Queenstown

We ended our camper van trip in Queenstown. It is known as the adventure capital of New Zealand. First, we did the Shotover Jet. It was thrilling! With 360 degree spins and narrow misses on the rockface, it was by far the most action-packed part of our trip. Except, of course, the Skyline Luge. To get to the luge, you go on  a steep gondola and then take a short ride on a chairlift. You are up really high! You start out by getting safety instructions and then you are ready to roll. The cart is on a wide concrete path so you have to steer or you might go off the track. It's fast paced, gravity powered fun! 

  
We ended our time in Queenstown by taking a cruise though the fiord lands. We took a cruise across Lake Manapouri, then did a bus tour of the Manapouri Power Plant. It is the largest(and only) underground Hydroelectric power station. Another thing is that it is a remote controlled station. Running at full capacity it could power 85% of the South Island.

After the power plant tour, we got on another boat to take a cruise on the Doubtful Sound. We saw seals at the mouth of the sound and the boat ride got a little bumpy when we made it all the way out to the Tasman Sea. The fiord lands are very green and filled with many kinds of trees and ferns and also seals, penguins and bottlenose dolphins. The Doubtful Sound was named by Captain Cook in 1770 because he wasn't sure if it was safe to sail there.   

Manapouri Power Station

 
  

This is what is underground at the power station

                                    

The top deck of the boat was really windy

This NZ flag is red because it's on a boat

Another view of fiord lands

Seals