Student Bloggers

Have you ever been somewhere that resonated deep in your heart? A place so full of beauty and charm that it sweeps you off your feet and leaves you in awe? I know I have. This past weekend, I fell head over heels for Queenstown. This picturesque town has all the same qualities as the perfect date; it’s classy, charming, rugged, and adventurous all at the same time. Dozens of delightful cafés and shops sit happily next to a crystal-clear lake, which seamlessly dissolves into the untamed mountain range behind to create a flawless horizon. This is where I got to spend my weekend, and this is where I found more of the dazzling and daring adventures New Zealand has to offer.

My fellow Canterbury Arcadians and I awoke bright and early on Friday morning to begin our seven hour journey from Christchurch to Queenstown. The road we traveled on was aligned with astonishing mountain ranges and lots of sheep farms. We perused the open road slowly but surely, trying to take in the beauty of the peaks. Our sightseeing was accompanied by my friends and I making big plans of camping in some of the places we passed along the way. We were greeted in Queenstown by the magnificent Jane, who eagerly welcomed us and made us feel at home. We also had the pleasure of being reunited with our Otago friends, each with smiling faces, warm hugs, and lots of stories to share!

Our rest was not long, however, as we quickly checked into our rooms, hopped back on the bus, and dashed over to the Shotover Jet site. The Shotover Jets are, as our tour guide described it, giant jet skis that only need four centimeters of water to operate on! With such a wide range of motion, we were able to experience the surrounding river and valleys in a unique way! We sped down the cascading river, narrowly dodging cliffs and boulders; all while being sprayed with water as we sharply turned to and fro. Our guide also enjoyed spinning the boat full 360 style, which always produced roaring laughter.

Once our Shotover Jet experience was finished, we were allotted some free time to meander around the town’s center. We had all heard wonderful things about a burger restaurant called Fergburger, so we set out to find it. This was no challenge at all, as we quickly found the giant line of people all anxiously awaiting their chance to eat a delicious Fergburger. It actually took over an hour to finally get our burgers, but man oh man were they worth it! I would happily wait in the line again if it meant I could put another Fergburger in my belly!

At a cheery 7:30 am the next morning, Jane and the other dear Arcadia staff herded fifty tired college students back onto the coach bus destined for the Routeburn Track. The Routeburn Track is known as one of New Zealand’s great walks, so getting the chance to hike there was quite an honor! We arrived just as it started to rain, but we had hopes that the rain would let up eventually. Eventually may have come three hours later, but it did stop raining. Armored with our rain jackets and hiking boots, we trudged through the forest, admiring the greenery all around us. Through the first part of the hike, most of the views were shrouded in clouds, but there were surging rivers abound to make up for it!

After what seemed like days, we finally made it to the cabins for lunch. A hundred tired feet and fifty empty stomachs all flopped on the ground as we rested and ate. PB&J had never tasted so good! Our rest was not long, however, as the rain had stopped and we eagerly took advantage of some clear skies. Located only twenty minutes from the cabins was one of the most beautiful and marvelous places I have ever seen in my entire life. Each step we took felt like steps away from the ordinary and towards a whole new world. It’s hard to put to words just how awestruck we all were. Even pictures don’t do the valleys and the peaks justice. I felt so small, in the best way, next to such an expanse of miraculous land. We felt so removed from society; like we were visitors with the honor of experiencing truly one of Earth’s most marvelous locations. Time permitting; I could have sat on those cliffs for hours, just soaking in the wonders of God’s magnificent creation. All good things must come to a close, however, and eventually we all begrudgingly began our hike back to the bus.

While our hiking exploration was impeccable, we had not experienced Queenstown fully just yet. Queenstown is known as the adventure capital of the world, so I absolutely had to do something adventurous while I was there. What better way to flood my body with adrenaline than jumping 440 feet off of a tiny platform with only a cord attached to my ankles? This is where the Nevis bungy jump comes in. Nevis is the third highest bungy location in the world, and the first highest in New Zealand, which happens to be where this ridiculously fun activity was first commercialized. Now, I have been skydiving before and I loved it, but for some reason I always thought that bungy jumping would be too scary for me. I mean, who would be crazy enough to openly jump off a three by three platform that overlooks a 440 foot drop down a mountainous cavern? Well, apparently I am just crazy enough to try it, and I am so glad I did! Those eight and a half seconds of free fall were some of the most extreme seconds of my life! By the time I was pulled back up to the launch site, I was laughing and shaking so much that I fell over and had to sit down. A handful of other brave Arcadians were all very supportive and congratulatory as I let the fact that I just bungy jumped sink in. Once our bungy experience was over, the other Nevis jumpers and I went to join the other Arcadians that were jumping at the Kawarau Bridge. The Kawarau Bridge is not only the first bungy site in the world, but it is also the same river that the Fellowship traveled down as they left Lothlorien in the first movie! I don’t know if it was the hindsight bias or not, but I could totally picture that exact scene in the movie just unfold as I looked around. The Nevis and non-jumpers all cheered on our Arcadia friends as they plunged off the bridge. It was exhilarating just to watch them, and I had done it myself just that morning!

Once the last brave soul had finished their jump, it was time to bid our Otago friends goodbye as we began our trip back home to Christchurch. It was a cool feeling though, feeling like I was going home. As I continue to do these day and weekend trips, coming back to UC is beginning to truly feel like coming home. It’s a privilege to be able to call this amazing city home. New Zealand is continuing to nestle itself comfortably in my heart with each new sight, new face, and new experience that it brings.