Queenstown & The Deep South

This last couple weeks I have been exploring the Southern half of the South Island (mainly Queenstown) with a few friends. I was down there for 8 days 2 of which I spent in Dunedin saying goodbye to some close friends. The goal of our trip was to ski but unfortunately this year has been very strange for New Zealand weather wise and the snow has not quite arrived yet. That was fine though because we found plenty to keep up busy in the adventure capital of the world!

Queenstown
QT is medium sized town nestled in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. It was know as a large mining town back in the days of the Otago gold rush years and years ago. Today however QT is known as a mountain ski town and New Zealand's adrenaline junkies paradise. It is filled with expensive ski shops, cozy bars that always have roaring fires, great restaurants and friendly people. The town in next to lake wakatipu and surrounded by hills and mountains. The town is pretty active all year long and is definitely a tourist destination for most NZ travelers.

THE FERG
The first task that needed to be accomplished once we reached QT was to try the "best burger in New Zealand" the Fergburger! It was a pretty amazing experience, the burgers were huge and tasty. They give you a 1/3 pound beef paddy with aioli & homemade ketchup lathered on both sides of a heaping sourdough bun then add lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese with a big sack of hot chips to complement the burger. Wash it down with a ice cold beer and you have a equation for complete satisfaction. We liked it so much the first time that over the course of our 6 day stay in QT we ate 14 of them between 5 of us!


Milford Sound 
This has to be the most spectacular place on earth! Mountains, streams, rivers, waterfalls, forests, ponds, lakes, wildlife and incredible views every which way you turn! It is the pictures and movies everyone sees when they are researching NZ. We started our journey at 7:00 a.m. and got home at 8:30 p.m. It was a rainy cold day but that did not stop us and the Sound it known to be beautiful any which way you see it. Because it was raining we got see hundreds of waterfalls appear of the mountainsides. Going to this place not only puts you in complete awe but also opens your eyes to a world that is only seen in the movies but let me tell you it's real and it's waiting for you. Words can not describe the beauty of the Milford Sound and it's surrounding areas. I hope that one day you will get to experience this awesome place for yourself. Pictures do not do it justice!

Bungy 
Don't tell my mother that I jumped off a bridge. Yes I said to myself before I left for NZ that I would have to do some kind of adventure or extreme sport. We decided to do the first commercial bungy in the world, known as AJ Hackett's Kawarau Bridge bungy. This bungy measures in at 43 meters or roughly 130 feet above the Kawarau river. It was an amazing location with mountains in every direction and the bluest water you have ever seen rushing below you.

 For something so easy as stepping forward off a ledge, it was the hardest and horrific things I have done in my short lifetime. I despise roller coasters and don't particularly enjoy heights so this activity was a stretch for me. But I convinced myself I would regret it if I didn't face my fears. (which is an important part of going abroad). Once I put my money down there was no turning back, I had to jump, they don't give refunds if you back out.

There were three of us that did it and we all stepped up to the plate one by one. The guys fitting us into our straps were of course loving the fear in our eyes and toying with us as much as possible. Once it was my turn they strapped me in and asked if I was nervous and of course I was but I was trying to keep my cool so my face didn't display a lot of emotion. When you bungy jump you don't really have much time to think of anything except "why would anyone do this!" It is just not rational for any human to want to throw themselves off a perfectly good bridge.

Once up the the edge they gave me a count down of 5.4.3.2.1. JUMP! There was no hesitation and I leapt out with my arms forward. The first thought through my head was: "My God I am going to die" then on the second bounce it was me yelling out in joy because I has having so much damn fun!



Facing your fears is not easy but once you find out that fear is just a state of mind and not a reality your world is rocked and things come a bit easier. If I ever make it back to QT in the future I would love to try the Nevis Bungy or the world's second tallest bungy at 134 meters or roughly 400 ft

Overall QT was a blast we did a few hikes around the town, had bonfires on the beach of the lake and ate at a lot of different places including a really good pizza place called the Cow and some Mexican. I did a wine tasting with a friend and tried some awesome NZ wines. It was a wonderful last adventure and I am so glad that I saved QT or the BEST for last! I will be coming home in less than 11 days and wow what a trip it has been. I will save my closing thoughts on NZ for another post. I have two exams to complete and too many friends to say goodbye to before I can even start to think about this trip being over!

Cheers everybody, see you SOON!

What's up?

            So I first off need to apologize for not writing in ages, I have neglected by journaling obligations. So you might ask "Jon, What's new?" Well good of you to ask. I have been busy writing essays for all four of my classes these past weeks and I still have exams coming in June! It's not really what you would call fun but it is the main reason I'm here right? To study right? One last push here and I'm back to the South Island four 9 days. The 7th-15th i'll be using Queenstown as my home base!

