Our week in Queenstown - Part 2

As Queenstown is known for its adventure sports, it only made sense that we partake in some form of adrenaline-inducing activity while we were here. So for my birthday and our dating anniversary, we decided to take the Skyline Gondola up to Bob's Peak:

The steepest cable car lift in the Southern Hemisphere

Recommended by tourists and locals alike, this seemed like an easy choice.

From there, however, the opportunities were endless. They had everything from paragliding and zip-lining to mountain biking and bungy-jumping:

But in the end, we decided to go lugeing!

The Skyline luge is similar to go-karting except that it is gravity-fuelled. It is a lot like sledding (without the snow), but you have more control over your direction and your speed as you go downhill.

Andy getting a feel for the luge beforehand

So after we took the gondola up the hill, we explored the Skyline Complex for a bit before making our way up yet another hill to the start of our luge adventure.

The chairlift to the luge starting point

We had signed up for two rides each and there were two tracks to choose from: the scenic track (required for first-timers) and the advanced track.

About to start our first ride down after a quick lesson from the operator.

First up: The scenic track!

As we made our way down the hill along this track, we picked up speed as we rounded corners and zipped through tunnels.  It was a lot of fun, but scary at times! The only reason I say that is because it is similar to a thrill ride at an amusement park except that your safety is entirely in your own hands. Andy sped down the hill at lightning speed and I almost crashed a couple times trying to keep up with him!

So for our second luge ride, I went with the scenic track again (this time going at my own pace) while Andy took on the advanced track, which is far more challenging with sharper curves and bigger drops.

Check out his video below (warning: it is a bit shaky):

After our luge experience, we enjoyed the view from Bob's Peak one last time before making our way back down the gondola...

Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu

... No celebration in Queenstown would be complete without a trip to Fergburger!  Stay tuned...