Most visitors stays at Shueshi Village or Itashao Village as there's plenty of accommodation ranging from high end to budget backpacker inns. It also depends on what you plan on doing or your next destination too. For us, we were headed to Alishan the next day, so we wanted to stay at Shueshi Village as the bus from the High Speed Rail Station stops at the Visitor Center at Shuehi Village and the bus departing for Alishan is also at the Visitor Center at Shueshi Village.
We choose this hotel as the website says that all their rooms have a lake view. I'm not complaining! Look at this view! The room is spacious and modern.
bedroom
The bathroom also has the lake view, however, the building is not very tall, so when you shower or take a bath in the day, you have to pull down the blinds. The windows can be opened as well, and we did to allow all the cool air to come in!
Amazing view!
The hotel also provides Hermes amenities and it smells so great! It is a large enough bottle, so perfect for the two of us!
Hermes Amenities
Next to the tub, bath salts are also provided for your use!
Bath salts
Breakfast
Breakfast is a set menu and at check in, they will ask if you have any dietary restrictions such as being a vegetarian, etc.
yummy breakfast!
The plate comes with eggs, sausages, potato salad, green salad and a bakery basket.
the view!
I must say all the pastries in the basket were served warm and fresh! Although it is not a buffet, you'll definitely be full by the time you're done with breakfast!
bakery basket
The view from the restaurant is also amazing! We were rather distracted by the view and almost forgot to eat our breakfast!
Breakfast!
It was indeed a very enjoyable stay for us! The room was comfortable and luxurious, and the service is impeccable! Entire team are friendly and so helpful!
We wanted to stay by the lake (or as close to it as possible). We had two options, one was a Top 10 Holiday Park and another was this. We knew Top 10 have one of the best facilities, packed with people, and bound to be slightly more expensive. However, Lake Outlet had one thing Top 10 didn't have.
The View.
What a view to wake up to
Lake Outlet is located right on the shores of the lake. After breakfast, we'll walk along the shores of the lake and the water is so clear that we literally could see fishes swimming in it. This HP is also very secluded as you have to drive a distance from Lake Wanaka Village/Town Center and a deep drive from the main road as well.
Being so far away from the town center, the sky is not polluted with urban lights and street lamps. You could see a million starts right above you at night. That being said, walking to the toilet can be quite a challenge at night. That's when you pull out our handy-dandy head lamp. Yes. Gilbert actually brought that along.
I scoffed at him initially as he was being too dramatic and over the top. Guess he is just a more experienced camper than I am.
Skydive Wanaka
Skydive Wanaka
Address: Skydive Wanaka, Wanaka Airport, Mustang Lane, New Zealand
If you know me, I've sky dived in Vegas back in 2012 at a third of the price as compared to here in NZ. I must say that the money was well spent as the view is amazing. We also did it because it was Gilbert's first time and we wanted to do it together!
We were in some cafe along the highway at a toilet break and chanced upon Skydive Wanaka's brochure. We grabbed it and called up their office once we were at Lake Wanaka! They told us to call back the next morning to check with them what time we can head out. Flights are scheduled depending on the weather.
It was a short 10 mins drive from Lake Outlet HP to the airport and after a short briefing video, we were in jumpsuits and walking up the plane! Watch the video for more!
Kai Whakapai Cafe and Bar
Hearty Big Breakfast
Address: Ardmore St, Wanaka 9192, New Zealand Tel: +64 3 443 7795 After jumping out of a perfectly fine plane, we went back to the town center for brunch. After walking up and down the street several times and looking at all the cafes, we decided to stop here! We ordered just a big breakfast and shared it! The serving was humongous! There's eggs, sausages, bacon, beans, mushrooms, hash and toast! All for only NZ$21!
Boa Boa Food Company
Fish & Chips!!
After brunch, we were walking along the street towards the lake and we chanced upon this small little fish and chips shop. We grabbed a bag (or rather a newspaper wrap) of fresh lemon sole and chips! The fish was fresh with a hint of vinegar in the fish and chips! As usual, the portion was way too big. We brought the entire pack to the lakeside and sat there eating the fish and tossing left overs to seagulls, birds and ducks!
It is one of the most conveniently located Holiday Park in Queenstown. Even the famous Top 10 in Queenstown is still a distance away from the town center and tourist attractions. Queenstown Lakeview is just a mere 5 mins walk from the Skyline Gondola or 5 mins the other direction to the town center.
This is a large complex with about a hundred Camper sites and is also one of the most expensive Holiday Park we stayed at. I'm not complaining though. We're paying for the convince and facilities. The kitchen is a large building with lots of dining tables, stoves and sinks. We did laundry that night too and it was $4 each for the washer and dryer. You could even borrow a hairdryer from the reception before it closes.
