Closing Thoughts: Queenstown
I hadn't planned on spending so much time in Queenstown. From what I had read about the town before I got there wasn't promising. Resort town, big party (i.e. frat) atmosphere. I've learned on this trip that I'm really a big city sort of guy, and thought I would get claustrophobic in Queenstown.
But once I got here, I was just so amazed by the stunning setting of the town. It's around a lake, with huge craggy mountains on every side. Here's a picture across the lake towards my hotel, with the Remarkables in the background.
When I think of resort towns, I think of overpriced, generic food. But Queenstown has accommodation for all budgets from backpackers to 5-star hotels, and likewise there are food options across the price spectrum, and across cultures too. You can find Japanese, Thai, Korean, Indian, even Mexican here. The whole town is really compact, and you just walk pretty much everywhere.
It can be easy to forget you're in NZ though. In every store I went to, there was American or Canadian staff, and young Japanese people are everywhere too whether working as housekeepers or ski instructors. But I guess it's that diversity that lends itself to the cool eating options!
Even though I spent a week here, I never got tired of the rugged scenery. It's definitely something best experienced in person!
