almost spherical structures were formed on the ocean floor, before becoming encapsulated in cliffs next to the beach.

Over time,
the cliffs eroded ...







and out popped the other-worldly boulders.

Next Stop: One of the best places on Earth for stargazing.

Magnificent Milford Sound

Milford Sound is New Zealand's most famous destination, and it's easy to understand why.

The highlight of any visit is a cruise alongside cliffs towering in spots more than 5,000 feet above the sea.

But there's also plenty to do on land.

Two of New Zealand's multi-day, "Great Walks" wind through the area – the Routeburn Track and the Milford Track.





A couple of hours away you'll find another scenic gem,

      Te Anau.









with its own Great Walk – the Kepler Track.

and the landscape between Te Anau and Milford Sound is an attraction in itself.

Even the most seasoned traveler can't help but be impressed.



ACCOMMODATIONS

The only place to stay in Milford Sound is the Milford Sound Lodge, which fills up weeks, if not months in advance.

Most guests choose to stay in Te Anau, where there are plenty of accommodations for all budgets. It's also possible to drive in for the day from Queenstown, which is about four hours away.


MILFORD CRUISES

Several agencies offer cruises, so there's no need to book ahead. The majority of the trips last one-to-two hours. The cost is about $50 USD.


WEATHER

The best word to describe the weather in Milford Sound is unpredictable. It receives up to 23 feet of rain a year – the second highest amount in the world behind only the mountains of Tahiti.

I met a New Zealander who told me several years ago he visited the Milford Sound area for a week, and it only rained twice: once for three days and the other time for four.

But where there is rain there
are also waterfalls.







There are so many outdoor activities to choose from in New Zealand. One of the best is simply admiring the view.

Next Stop: Oamaru