Post by Andy

The drive to Queenstown was beautiful with a large portion of the journey taking us on a winding road alongside Lake Wakatipu, we made several stops to take pictures.

We arrived in Queenstown flung the tent up and headed into town for a look around, it was strange to be among large crowds of people again. It was a very touristy town but none the worse for it, it seemed people of most nationalities were to be found wandering the streets. Every other shop seemed to be offering to take you bungee jumping, white-water rafting or  on one of the seemingly endless list of extreme sports available. This is definitely a town for action!

We spent the evening in an English bar and deliberated over the massive choice of activities on offer. The next day we continued our deliberation then booked some activities and enjoyed a relaxing day in an extremely beautiful setting.

Our adrenaline fueled day began with white water rafting down the Shotover Canyon, our team of seven and our guide climbed aboard the raft and set off downstream. Before we got to the harder rapids we had a long gentle bit where we told if we wanted to have a swim we could. We leapt at the chance and soon discovered why we had been issued wetsuits, as the water was a little on the nippy side at three degrees centergrade!

The rafting was a particularly thrilling ride due to the rains from the previous day swelling the river. We made our way down gradually building to grade five rapids and ending through a 180m tunnel just wide enough for the raft to fit through! All of us, apart from one paddler hunched over the front, assumed ‘tunnel position, sat on the floor of the boat.

We came out the other end of the tunnel had time for a quick few paddles then the guide shouted ‘get down’ once again we were crouched on the floor of the boat as we were swept through the largest, and last, rapid on the river.

At thrilling ride and an awful lot of fun.

From here we made our way to the Shotover Jetboat. This had been recommended by several people as a must do so we couldn’t miss it. The boats are extremely powerful and very agile, speeding down the canyon inches from the rocks, pulling 360 degree spins.

We had arrived early and managed to sit next to the driver, this turned out to perhaps not be the greatest idea as at one point we almost ended up out the front of the boat during a particularly savage spin,

It was a fantastic experience but somehow seemed tame after the rafting.

With this excitement over we headed back to town for a quick shower and freshen up before being collected for 15 minutes of aerobatics with Jag Air.

The plane was tiny and every bump could be felt as we taxied across the runway. Within seconds of the throttle being opened we were airborne and what an amazing feeling, Nothing like the sterile, packed in like battery chickens, feeling of the jumbo jet we flew from the UK on.

The views were amazing, greatly helped by being in such a beautiful place and the huge rush of adrenalin pumping through my vains! After a few minutes of light maneuvers, a gentle loop and some relaxed barrel rolls the pilot checked all was ok, a thumbs up told him yes and with that we went vertical  followed by falling away sideways, he again checked all was ok, thumbs up an enthusiastic nodding confirmed I was fine. So more followed with plenty of thumbs up action, we then went upside down and I giggled like a schoolgirl so much he decided it would be worth staying that way!

* Posted by j150vsc on 17/01/2009.
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