Slam, bam, thank you Ma’am, 48 hours in Queenstown

[Justinf]

I forgot to fill out the customs form and was sent back to do it only to be told I had only filled half of it out so back I went again.
Otherwise getting through was fairly quick.
Jumped in a cab and it was NZ$53 to my hotel.

 

[Justinf]

Staying at Ramada and the room was ok. Otho g fancy but perfectly acceptable for a couple of nights.

 

[Justinf]

The bidding for upgrades is crazy! Last 2 flights to Fiji, I had put in low bids at around $250 or $350 from memory and was outbidded, so gave up.

I managed to move to row 3 about 24 hours out as the people in row 3 moved up to business class.

I got talking to the lady in 3B and she knew the 5 upgrades who were bidding for business class, as it was a large extended family trip.

They ended up paying about $900 each to upgrade to business..............

The prices for J were insane. $1700 one way, for no seat back screen and bare basics business class seats and no lounge access.

 

[Justinf]

It was about 6pm by the time I settled in properly, but 4pm by the old body clock.
It doesn’t start getting dark here until 8pm at the moment so I decided to wander into town for a look around.

 

[Justinf]

 

[Justinf]

Back to the room and a shower to freshen up.
I was absolutely knackered at this point and even though my body clock was at 6pm, I headed out at 8pm.
I walked a short distance to Speights Ale House and had a beer. They have only just reopened after a fire destroyed the place last year.
I went into town and there was a huge line-up at a placed called Cookie Town. It’s like a bakery but for sweet foods.
found a bar called The World Bar. Apart from the smoke haze with everyone vaping inside it was a really cool place. They specialise in shots, but I settled on a Speights Gold Medal Ale.


There is a 24 hour convenience store that sells pies. I love pies, so I grabbed a couple for dinner and headed back to my room as I was really tired.
Couldn’t get to sleep probably because my mind was telling me it was too early but eventually drifted off.

 

[Justinf]

Today I booked the cable car up the mountain and three luge rides.
Cost was NZ$82
The luge are little nonmotorised go kart things that have a brake and that’s it. As you’re constantly going downhill, there’s no need for any type of engine.
I horrid walk uphill to get to the cable car station.

 

[Human]

I horrid walk uphill to get to the cable car station.

It's good exercise to compensate for all that carb consumption!

 

[Justinf]

I’m not a fan of heights. In fact I was once a very nervous flyer although that has gotten better over the years.
The idea of riding in a small plastic capsule pulled by ropes up a mountain terrifies me.
But I did it.

 

[Justinf]

Ok I think my files are too big to post.
Working on it.

 

[Flyfrequently]

I’m not a fan of heights. In fact I was once a very nervous flyer although that has gotten better over the years.
The idea of riding in a small plastic capsule pulled by ropes up a mountain terrifies me.
But I did it.
View attachment 411480

Good on you @Justinf !

 

[luckypierre]

I forgot to fill out the customs form and was sent back to do it only to be told I had only filled half of it out so back I went again

You can do an online NZ customs declaration within 24hrs of arrival, linked to your passport number and email address. Easy to do on the VA flight with onboard wifi . Then simply present your passport to the officials.

 

[Justinf]

You can do an online NZ customs declaration within 24hrs of arrival, linked to your passport number and email address. Easy to do on the VA flight with onboard wifi . Then simply present your passport to the officials.

There was only paid wifi on my flight. I didn’t bother. But good to know next time.

 

[Justinf]

Gotta say while the views at the top are nice, there’s barely any space and it’s certainly not 360 degrees to walk around.
Bit disappointing to be honest.
You could pay to have someone take a pic of you but just next to it you can take your own selfie.

 

[Justinf]

Now it was time to luge it.

 

[Justinf]

it was a lot of fun.
The track is 1.6km and unfortunately it was all over in a few minutes (that’s what she said).
Three times was enough.
On the way back I toyed with the idea of doing the Ifly which is the indoor skydiving thing.
They had a weight limit of 125kg and I reckon I just qualified
However the the cost was a bit prohibitive.
I also thought about the kiwi sanctuary but nah.
Temperature today was a mild 16 degrees and the predicted rain never arrived.
I did stumble across a cherry blossom.

 

[Justinf]

Headed out for a beer and I quite like Speight’s Gold Medal Ale.
Had a couple at this place and it’s playing 80s and 90s music at a low decibel. I’m in heaven.
At a place called the Crew Room, which is gorgeous.
View attachment 411531

 

[Justinf]

I searched for somewhere to go online and thought the Ice Bar would be fun.
You drink out of glasses made from ice and it’s -10 degrees.
I was able to get in on the 8pm session.
An hour and two coughtails was NZ$55.
It was SOOOOO much fun.

 

[Justinf]

The ice sculptures were impressive but of course I just had to tell everyone that I went to the Hokkaido Snow Festival earlier this year.
There was one particular sculpture and it was in the form of a cough. The trick was to buy a shot and it gets tipped down said appendage into your mouth.
Of course I had to try it.

 

[Justinf]

Of course this immediately set everyone else off into trying it.
Was a great crowd.
Two young women from Bannockburn which is near where I live and a couple from Torquay which is very near where I live.
What a small world.
I had another go at the shot cough this time with some hand gestures and bobbing of the head which was met with much merriment.