Boats, helicopters and gondolas

January 10

Planes, trains and automobiles… no, I mean to say “boats, helicopters and gondolas”

We told you about all the adventure stuff they promote in Queenstown. Today, we succumbed to the hype.  Actually we had planned to take the Shotover River jet boat in a reenactment of when we were here 15 years ago. Only this time we bought the “combo package”. It consists of the jet boat, followed by a helicopter trip over the mountain ridge and a gondola ride down the mountain to town. After all, Queenstown is the adventure capital of the world!

Up early to get to the jet boat dock on the Shotover River. This river was the second largest alluvial gold find in the world. In 1862, miners clustered along its banks and took millions in gold dust and nuggets out. Now the Maori tribe who owns this operation takes million in dollars, Euros, pesos, rupees, yen and rubles from the tourists who cluster along its banks.

We are issued stylish back rain coats and life vests and climb aboard a custom made, twin engine jet boat that weighs 3,000 pounds empty and draws 10 centimeters of water under its keel. Its’ propulsion is from twin streams of water that are spurted out the rear of the outdrives.  

Our driver is a young man who possesses absolutely no common sense. He revved up the throttle and we hurtle down a rock strewn river at 50 knots. He dodges boulders, trees and gravel bars with one hand on the wheel and occasionally lifts his water spotted sunglasses to locate the next target of opportunity. At the last second he swerves to miss a crash that would surely hole the hull and disturb Susan. Occasionally, he raises a finger in a circular motion and we spin around in the rushing water and we get full benefit of the rain gear they issued us. In spite of all this, Susan is giggling and screaming.  I will remind her of this next time she gives me driving advice.

Next we are bussed up the mountain to a helicopter pad. I use the term ‘pad’ loosely. It is actually a goat pen, with some goats still in residence. They seem to be non-plussed by the beating of rotor blades and hoopla of strangers walking through their pen and climbing aboard. The pilot must be earning his pay by the trip as he barely hurdles the ridge line over the mountain between us and Queenstown. Once over the top, he dives vertically down towards the restaurant at the top of the gondola lift. He pitches up the nose and I watch the airspeed bled down to zero as he neatly lands on a concrete pad the size of a beach towel. He leaves everything turning and impatiently climbs out to open the doors for us to de-copter.  “Here’s your hat, what is your hurry?”

The gondola ride down the mountain is the first peaceful thing we have done all morning. We reach the bottom of the mountain and realize it is only 10:30. We have the rest of the day to fill.

Mike decides to go to the launderette because tomorrow is moving day and we need some clean skivvies. Susan decides to go to the spa. She is a better ‘decider’ than Mike.

TV bulletin- We are told the episode of “Chase” in which Mike and Twin Cessna N340F arrested for attempting to fly a drug baron to Mexico will air on Wednesday night on your local NBC affiliate. We have it DVRed so we will see it when we return. Get your popcorn ready.

Tomorrow on to Blenheim and the Marlborough wine country.