If you've been to Sentosa Island just off Singapore, you'd know we have out own luge as well. Singapore's luge is NOTHING compared to Queenstown's Skyline Luge! First, we took the Gondola from the base of the mountain up to the top. And we still had to take a chair lift further up to start riding the luge.
There were two routes, one with a higher difficulty than the other. In order to go on the track with the higher difficulty, you first had to take the easier route to get used to it.
I must say both routes are definitely challenging. You need to break while taking corners or going down the slope or you might end up at the first aid station. On a side note: You really do WANT to break, going too fast and you'd end up missing the beautiful view of the lake and mountains that stand before you.
My first time jumping off a perfectly fine ledge? I must be crazy right?
I took a long while before I finally pushed myself off the ledge. It was so intimidating I swear! The thing about this Ledge Bungy is that you're attached to a harness around your body, so I felt more secure and I wanted to do my first jump with them.
It started off with us filling up the indemnity form, taking our weight and tagging us. I wasn't nervous yet, I was still joking around with Gilbert and all. Laughing about my weight and how 'round' I've become.
We walk over to the box which is protruding out from the mountain cliff and you have a beautiful bird's eye view of the entire town. I wasn't nervous still. There were three guys assisting us with the harness, told us the safety rules and asked us how we want to jump.
Thanks for keeping me safe!
Gilbert actually volunteered me to go first. Because I was all gung-Ho and crap.
So, while in the harness, the guys actually asked me to walk to the edge to take a photo. And yes, that's when I started to have cold sweat, heart thumping wildly against my chest and freaked out a little.
I think I ran to the edge three times and all three times I ran back to the safety of the box. I couldn't bring myself to throw my body off this bloody ledge! I know, I'm not THAT crazy.
But I'm poor and a mini adrenaline junkie. I didn't want to waste my $195 which I spent to feel like I was 'flying' or dying, which ever way you see it.
at the edge of the world.
On the fourth try, I ran to the edge, stopped at the edge because I was scared. In a milisecond, a thought flashes through my mind, "I don't want to waste the $195 that I've already spent." So I pushed myself off the edge. Gilbert said I looked like I tripped or someone pushed me off.
It wasn't the best feeling ever. It felt like I was falling forever (from the video it's just 2 seconds). It's so different as compared to sky-diving because you know someone skilled is attached with you. This.. You feel like you'll land upon the trees and you've left your heart out on the mountain top.
I screamed a blood curling scream, even the Bungy guys told Gilbert it was an awesome scream. Gilbert realized how terrified I must have been, he knows me well, and have never heard me scream like that before. Not even on scary roller coasters.
The rope eventually ran taut and I bounced like a yoyo several times before collecting my wits scattered around me (some probably splattered into the Rocky Mountain side and some flew into the lake), I looked up and three concerned faces peered over the ledge. I signaled my 'OK' and they lowered a rope to hoist me back to safety, where my feet are able to touch solid ground.
The Helicopter Line: The Remarkables
Address: Lucas Place, Queenstown Airport, Queenstown, New Zealand Postal: PO Box 1530, Queenstown, New Zealand
Phone: +64 3 442 3034
Call Free: 0800 500 575 (within New Zealand only)
Email: queenstown@helicopter.co.nz
Website: http://www.helicopter.co.nz/queenstown/
It was my first time on the helicopter and it was Gilbert's first time touching and seeing snow!
After the bungy, we were just walking around town, looking for cheap tours or activities kill time. We did not plan to take this helicopter ride at all. So, we walked past this banner and a sign advertising helicopter tours at a cheap and reasonable price, went in, paid and next thing we know, we're being picked up and we're sitting on the helicopter.
It was a little intimidating at first because we're seated next to the pilot. It was how a helicopter should feel like, according to Gilbert. The ground peels away really fast and it seems like it comes up really fast when we're landing, but according to the pilot, it's just an illusion and it's perfectly normal.
We stood on The Remarkables and we felt like we're standing on top of the world! There was a puddle of 'snow' or rather, melted snow, whatever remnants from Winter. You should see how happy Gilbert was, prancing around and throwing the hard ice at me. I felt a pang of guilt then, because I knew that's not how snow was supposed to feel like. It's fluffy and soft, like cotton candy.
Then, it started to HAIL. That was my first time experiencing hail and it hurts like a hell lot!
We had an enjoyable time, the pilot is very knowledgeable and told us stories about Queenstown. From such a high altitude, you'd able to have a bird's eye view of the entire town AND the mountains.
Flame Bar & Grill
Steak!!
Address: 61 Beach Street, Queenstown East 9300, New Zealand Phone:+64 3-409 2342
So, while purchasing tons of cookies at Cookie Time, we asked the cashier where we could have really nice steak here. She recommended us this restaurant. It's set by the lake/beach overlooking the turquoise waters.
We ordered a steak, lamb chops, a side of mussels and two mocktails. The steak & lamb were cooked to perfection, tender and juicy! If only we knew of this place before hand and reserved a table by the window.
