Queenstown Ahoy!

FARZANA CONTRACTOR makes a hop-over to Kawarau Bridge where Bungy Jumping started and trips through Queenstown, South Island�s crowning glory.

If I thought New Zealand�s North Island was beautiful, South Island is doubly so. The natural beauty of this country is astounding!

As I stepped off the plane and on to the tarmac of Queenstown�s tiny airport surrounded by mountains, the first thing I noticed was the fragrant air. It was as if someone, somewhere was spraying from a giant L�Air du Temps.

As I picked my bags off the conveyor belt I saw my minder, the delicate Naomi Mentiplay, walking towards me welcoming me with a �Kia Ora�, the Maori equivalent of the greeting. When she learned I was fresh enough for some action we got into the car and headed straightaway to the Kawarau Bridge some twenty minutes from Queenstown, to check out the Bungy jumping out there. I knew this is where it had all started. The AJ Hackett, Kawarau Bungy Centre is considered the world home of Bungy. It was in 1988 that the State had granted permission to Bungy jump. On the first day 75 people paid to take the leap. Today the spirit remains as strong as ever with over a million people jumping from here.

It�s quite a stunning scene. A metal bridge over the Kawarau river, nestling in a rocky cliff face, bungy ropes swaying in the breeze, muscled officials walking about readying jumpers for their leaps. Very casual, very cool.

It starts with a Bungy check-in. It costs $20 for adults and $10 for children. You get yourself weighed to help them decide what strength ropes you will require. They write this out on your closed fist which the jump master checks when you are right up there in the middle of the bridge at the Bungy station, minutes away from your adrenalin gushing fall! If you wish you can also take a moment with their jump shrink and sort out your emotions, fear factor and what have you. As for me, no, I didn�t do either. Remember I had only landed half an hour ago and still had to acclimatize myself with New Zealand�s crazy sense of adventure. Besides, I was out here to do a job, right? So no, I didn�t bungy. Nothing to do with being scared�(ahem!)

The viewing experience done, Naomi and I moved along next door to Henry van Asch � The Wine House and Kitchen, a newly opened farm house styled, informal place where you sit on a deck, drinking some good wine soaking in the bungy atmosphere from a long distance. Tim Fulton, the passionate sales manager, kept us company and explained how the wine of the Van Ash family reflects the heritage of the grape growing areas of Central Otago. What I liked very much was the name of one of their wines: Freefall, yes, very in keeping with the complete picture.

Lunch was nearby at the Gibbston Valley Vineyard restaurant, where I not only enjoyed some juicy lamb chops but also wandered into their natural wine cave and the Cheesery, where all the cheese is handmade. The Gibbston Valley cheese I learned, has bagged nine medals at the National Cheese Award. The gift shop here is worth a visit.

I must say flying Qantas was a good bet. Apart from the fact that their Slumberettes (don�t know if they call it that) were so comfy, so private, I loved the fact that I could fly in direct Bombay to Sydney and then to Auckland for a night�s rest and then catch an early morning flight to Queenstown. That is why I was not drooping and on the contrary full of beans, enough to want to go and check out the little township that is Queenstown. Called so, because �� it was fit for a Queen�.

What strikes you immediately is that this town sits pretty on Lake Wakatipu, over looking the majestic Southern Alps. It has a charming Waterfront with lovely restaurants. Quite clearly it is New Zealand�s premier visitor destination and certainly the adventure capital of the world. Apart from the Bungy, there is the jet boat ride on the Shotover River, white water rafting, luging, paragliding, sky diving, helicopter sojourns and skiing on the slopes of the Remarkables mountain range nearby. However, for the less active you have lake cruises, wine and art trails, gondola rides, flight seeing, golf, fishing, 4WD safaris and bushwalking. What I did, though, was sit by the little open park and lawn area on the lake where locals gather in the evenings and on Sunday mornings for an �open market�. Over many cups of hot chocolate.

Queenstown never closes, it�s a seven day town, with shops open till late. And the stores are loaded with good quality merchandise. Designer clothes, merino woolies, art and craft stuff and of course the usual souvenirs. It is bursting with all kinds of restaurants, about 150 eateries in the region. It is a culinary melting pot, where Pacific rim cuisine is an art form. You will find chic restaurants, cheerful cafes, casual dining and family takeaway spots.

After dark, unlike other places its size and population, the town comes alive. Nightclubs, noisy bars, all kinds of music, including live, dance, rock, jazz. What�s nice is you find people walking around. Happy and drunk.

My first dinner in Queenstown proved to be delightful. My booking was already made from Bombay so there was no question of not finding a table at the popular Wai Waterfront Restaurant at the Steamer Wharf. It�s got Queenstown�s only Oyster Bar and some terrific seafood fare, showcasing good regional cuisine with an impressive wine selection. What is worth trying is Wai�s Degustation Menu. With wine at $175 and without wine at $ 115.

Well, it was only after dinner that I felt deliciously tired and took the short walk to my abode for the night, the Sofitel Queenstown, to crawl into the crisp white sheeted luxury bed in an understated opulent room, to immediately fall asleep and dream of fluffy sheep jumping over wooden fences.

Site. www.queenstown-na.co.nz

PHOTOGRAPHS BY FARZANA CONTRACTOR