If I had to compare Queenstown to somewhere I´ve been in California, I would say it's like Lake Tahoe, but hopped up on adrenaline. It definitely deserves its reputation as the Adventure capital of the South Island. If you want to fly, freefall, parachute, ride a jetboat at 100plus mph, bungee, cave raft, this is the place to do it!!
Our agenda in Queenstown was little more than to chill and enjoy the glorious weather. We stayed at yet another YHA-(which, is actually a pretty good deal for two or more people..they have pretty good kitchen facilities if you plan on doing your own cooking). We lazed about the lake( which is so damn blue and clean-we couldn´t spot any litter.. sorry, even Lake Tahoe isn`t as pretty in the parts that are right next to shops and piers), walked the grueling 5 minute walk into the center of town, watched the tons of Japanese, Korean, German, and American tourists, and hung out at the Irish pub overlooking the pier.
Oh, the adventure sports part? We wanted to try bungee jumping and skydiving, but decided to save dinero for the heli-hike at Fox Glacier. So we decided to take a jet boat ride. They are built specially to be able to maneover easily over a very small amount of water- between 3 or 5 cm of water! Then for thrills and 
kicks, they spin you around 360 degrees, so you get dizzy and drenched in the process. We have some great videos of me screaming and getting soaked. The ride itself was thrilling, but again we goggled at beautiful scenery- sparkling green and blue water, and the Remarkables mountain range in the background (what a great name!) . On to Fox Glacier (after a stop in Middle Earth!)
-Smruti
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