february-2010

Luge cart-ride, the Ziptrek Flying Fox and
AJ Hackett’s Ledge Bungy and Sky Swing.
Again, I feel no need to pay, as I get an
empathetic adrenaline rush just watching
people throw themselves off the ledge 400m
above Queenstown.
The other place to enjoy free bungy
madness is at the original Kawarau Bridge site,
60km away near Cromwell. English tourist
Lucinda Carling, at 65, is not too old to bungy
— the oldest jumper was 94 years — but is
happy just watching from the viewing deck.
“Bungy jumping at Kawarau Bridge is a
thrilling ‘must see, don’t have to do’ experience.
Just watching provides enough of an adrenaline
rush for me, and it’s a free day’s entertainment.
A variety of viewing positions, especially from
behind the take-off, allows for close audience
participation,” says Carling, as another die-hard
plunges the 43m into the gorge.
Day 3
Hiking in The
Remarkables
In winter, these mountain
slopes buzz with paying skiers
but in summer, mountain bikers and walkers
take over. Watching the play of light across
their fractured peaks is fascinating but getting
into them is even better, particularly on the
SPLURGE
Spoil yourself with our top picks.
JUMP: With AJ Hackett to leap off a bridge at
the Kawarau Bridge (43m), Nevis Bungy (134m),
Nevis Arc (300m swing), Ledge Bungy (47m) or
Ledge Sky Swing (400m over Queenstown).
Tel: +64 (3) 442 4008.
EAT: Splurge on local food and wine at Gantley’s
Restaurant. 172 Arthur’s Point Rd, Arthurs
Point, tel: +64 (3) 442 8999.
FLY: A scenic fl ight will reveal views of the peaks,
fi ords, glaciers, forest and tussock lands. Contact
The views from Bob’s Peak
are free, or sign up for the
Skyline Gondola ride
INSET: Watch as the hardy
throw themselves
off Kuwarau Bridge
2.5km hike to pretty Lake Alta (1,800m).
The track starts at The Remarkables’ ski
fi eld base facility (1,586m), although the 28km
road from Queenstown is part of the fun, with
the last bumpy 14km on an unsealed section.
It’s possible to extend the trek past Lake Alta
to the Double Cone summit (2,300m). Look
out for fl owering alpine plants during the
summer months.
Arrowtown
Travel just 20km from
Queenstown to step back into
the 1860s gold-mining era. Quaint
Arrowtown is a world away from the extreme
adventure hype, with period buildings such
as post offi ces and stables dotting the main
street along with shops and cafés. It’s a great
place to buy souvenirs, enjoy local wine or see
a fi lm in the boutique cinema.
Day 4
Air Wakatipu, tel: +64 (3) 442 3148, or Sunrise
Balloons, tel: +64 (3) 442 0781.
DRINK: Enjoy a frosty drink at the Minus Five
Bar. Steamer Wharf, Queenstown, tel: +64 (3)
442 6050.
SLEEP: Blow your budget with a night at the
Remarkables Lodge. 595 Kingston Rd, tel: +64
(3) 442 2720.
SHOP: Decorate yourself with funky designs
from Th e Bead Shop. 2b Shotover St, tel: +64 (3)
441 8466.
ADRENALINE
QUEENSTOWN
You can learn about local history at the
Lakes District Museum (NZ$5/AU$4) or get
recommendations for local activities. Museum
director David Clarke says there are plenty of
low-cost things to do, but a shopping highlight,
particularly for families, is the Remarkables
Sweet Shop. It’s “an Aladdin’s cave of jars full
of the old traditional sweets like blackballs,
humbugs and aniseed balls,” he tempts.
I get in touch with the town’s multicultural
past at the Chinese mining settlement by the
Arrow River and then head out on one of the
area’s hikes. The Sawpit Gully trail (2-3 hrs)
passes through forest daubed with profusions
of wild strawberries, daisies and dandelions
and then crosses tussock-covered slopes to
an old stone miner’s hut before dropping back
down to the Arrow River. Other fun, low-cost
activities here include gold panning, fi shing,
reading under a waving willow or fl oating
downstream with the local kids in inner tubes
procured from a garage.
Day 5
Day tramps
Glenorchy at the head of Lake
Wakatipu is a scenic 48km
drive from Queenstown. It’s
surrounded by glacier-fed rivers that are great
for fi shing and ancient forests for hiking, such
as in the Fiordland and Aspiring National Parks
that provide access to some of New Zealand’s
most famous multi-day tracks. These include
the Routeburn (32km, 3 days), Greenstone
(37km, 2-3 days), Caples (23km, 2-3 days)
and Rees/Dart (57km, 4-5 days) hiking trails.
To undertake a full hike you must pay
a booking fee with the Department of
FEBRUARY 2010 37