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New Zealand: Part 1
Georgie Jet’s whirlwind tour of New Zealand starts in Queenstown.
By Georgette Diamandis

I really had no idea what to expect when I left Southern New England on a balmy day in June and headed for New Zealand's South Island. I was going from the middle of my summer in the U.S. to the middle of New Zealand's winter. I arrived in Auckland during a cold rain and couldn't see much from my window. But when my domestic Air New Zealand flight approached the Remarkable Mountain range of Queenstown, I was awestruck by the rounded peaks; they looked like the volcanic hills of Tahiti, but instead of tropical plants, the mountains were snowcapped and trailed by an almost black verdant covering. In all my travels, it was scenery I'd never seen before. Had I arrived on another planet? Well, almost. The people were as friendly as Munchkins, the air was cleaner than anything I'd ever breathed and little did I know ... I was in for the time of my life!

THE FLIGHT
Don't let the fact that New Zealand is a long way away deter you from adding this amazing destination to your list of places to visit. Flying from New York to New Zealand seemed like a long way to travel, but that was when I was in New York. In reality, it went very smoothly and maybe because I was totally ready to relax, the flight didn't seem quite so lengthy. The American Airlines flight from New York to L.A. was the usual five hours. I left mid-week and there were no long lines to get off the ground at Kennedy. A highlight was that I met Jon Cryer from CBS's Two and a Half Men at my gate. He was very courteous when I exclaimed that I loved him! I explained to him that I'm not in the habit of declaring my affection for strangers, especially celebrities, and with a cock of his eye (just like he does on the show), he said, "I should hope not!" Given the emotional roller coaster my family has been on with my brother Frank and his fight against cancer, I really appreciate people who can make me laugh and get me out of my own head. Escape, like what we try to help you do when we write about our travel destinations, is so important for the soul. When I arrived in L.A., it was good to inhale that fresh California air and I was excited to begin my adventure by flying Air New Zealand.

AIR NEW ZEALAND'S KORU LOUNGE
I checked in and found out that I'd been upgraded to business class. Yipee! That also made me eligible to hang out in Air New Zealand's Koru Lounge before the second and longest leg (12 hours) of my flights. The lounge was quiet and the best part was that there were showers. It was so calming to rejuvenate and change into something comfortable for the overnight flight. There was delicious food like New Zealand cheeses, roasted peppers, smoked salmon and a large selection of drinks featuring New Zealand wine.

UPPER DECK IN AIR NEW ZEALAND'S BUSINESS CLASS
Johnny Jet (here's his Air New Zealand Video) suggested I request an upper deck seat and fortunately, there was one available on the 747. The seats, which turn into flat beds, are arranged herringbone-style, so you never see the person across from you and the person to the left or right is separated by a high divider. The flight attendants were lovely and attentive. The table settings had natural linen placemats and modern flatware. The dinner was divine; I opted for the lighter entrée, a clear vegetable soup which had raw veggies including micro herbs, smoked New Zealand salmon and crispy asparagus for the appetizer. When it came time to sleep, I lay back in my cubicle bunk under the stars (upstairs on the 747, everyone in business class gets a window), watched a movie and dozed off for seven hours! In the morning, I didn't want to get up out of my cozy niche but the crew were serving breakfast, we were landing in two hours and I felt a little uncomfortable with my blinders on, laying down while everyone else was sitting up at their tables! I had a smoothie, toast and tea, and honestly felt pretty darn good.

QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND
I arrived in Queenstown on the opening day of the Winter Festival. There was excitement in the air of this small but lively ski town due to the influx of 60,000 people who visit for the festival, quadrupling the population. After the 18 hours total flying time that it took to get me here, I had a massage at Le Spa, Sofitel. The two-hour treatment started with a traditional exfoliation, then a full body massage and finally, a body wrap using New Zealand Manuka honey and Rotorua volcanic mud. My jet lag melted away as I relaxed during the Maori Ataahua body treatment in the steam room. The luxurious modern spa reminded me of something out of a James Bond movie and the Brazilian massage therapists were awesome. I learned on my first day, that tipping is almost non-existent in New Zealand, and definitely not expected.

