Christina’s Journey Journal

Tag: Adventure Capital

  • The Adventure Capital of the World —Queenstown, New Zealand 🇳🇿 ; Day 8 (March 23, 2026)

    The Adventure Capital of the World —Queenstown, New Zealand 🇳🇿 ; Day 8 (March 23, 2026)

    They don’t call Queenstown the Adventure Capital of the World for nothing. This is where commercial bungy jumping, jet boating, and tandem paragliding were all born—because apparently someone looked at these mountains and thought, “How can we make this more intense?”

    Milford Sound: Worth Every Bit of the Hype

    We kicked off the day with a scenic flight with Glenorchy Air to Milford Sound—often called the “8th wonder of the world” (Piopiotahi in Māori) and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

    Take one didn’t exactly go as planned. We took off and then had to turn right back around because the cowling (covers the engine) flew open mid-flight. Nothing like a little pre-adventure adrenaline spike. Our pilot, Annabelle, handled it extremely professionally.

    Round two was much more successful—and absolutely stunning. A few snow-capped peaks, glacial lakes up high in the mountains, deep valleys, and scenery that doesn’t even look real from above.

    Once we landed, we boarded a boat to explore deeper into the fjord (and yes—it’s actually a fjord, not a sound, carved by glaciers).

    Towering granite cliffs clinging to impossible angles, and waterfalls everywhere—some permanent like Stirling Falls and Lady Bowen Falls, and others that appear out of nowhere, especially when it rains (we had a blue sky day).

    And then there’s Mitre Peak—rising straight up 5,551 feet like it’s showing off.

    At the entrance to Milford Sound, opening up to the Tasman Sea.
    Stirling Waterfall – one of two permanent waterfalls. Most of the waterfalls are temporary and happen when it rains.

    Just when it felt like it couldn’t get any better, we spotted a New Zealand fur seal having a little snack in the water, completely unbothered by our presence. Watching it in that setting, with waterfalls crashing around it, felt like we had somehow wandered straight into a nature documentary.

    Lady Bowen Waterfall – the other permanent waterfall. It provides water and electricity to the local town.
    Flight back to Queenstown.
    A glacial lake high up in the mountains.

    A Quick Kiwi Encounter

    Back in Queenstown, we stopped at a kiwi (bird) sanctuary—because you can’t come to New Zealand and not see one.

    Since they’re nocturnal, the sanctuary flips their schedule so you can actually spot the birds foraging “at night” (in the dark). What surprised me most? Their long, skinny beaks with nostrils at the tip, which they use to sniff out food.

    This is the famous Kea bird. It’s a world‘s only Alpine parrot, native to the South Island, New Zealand. The Kea is very curious and mischievous, pick pocketing small car parts and things off a backpack. It makes a very distinctive kee-aa sound in flight. It took me a back the first time I heard it as I thought it was a kid laughing. 

    And Then… We Floated.

    To round out the day, we tried one of Queenstown’s signature inventions: tandem paragliding with Gforce Paragliding. I had to be talked into this by Brendan but very glad I did it! After all, it was invented here in Queenstown.

    You run a few steps off a mountain (which your brain strongly objects to), and then suddenly… you’re not falling, you’re floating. Quiet, peaceful, and completely mesmerizing as you glide over Lake Wakatipu with views that don’t feel real.

    And then you do a few twists and turns and before long, you’ve landed on your rear end.

    Queenstown doesn’t do passive sightseeing. Good thing we are not passive people!

    Interesting to note: Tipping is not common in New Zealand. Traditionally, you don’t tip, but you can leave something if you think the service was really good.

    Dessert: The dessert of NZ is pavlova. There’s an going dispute between New Zealand and Australia who invented it. The Kiwis are holding firm to historical facts that point to it being invented in 1926 to honor the Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova, who visited the country. It’s meringue with a creamy marshmallow-like center, topped with fruit. Yum!!

    Pavlova at Public Italian Kitchen in Queenstown.
  • Leaving the North Island for the South Island, New Zealand 🇳🇿 – Day 7 (March 22, 2026):

    Leaving the North Island for the South Island, New Zealand 🇳🇿 – Day 7 (March 22, 2026):

    After finishing the hike yesterday, we drove about four hours to Wellington—and wow, what a drive. Twisty, turny roads, winding through rolling green hills dotted with sheep. Lots and lots of sheep grazing on those hills. 

    We arrived around 9 pm, checked into our hotel downtown, and called it. After a day like that, sleep was earned and we didn’t surface until after 8 am.

    Breakfast was at Smith The Grocer Cafe, and it was outstanding. I went straight for another gluten free slice (clearly a theme here), this time chocolate caramel. Outstanding!  I’ve already looked up a recipe to recreate it at home.

    A “slice” – caramel and chocolate with a shortbread base. Scrumptious!

    Side note: New Zealand absolutely nails gluten-free. It’s not an afterthought—it’s intentional, creative, and just as good.

    Then it was time to return the rental and head to the airport for our Air New Zealand flight down to the South Island.

    I ended up sitting next to Gregory and Helen, a couple from Wānaka, and Gregory gave me a full list of must-do’s for the next few days. Also—Air New Zealand, I see you! Snack choices (including gluten-free!), lollies (aka candy) being handed out, and even trivia on the drop-down screens.

    Flying into Queenstown is next level. The plane weaves between mountains and yes, pilots actually need special training for this approach.

    We’re going to turn left and fly right between those mountains to land.

    Queenstown: Welcome to The Adventure Capital of the World! You can bungy jump, jet boat, and skydive. In the winter there’s snow skiing. There’s also this surreal beauty to it. It’s the kind of place where you stop mid-sentence just to stare.

    Video from the top of the gondola where we enjoyed a remarkable view of the Remarkables!

    Queenstown sits on the edge of Lake Wakatipu, an 80 km long glacial lake. It’s surrounded by jagged peaks like The Remarkables that look like they were designed for a movie set.

    Let the adventure continue!

    On the dock by our hotel, awaiting the water taxi ($14 NZD per trip or $10 NZD with a Bee card)

    We took a water taxi from our hotel across Lake Wakatipu into town—and honestly, this might be the best “commute” in the world.

    From there, we headed straight for the Skyline Queenstown gondola.

    The ride up is steep—but the payoff at the top is unreal. You get this panoramic view of the entire town wrapped around the lake, with the mountains stretching out in every direction. It’s one of those “ok this is unbelievable ” kind of views. But it’s believable because you’re staring right at it. 

    Free photos taken by Skyline. The View!!

    And then…we luged. If you’ve never done it, imagine a gravity-powered go-kart where you control your speed and race your way down a winding track. Equal parts fun and competitive. But, I will not be participating in the 2030 Winter Olympics. 😂

    Heading back up to luge again. Our pass allowed us to luge down the mountain 3 times. They have two different tracks.

    And because no day in Queenstown is complete without it, we ended at Fergburger. Massive, messy, ridiculously good burgers that somehow taste even better after a full day of adventure. They have a gelato place right next door and no vacation day is complete without a scoop!

    Unreal burger 🍔. The line for this place was out the door but moved fast. Don’t miss the Fergburger!

    Two days left in Queenstown…this story’s just beginning!

    According to Māori legend, Lake Wakatipu formed when a giant named Matau was burned in his sleep. This formed a deep trough in the ground. When the lake water rises and falls, it is said to be the heartbeat of the sleeping monster. In science terms, the lake has a 20 cm (7.87 inches) tide-like surge every 27 minutes. This is caused by a seiche (I learned a new word). A seiche is a wave in an enclosed body of water, like how water sloshes back and forth in a tub.