fh_trips | Queenstown, New Zealand [Friday Morning/Afternoon]

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fall break 2023: new zealand

Queenstown, New Zealand [Friday Morning/Afternoon]

Queenstown is packed with amazing things to do, so you can choose your own adventures for your last two days in New Zealand! Enjoy the sights of this alpine wonderland, or bury yourself in city life - whichever you prefer.

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We're staying at the Dairy Hotel. Built around Queenstown’s original dairy dating back to the 1920s, this boutique hotel offers exquisite rooms featuring botanical themed wallpapers set against the backdrop of the picturesque views of The Remarkables mountain range and Lake Wakatipu. There's no restaurant at the hotel, but there's breakfast in the morning and drinks and snacks in the lounge.

Each pair of travelers is in an Oasis Room, complete with two twin beds or a king (depending on what's funnier).

[As always, please move NSFW threads out of the main comm. Room assignments are here.]

After crashing at Lana's for two nights out of safety concerns, Atton was back! ... And very carefully tiptoeing into the room in case Skywalker was there.

Anakin had left very early to find himself some brown hair dye, so you got lucky, Rand.

Time to get some of his stuff!

...And maybe laze around on the bed. Just a little.

The cosy lounge has a warm fire. And a happy hour at 5 PM. What more do you need?

Alternatively, the den has more of a 'hide and drink whiskey' vibe. If you're an underage student, the emphasis is definitely on the hide.

It's there and bubbling. Who gets dibs?

Get your heart racing when you leap from Kawarau Bridge, the original home of bungee jumping.

Later, Arden would hit up the Skyline Complex because sightseeing via zipline had proven to be awesome so far, but how was she supposed to pass up bungee jumping? Bungee jumping

Clearly she couldn't. Hence being here and ready to go.

"Ready?" Charlie asked. "And hey, I got two of those go-pro things, you know, to attach to our heads as we jump? I figure we can share 'em with anybody else who wants."

"Oh that's awesome!" Arden enthused. "...Where'd you stash your phone?"

She was pretty sure this would not count as an Auntie-friendly activity.

Charlie gave a look of mock sadness. "Somehow it fell overboard during the cruise yesterday. Oh dear."

"How terrible for you," Arden said, with equal gravitas. "You must be just devastated."

"I cried all night," Charlie said somberly. "But it would serve me right if it took a long time for me to get my phone back after such carelessness."

"I'm really not sure how else you're going to learn," Arden said, tsking slightly. "I hope this teaches you an important lesson."

"Someday maybe I'll learn to be more careful with my belongings," she said. "Oh well. I guess I'll drown my sorrows in bungee jumping."

She grinned at Arden. "I'm totally doing the touch the water option."

"Hell yeah we are," Arden said, dropping the act to grin back. "...You know, next time your Aunties ask if your friends all jumped off a bridge, you'll be able to say that you absolutely would, too."

"Why yes, Aunties, actually we already have," Charlie said cheerfully. "Several times. Hopefully."

"I was gonna say they're gonna think I'm a bad example, but I'm pretty sure they know better," Arden teased.

Charlie nearly choked on the sip of water she'd just taken and she cracked up. "Oh, but they do. They'd probably offer you some sort of rehab situation to save you from me."

"Yeah, but they'll have to make a really good pitch to try to convince me," Arden snorted as they started getting their equipment on. "Were they there for KiwiGate? My run-or-die accomplice after the fact? They were not."

"That's right," Charlie said. "If we go down, we go down together!"

"And then come back up," Arden said with a laugh. "As is the way of the bungee jump."

"Oh yes!" Charlie said. "And then wash, rinse, repeat. As often as they'll let us!"

"And if they tell us we have to stop, we come back with fake mustaches," Arden decided. "Foolproof plan, clearly."

"Oh, Arden, have you forgotten who you're spending time with?" Charlie made sure her back was to the rest of the crowd and sketched a couple of quick charms on herself, leaving Arden looking at a relatively non-descript girl with brown hair and eyes.

"I can even," she said, sketching a charm on her throat to demonstrate, "change my voice." It was higher with a bit of a southern accent.

"All right, Miss Virginia," Arden teased. "Not a bad accent. North Carolina is clearly the best, but pretty good."

She rubbed the charms off, turning back into her usual self. "See, we can be whomever. No problem."

"There go my stakes in the false mustache industry," Arden sighed. "Killing an institution, Charlie. But ride-or-die means ride-or-die, so I'm with you."

She glanced over the edge. "Ready to leap?"

"Sorry, Arden, but needs must." She looked down at the gorge and the river below then back over at Arden. "Oh, yeah, let's do it!" She handed her the extra go-pro and strapped her own onto her head.

A minute to strap the Go-Pro on and then, "Let's goooooo!"

And leapt.

Charlie laughed and followed her over the edge with a yell. The video would be fabulous to show back home!

Of course Steve would do this. He'd do this without the cord, too, but there were liability issues.

He was very excited.

Ride a scenic gondola to the Skyline Complex and take in spectacular 220-degree panoramic views of Coronet Peak, the Remarkables mountain range, and across Lake Wakatipu to Cecil and Walter Peaks.

Lace up your hiking boots and hit a mountain trail and then reward yourself with the world-famous Fergburger—just look for the lines in town.

Or perhaps you'd prefer to taste your way around the world's southernmost wine-producing region, Central Otago?

But there's plenty more to do elsewhere in town. Why not go shopping in Queenstown? Or take to the water and zip around Queenstown's beautiful Kawarau and Shotover Gorges on a high-speed jet boat, or slow the pace slightly with white water rafting.

Anakin, desert child that he was, never really got over the thrill of seeing so much water. He--and his newly dyed back to a normal color hair--were enjoying the speed and beauty of the country around them. It almost reminded him of Naboo.

Edited 2023-10-20 14:45 (UTC)

There were book shops here. Of course Belle had to visit them!

And maybe purchase a few items. Or more than a few. Maybe a lot of items.

I am having a very aggravating Friday.

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Queenstown, New Zealand [Friday Morning/Afternoon]

Hotel

Rooms

Room 116

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The Lounge

The Den

Jacuzzi

Explore

Bungee Jumping

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Skyline Complex

Hiking

Wine Tour

Other

Jet Boat

Shopping

OOC