When I arrived in Queenstown, it struck me how mountainous the surroundings were. I was expecting some incredibly beautiful scenery, but I wasn’t expecting the scenes that greeted me one afternoon as I went for a stroll in the centre.
It is a small little town centre with unique shops and it has a lovely personality about it. It hasn’t got the ‘big and bold’ feel of some Australian cities I had been lucky enough to witness in the previous months. It was unique, and it had its own hilly landscapes, which looked down upon the many shops and attractions which offered a plethora of adrenaline activities alongside sightseeing tours, and others.
I guess I’ve come to realise that Queenstown is known for two key aspects: its incredible natural scenery and its adrenaline activities for visitors to immerse themselves in and enjoy.
I knew I would make the most of my time in Queenstown by witnessing these beautiful views of snow dusted mountains which alined Lake Wakatipu, and also experience some memory creating adrenaline wonders.
On my first stroll towards Lake Wakatipu, I was taken aback by the stunning sights just a few minutes from my accommodation in the centre. Vast mountains stood proud in the distance. I stood there in awe. It was truly one of the most beautiful views I had been blessed enough to witness with my own eyes.
I noticed immediately how the waters’ surface which lay ahead was home to many boats. Not just your average boat; I saw a huge shark-shaped machine speeding around, making huge splashes. I wondered immediately what on earth it could be!
It was unlike anything I had seen before. It looked so crazy, so fun.
I was excited when I awoke one Saturday morning with the prospect of experiencing the shark for myself. It was such a beautiful day. The sun shone down and warmed my face as I walked to Lake Wakatipu.
I was greeted by welcoming staff who fitted me with a life jacket and briefed me on what to expect.
The shark pulled up by the side of the water, and it was so life-like! It had two seats, one for the driver and one for the passenger. I climbed into the back one and put on some ear protectors. This was bound to be loud!
And loud it was. And so so fast. We spun around in the water like crazy. This was an impressive machine! We even went under the water and flew back out. This was a flying shark! Almost like machine meets shark meets bird!
This was another unique activity in Queenstown which meant the adrenaline was running fast! I didn’t know what to expect next as it twisted and turned on the surface of the water, and below it.
All of these thrills were in the amazingly picturesque surroundings of Lake Wakatipu. It proved to be a very unique treat for the senses in more ways than one!
Hydro Attack is definitely on my list of ‘NZ must-do’s’, especially as it is the only commercially run operation like it in the world. If you’re visiting Queenstown soon, don’t miss your opportunity to experience it!