I know I will be skiing at least one of those days ( probably 2 ) but what will I do with the rest of my time? Mostly just exploring the area around QT, which is supposedly the most beautiful part of New Zealand. I honestly don't know who comes up with those assumptions but all I know is everywhere I go on these amazing Islands is cooler than the last! I will be visiting some friends and maybe take part in a few adventure sports!? We will have to see about that though.

Hopefully I will be able to get through these last few weeks of school then leave NZ with a bang! It has gone by so fast, only 32 days left! As this experience has been incredible, I am feeling 5 1/2 months was the perfect amount of time to be away from home. Can't wait for the 4th of July at the Cabin, to spend time with the family & friends, have my first AMERICAN beer legally and eat a lions tap burger.

A few late pic's from Aussie.

On our way to the Casino (bad idea)

Boat ride back from the Great Barrier Reef.

Beach view in the North Eastern part of Australia.

Manmade Lagoon in Cairns.

Great Barrier Reef off in the distance.

At the end of our ATV Adventures.

The lone Hawkeye amongst the three Nittany Lions. 

We went swimming anyways.

Australia

Sydney: 
   Our trip to Australia began with a 12 hour drive north from Wellington to Auckland on the 22nd of April. It took us two days and a bit of sight seeing before we made our destination. Our flight was at 6:00p.m. New Zealand time and we made to Sydney before 8:00 p.m. Aussie time. Before we left NZ however we took advantage of the duty free store purchasing 3 bottles of booze and a small box of cigars. (It didn't last long) Once off the plane we went right to our hostel which was infested with cockroaches, so we decided it best to find new accommodation before heading into the night to celebrate my Birthday! The night was one to remember.....or forget, maybe It might be a bit of both.

      Our first night in Sydney was eventful but the next day sadly was not. We spent most of the day sleeping off the night before but with what time we had left we decided it was crucial in the spirit of Easter to attend a local church service. It was an Anglican service, which lasted over 2 hours and was extremely traditional. The rest of our time in Sydney we, well I guess I need to describe who "we" are first. Myself and three of my friends from Penn State (sadly, I know it's a shame) Evan, Craig and Tyler. We spent the next two days taking tours of the city, hitting up the night life and going to the Casino (bad choice, their idea of blackjack was one that involved no "pushing or standing"). On Wednesday morning we left at 6:00 A.M. for the northern city of Cairns and where the Great Barrier Reef awaited us!

Cairns:
   I did not mention it earlier but the weather in Sydney was less than satisfactory, while in Cairns it was (besides one day) sunny, 27 degrees C ( or 83-90 degrees F) with beaches and grassy hills. In other words AMAZING. We spent the first night exploring the town and asking what trips were best suited for poor students like ourselves.
 
     The second day was one at sea. It was time to see the Reef and experience it in the only and best way possible.. scuba diving! It was my first time and it only lasted 25 minutes but I am happy to say I'm hooked! The wild life was incredible and the company overall did a wonderful job of helping us get comfortable. We got to dive twice, snorkel twice and had a very large lunch of steak, fish and prawns! It should go without saying that after we had been swimming and being out in the sun all day we were extremely tired, so it was nap time once more. The night life in Cairns can only be compared to a Cancun spring break paradise for young travelers like us. We went through our duty free supplies  quicker than we thought and it was time to purchase a 2 litter goon. (Goon is bagged wine and it is nasty!)

 Our next day included sitting by the beach and or pool, drinking $3.50 beers, sleeping in the shade and enjoying good conversation. While the beach was peaceful enough we were on the lookout for crocodiles, jellyfish and snakes. Luckily we did not find any of the three and all us together after hearing story after story of wildlife attacks agreed we made the right choice studying in New Zealand.

On the last day before we had to get on a 5 hour flight to Auckland followed by the 12 hour drive back to Wellington, we decided to go ATVing or "Quading" as they call it. Got a bit dusty but we all agreed it was a great way to end an awesome trip! Besides the hit our pocket books took we found Aussie was a great vacation to our bigger vacation (haha). The four of us declared many times "we couldn't have gotten along better." Its nice when everything works out the way you want it to and at the same time knowing friendship and fellowship are felt unanimously day in and day out.

Currently back in NZ, hoping that you are experiencing your own adventures. Step out the door because the world is waiting for you!

Photos coming soon!

Christchurch & Dunedin

            Another two cities off the list! This past weekend I flew down to the South Island to meet up with some old friends who are going to school in the Scottish named city of Dunedin. Before I could get to see them though I had to pass through Christchurch.

Christchurch:  New Zealand's second largest city next to Auckland, was hit hard, both physically and emotionally by the earthquake this past February. The whole city center is cordoned off with gates, warning signs and military personnel. I got off the bus and was walking to my hostel without knowing where the cordoned off areas were but I found out quickly, as I walked through a gate only to be met by a uniformed guard who politely asked "are you lost?" I had the lucky fortune of good weather and very helpful locals the day I was in Christchurch to be able to see the city and some of the damage that had been done.

