Queenstown

Our marathon of travel between Dunedin and Queenstown via Invercargill and Milford Sound in two days left us more tired than we had realised. Even Alex didn't wake until 8:15am after we had crashed out at 10:00pm last night, which is probably a record for him. We started as we meant to go on - slow. After finding out how little we had done during the day, our Australian dorm-mate, Tom, asked 'what happened to all the sky diving?'. We admitted that everyday can't be a 'skydive' day and that sometimes you just need to kick back.

We took a walk along the lake esplanade outside our hostel and into Queenstown village where a plethora of international tourists sought out coffee and ski passes. Shabby backpackers rubbed shoulders with the Prada brigade, brought together by the call of the winter slopes. Restaurants, clothing shops and the inevitable Starbucks wrestle for attention as 4x4s and hybrids snake through roundabouts and pelican crossings. Crowds were all the thicker for the area's best snowfall in some time as well as the start of New Zealand and Australian school holidays. The biggest crowd appeared to be outside the burger chain Fergburger. Depending on who you speak to, a Fergburger is the best burger you will ever eat or it is just a good burger well advertised. Eitherway at a 20 minute wait in a cold queue and $20 price tag we'd expect a pretty amazing burger. Nevertheless we might try it if we find the queues have subsided at some point.

On our way back we spotted a lone brave paragliding out on the lake against the mountain backdrop and granite and white. Paragliding is something we would like to try but we didn'tfancy being up there in this winter climate.

Back at the hostel we organised our journey back north through New Zealand before spending time to prepare a proper evening meal that isn't always possible due to limited facilities and time when travelling day after day. With content stomachs and minds we took to bed ready for whatever tomorrow would bring.Leggi altro