Without a doubt, if anyone asked me which place in New Zealand I most want to return to, I would definitely say "Queenstown." That is not just because Queentown is known to be one of the best vacation destinations in New Zealand which has attracted many tourists to visit annually. There are more things to me than that. Queenstown was my last stop on my wandering journey in New Zealand on the working holiday visa where I’d spent over 3 months during sring-summer season before flighting back to Viet Nam. This was also the place that I officially started the relationship with my life partner (and now my husband) when he came to visit me from Australia during his year-end break in 2019. Additionally, the scenery in Queenstown also has a lot in common with my hometown, as it is surrounded by high straight slopes, dense fog early in the morning before the sunrise, or a serene lake in the middle of town... This is what makes Queenstown, a city in a foreign country, seem familiar and close to me, because of the memories I have associated with it during my time here.
One of the things I regret most about my time in Queenstown was I didn't participate in many of the tourist activities Queenstown offers. I spent most of my time there working various jobs in hospitality, 6-7 days a week. First started with a FOH position in Crowne Plaza, food preparation in a sushi store, or working as a cashier for a take away shop in Remarkables Mall. However, all situations always have two sides. Despite the fact that I didn't have a lot of time to rest or explore many places like my friends did, in return I had met super kind owners and co-workers with whom I'm still in touch. All of these things have left me wanting to visit Queenstown one day to meet up with the lovely people who had treated me so well, and get to know all of the things the town offers.
On my rare days off, if I didn’t hang out with my friends, I always choose Queenstown garden as a place to relax and rest by myself. The small apartment that I shared with 2 other people was located right in the center of town, just a walking distance to Queenstown Garden. This garden is also the place that I took my partner for a walk the first day we met again after numerous months of only communicating online. Beside the beautifully maintained garden, they had lovely walking tracks which overlooked the stunning lake and township. There were many kinds of flowers blooming in all colors that I saw in the spring, and I also saw my friend's picture which shows off the autumn colors of the garden, which looks very beautiful. I can't even count how many times I've walked around there, because every time for me, the garden is like a different color. As well as tranquility, this also offers activity options, such as disc golf, big grass fields for Frisbee or kids' playgrounds.
One morning, I was impressed with the sight of an old lady patiently breaking bread into tiny pieces to feed the ducks. After that day, I also tried many times to go back there to find her but I couldn't get the chance to see her anymore. Fortunately, I had saved some pictures of her in my phone. People here love and respect wild animals. There was a time a line of cars had to stop just to wait for the ducks to cross the road. Those little stories make me think this country is so worth living.
As the heart of town, Lake Wakatipu lies just next to Queenstown Garden. Everyone who visits Queenstown must admire the beauty of this inland lake (finger lake). I will not mention much about the geographical features and stunning beauty of this lake because many people have already talked about it. So I just want to share about some of my experiences. Swimming in the lake is one of the most fun things you can do, especially in summer. My friends and I liked to grab some food and beer later in the afternoon, find a good spot to sit on the shore of the lake, and have some drinks. Seeing people in swimsuits makes me feel so cool. Queenstown is, to me, a mountain town, and I usually only see people in swimsuits at the seaside. There are many other interesting activities on the lake for tourists. My partner and I once tried to experience jet boating on a rainy afternoon. Because the boat will be driven very fast and there will be many twists and turns, everyone had to wear a waterproof raincoat.
The next time I come back to Queenstown, I will take the chance to participate in many activities that I have not yet done. Thank you for visiting my blog! If you have been to Queenstown, I'd love to hear your stories in the comment!