It was hard going because, as you can see in the map below the "Red Zone" takes up the balk of the city. I had to walk around the whole city center in order to get the views I wanted.



           Walking through the city was both sad and erie. Most people have left their homes and at night the streets are as quiet as a graveyard with no lights coming from the central part of the city. The guards sit in their tents playing cards, a cat runs across your path as you walk past multiple demolished buildings. While the city is nearly destroyed, the people are hopeful, grateful and very friendly. I had a lot of questions obviously and everyone was happy to answer them. One of my drivers informed me that the Canterbury region or the area around Christchurch gets between 3,000-5,000 earthquakes (Small-Big) a year. WOW! I had to fly out of the city to get back to Wellington and as I sat on a street corner I experienced a small tremor which told me it was a good time to leave.

Dunedin: Named by Scottish emigrants and rightly so because if I were to ever visit Scotland, I would imagine it looked a lot like the area. Rolling hills, cliffs next to the sea, cold, wet and windy. Dunedin is known for being a college town and you can definitely tell. The campus is placed right next to the city center and is filled with bars, restaurants and music life. While I was there I climbed the steepest street in New Zealand (not that tough at all), ate in an awesome Irish pub, hit up the city's farmers market (had a bacon buddy, which was amazing), attended a concert with 9 local bands, spent some quality time with a bunch of old friends and met some new ones as well!

     I got to see both the Otago Peninsula and tunnel beach which was a beach that was given to a wealthy mans daughter but in order for the young lady to get there dad had to carve a tunnel out of solid rock!

  I enjoyed my weekend away from Wellington immensely and I can't say how awesome it was to see my friends. As Alyexandersupertramp put it "happiness is only true when shared,"-Into the wild. I am so glad to share my experiences with newfound friends and of course with all of you lovely people!

April 20th, 2011

QUEST!

So this past weekend a few friends and I took a trip north to Mount Ngauruhoe at 2285 meters around 7,000 feet, to do the Tongariro crossing, which is a 8/9 hour hike over roughly 20 km or 13 miles. Mount Ngauruhoe was where Peter Jackson filmed Mount Doom. We decided to take same adventure as Frodo and Sam did and cast the ring back into the fires. (haha) We started our journey late Friday afternoon, we hopped in the car and grabbed some groceries for the weekend. We arrived late that night made some dinner (dinner of champions a pasta dish) had a few brews and played a few games of hearts.

The next morning we were up early (6:00 a.m. ) to catch the shuttle to the base of the mountain. We arrived at the base around 7:45a.m. and started our long trek up. It was a prefect and when I say perfect I mean PERFECT day to hike. Not a cloud in the sky, awesome temperatures the whole day, the sun was shining bright and hardly any wind at all. The first 1/3 of the hike was gradual uphill with a few flat areas. Once we were in the crossing we decided to take it up a level and go off trail to climb the summit. (which is not recommended for the faint of heart or on a windy day) No wind and four guys with nothing to lose we started our climb. It took the four of us 2 hours to reach the top. The views from the summit were amazing! You could see for miles in all directions. They did have a bit of snow at the top (rare for this time of year) which made for good sledding down the mountain. It took us, well me 40 minutes to make my way down the mountain (the others ran down it in 15 minutes) After out success we decided to take a lunch break (PB&J's)  before continuing on the 2/3's of trail we had left. The next 5 hours took us up, down, through mountain lakes, rainforest, volcanic caters and beautiful grasslands.

We had a shuttle to catch back to our hostel at 4:30 and I keep my watch on American time (to keep a sense of home with me) and not taking daylight savings into account we ran part of the way until a little old lady told us it was not 4:15 but actually 3:15. Needless to say I felt pretty bad, but only until we found the best waterfall/rest area we could possibly hope for and soaked our feet. Right off the tail and nobody but the four of us. It was a great ending to a long hard day's work. That night we met some MORE Penn State people (haha) and had the rest of our beers while conversing on the days events. I made homemade mac and cheese, everybody seemed to enjoy it!

This week is my last week of classes before break! I will be heading to the South Island for a few days to see some friends and then on to Aussie the week after. As always hope all is well stateside. New Zealand is awesome and I am enjoying every minute of my time here!

April 12th, 2011

Status:

Well, its crunch time here in Windy Welly. I have four assignments to complete this week, its kind of like midterms in the States. I didn't expect it to creep up this fast though! This past Friday I took a break from my studies to go play a quick round of golf and jump into the harbor. While both activities were fun I did play a horrible round of golf and lets just say the water down in the harbor is not the cleanest.

If I have a goal for my time here in New Zealand, it is to stay busy with both school work and activities. I want to try so many new things but it seems my time is sipping away faster and faster. While I am not entirely homesick I am disappointed to be missing so many family affairs and Iowa activities (birthdays, tugfest, formal, golf and of course the eating of good burritos/mexican food) I am loving my time in New Zealand but it will be nice to be home after 5 1/2 months.

Finding my groove while abroad.