Queenstown - Day 1

Slow start today, making plans and getting sorted for all the Queenstown activities.

We wander into town (about a 10 minute walk, perfect) and to the nearest coffee shop. Courts wanders on up to Starbucks because she's a savage; she likes the Caramel Macchiato.

We make our way down to the water. It's a misty day and pretty chilly. Gotta keep the gloves on. It's got a nice feeling though, this town, surrounded by steep mountains.

We've booked the Shotover Jet for today. It's a super fast jet boat that flies up the river and does 360 turns at high speed. Courts is apprehensive all morning.

We jump in and as soon as we leave the pier the captain is showing us what the boat can do. Looks like it's gonna be a wet and wild ride.

We fly up the Kawarau River, taking it all in while holding on for dear life. Jeff is drenched after the second 360.

We stop and wait where the Shotover River meets the Kawarau. The water is crystal clear (as always) and running fast.

We head up the Shotover and the river gets down to only 9 inches in depth at times. The captain says that'll be all good though. The boat weighs 3 tonne and has 2 chevy V8s. Apparently it's fine in tight spaces, it just ploughs through.

We get to the end of this part of the river (the other jet boat company has it from beyond here) and pull up again. It's flowing even faster here. Can imagine casual boaters would get themselves in trouble here.

We head back the way we came. Get off, grinning ear-to-ear, but very, very wet.

Well there's only one solution: Fergburger! Not a massive lineup for a change, so we make the most of it. We order and take them home. Everyone is very satisfied. You can see why they're such an institution. They've got a bakery and a gelato shop now. Ferg for Mayor!

Despite Jeff's dodgy ankle, we decide we need to do a hike. The weather is looking a bit average. It's now or never. So with a full belly of burger we tackle the nearby Queenstown Hill.

It was steep enough to have us shedding layers very fast. But they went straight back on when we got to the top (well, almost top).

Some drone footage and happy snaps and down we come. Not the fastest on the way down due to old-man-Mills, but we get there. Very worth it!

Time to put the feet up (and on ice) for the night. We get taught Canasta and play to the wee hours with a nice cheese platter.