Taking to the skies in Queenstown

 Dear all

Today we awoke to a remarkable view of The Remarkables a mountain range that dominates the skyline of Queenstown, this is probably the most touristy place we have been to in NZ with 1m plus visitors a year. But it didn't start off too well when we ended up at a campsite which was rammed full of vans. Of course we ended up next to three idiots who actually only lived 30 Min's down the road, but their mate had bought a camper van so they thought they would have a party in it. They were soon on their second bottle of vodka and 3rd different drinking game & although the swearing was nothing we hadn't heard before it was so very loud  (with  young kids in bed on the other side of us) that I was on the verge of cracking. Luckily at midnight their mates turned up and they all disappeared into town to party! Unluckily, for us  they all turned back up at around 3.30 and started again for about 20 minutes until someone gave them a warning!

However the next day our immediate impression was slowly changed as we wandered around the town soaking up the lovely weather - with not a hint of rain! Although the scenery is a big draw the vast majority of the visitors are here to indulge in one of the many adventure pursuits. Dean didn't want to miss out and we duly booked ourselves on a hand-gliding trip. Now most of you will know that I don't do heights, but in the spirit if Queenstown and relationships I felt I had to try & Dean had wanted to try this out for a long time.  The 'take off' was from Coronet Peak a few kilometres from QT. Dean went first and a very terrified me followed. Suffice to say I tripped on the 'run- off' and nearly sent us straight down the hillside. Fortunately my tandem pilot was talented enough to get us airborne and there we were gliding over some of the most spectacular scenery in the world and all I could do was pray it was all over quickly! Dean had already landed some 6km down hill as we circled down to land. He was very unimpressed as he had no adrenaline rush at all and was completely under whelmed. He could have had some of mine in buckets! Our adventures over Dean calmed himself down in the pub whilst I caught up with some Internet time in McDonald's! I'm still struggling with the concept that a country so beautiful and seemingly so progressive can have such a restrictive Internet system!

Oh well such is life eh!

Nite all

Sara