BROWNS BOUTIQUE HOTEL
I checked into Browns Boutique Hotel and felt so lucky to be staying there. My room was quaint, with a view of the majestic Remarkable Mountain range, and hosts Gillian and Donald McDonald were so nice, I felt like I was staying with an aunt and uncle, which was perfect, given that I was staying so far from home on my own. The hotel is small and was one of the best places I stayed in New Zealand, due to the McDonalds, the close proximity to town, the delicious breakfasts and being able to use their Mac computer. They also have delicious Anzac cookies, which Gillian makes and were popular during WWII. Winter rates are around $200 NZ ($133 USD). A good website to check out for low-cost accommodations is The Black Sheep Queenstown, a website for backpackers. The Queenstown tourism website can assist with finding accommodations at other hotels.

VIBRANT NIGHT LIFE
That night, I went to the opening night of the Winter Festival, listened to live rock bands in Earnslaw Park, bought dinner from the outdoor stalls and had drinks outside on Lake Wakatipu at The 19th, an informal wine bar. Luckily, I was dressed in long underwear and a ski jacket, because the night air was really chilly. Later, I watched the fireworks explode in the Wakatipu Basin against the black sky. I was missing the Fourth of July celebrations back home and this more than made up for it.

QUEENSTOWN: ADVENTURE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD!
Queenstown is where New Zealanders go to ski and snowboard in the winter (check out nzski.com, and skidealsnz.com), but there are lots of things to do in the warmer months as well. There are 30 hiking trails (New Zealanders call it "tramping") around clear Lake Wakatipu, bungee jumping, skydiving and killer boat rides. I took a ride on the Shotover Jet, a high-speed, twin-engine boat that flies through the vertical towering walls of the Shotover Canyon in as little as one foot of water and includes 360-degree turns just for the fun of it. I don't usually go for high thrill adventures, but I must admit, I had a great time. Check out a video clip here!

VOYAGE TO MIDDLE EARTH
One of the best things I did in Queenstown, also available year ‘round, was a 4WD safari to Glenorchy and the Dart River, where they filmed part of Lord of The Rings and The Waterhorse. Gunthar, (a seventh generation Kiwi) and his wife Chloe run Wilderness Safaris and can accommodate up to eight people in their Land Rover. I learned so much about the area while we forded rivers and went to places inaccessible by regular vehicles. We stopped for morning tea and biscuits right in the spot of Isildur's fall from The Lord of the Rings. At one point, we were behind hundreds of sheep, and instead of waiting, Gunthar decided to take a shortcut through the river. I have included a video so you can experience it without all the bumps! If you're interested in movies filmed in Queenstown, click here.

WINTER FESTIVAL
During the festival, there are lots of events and parties; we went to a cabaret performance of The Marlene Dietrich Story in a heated posh tent. There was also a jazz concert only accessible by the Skyline Gondola. I definitely recommend visiting during the festival, as the energy is catching. There will always be a soft spot in my heart for this town. My last night in Queenstown was really fun and I didn't want to leave. My new friends will have to wait until I return, and in case I haven't mentioned it yet, New Zealanders are the friendliest people I have ever met! The Queenstown tourism website has everything you need to plan your trip to the Adventure Capital of the World in the South Island of New Zealand. Tune in next week as I fly to Christchurch and drive on the "wrong" side up to Kaikoura, the whale-watching hub of the world.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hi, I am Georgette, a writer and artist (here's my website) based in Connecticut. I am also Johnny Jet’s older sister, who quite possibly ignited his first spark of interest in traveling to exotic places, when at the impressionable age of 14, he saw my trip to Australia last three years! Whether skiing in the mountains, snorkeling in the tropics, or exploring faraway cities, I am always game for traveling and the privilege of writing for my baby brother's website JohnnyJet.com. Of course, coming home to my husband Cam, our dog Baci, and three cats - Ace, Arrow and Wizard - is great, too!

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Note: This trip was sponsored by Air New Zealand and Tourism New Zealand.

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