Queenstown..the extreme sport capitol of the world...No joke!

We arrived in Queenstown on Thursday and were not disappointed.  For anyone who has ever been to Europe, Queenstown will immediately remind you of the Alps.  Jagged peaks rise up from a pristine green/blue lake and surround you with 360 degree vistas...its is quite simply, spectacular.  The photo below was taken from our balcony at the hotel...believe when I say, photos do not do this place justice.

Before, and after arriving in Queenstown, we have continually been told we HAD to visit the Fiords---and specifically Milford Sound.  Its was a three hour drive. but we were not disappointed.  The Fiorlands National Park and Milford Sound were simply, the most dramatic and spectacular place I have EVER been.  I wish that you all could have seen this place...the flowers, the dramatic 10K sheer ledge mountains that shoot straight up from the Tasman Sea are remarkable and leave you breathless on every turn.

The town of Queenstown is quaint and would remind you of a small Colorado ski town with shops, restaurants all made of block, rock and timber and give you the feel of a small village in the Alps.  Everywhere we go, people are so friendly, and sooo much more relaxed than in the US.  I did mention that Queens town is the extreme sport capitol of the world....well its where bungy jumping began commercially in 1987 at a place called Kawarau Bridge...a 160 year old bridge constructed for the gold rush just outside between Queenstown and Arrowtown.  And yes, that is where I jumped...check that one of the bucket list!

Wellington...the fare city on the sea....

we arrived in Welllington on Thursday morning after another two days of harrowing driving through steep mountain passes and along narrow coastline.  At every turn we have not bee disappointed, the scneary has been as spectacular as advertised.

We made an afternoon stop on Wednesday at the quaint art deco town of Napier in Hawkes Bay where the presominant wine country is in New Zealand...but the rain and winds caused us to move further south in search of the sun.

Napier was constructed in the 20's and still retains most of the art deco character of that period.  The wineries that surround this area are beautiful as are the long bays and soaring cliffs.

After leaving Napier we put up for the night in Plymouth North a small college town North of Wellington and drove into Wellington on Thursday morning.

Wellling is gorgeous!  The City is set along a beautiful bay with buildings built up the side of a mountain.  On first glance it strikes you of being a very small Hong Kong, but its medditerranean influences and architecture are also ver appearant.  Throughout New Zealand there is a vast array of trees---from palm trees to pine trees and flowing trees as well.  The City is surrounding by towering mountains and inlets with breathtaking views at almost every turn.

We stsrted out by walking the City...no small feat indeed!  Along the aterfront and back through the older sections of the city--then along the Government city where the Nation's Parliament and Prime Minister live and work.  It is amazing to see cities so clean, so well constructed, so beautiful and with palm trees to boot!

after walking for hours we boarded the cable car and took it to the top of the hill that overlooks the City...the views here were spectacular!

The most dramatic part of the trip, however, was when we drove out from the City around the point of Wellington...this is Newport RI on steroids, and more beautiful that any other single place I had ever seen...until we arrived in Queenstown...more photos from there to follow.