Monday, May 16, 2011

Extreme activities with Phileas and Fogg!!!

 With no consideration for their own personal safety, your intrepid travellers set forth to bring you photographs of their type of extreme activity in the centre of extreme activities in the world - viz Queenstown!!!
On board TSS Earnslaw, bravely battling the waters of Lake Wakatipu they set out to visit The Walter Peak Station. Lifeboats were ready in case of emergencies and pumpkin soup was consumed to keep up their strength.
 There was no chance for white water rafting or jet boating although Fogg was keen to have a go at these two activities using the lifeboat!!
 This is TSS Earnslaw who plies her trade to the remote farms around Lake Wakatipu and takes tourists and travellers for trips at the same time. She is a wonderful 99 year old lady who uses classic steam technology and has original fixtures and fittings.
 We are staying in Arrowtown a delightful gold mining town some 22km from Queenstown. The settlement lies in a narrow valley and most of the original 19th century houses still line the narrow main street. It is also home to a fascinating Chinatown - home to some of the many Chinese who came to find fortune in the goldfields and who also set up market gardens to provide fresh vegetables for the prospectors.
 We have driven today along the shores of Lake Wakatipu and Fogg took the opportunity to fit in some snowboarding. If you look closely you might just see him, hair streaming out behind as he twists and turns and finally cascades down these Remarkable Mountains!! Actually forget the hair - he went to the barber yesterday!!
 White knuckle photography of our picnic spot, a hairpin bend (with large lay by)!!!!
Seriously, Queenstown is the adrenalin capital of the world and we can fully understand why so many young people pour in here every day. We have to say that we have never seen a place like it - hostels, ski shops, casinos, bars, restaurants, activities on the mountains and lakes and the whole place surrounded by the most beautiful, majestic and awe inspiring scenery.

Best wishes

Phileas and Fogg

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