...But where's all the snow at...

Well I am finally here, it’s not a holiday as was originally planned, but I am in New Zealand. Been here just over two weeks now, flew in from Brisbane straight into Queenstown in the south of New Zealand’s South Island.

Not a bad first view of New Zealand

I spent my last full day in Oz eaten steak with Rosie where she nearly got her phoned nicked and had to push some bitch up against the wall to get her to remove Rosie’s phone from her bra (shame Rosie would only go ahead and loose that phone (yet another one) a week later). Hanging with Phil, Nina and Darren, and between meeting all these people planning Russ’ Stag weekend (at this point all I had booked for the next day was my flight to New Zealand, no work, nowhere to sleep, etc..... I was excited about planning it, what can I say) before ending my day with Rosie and a bottle of bourbon, and a pressie from Tash and MJ, thanking you both!

I woke the next morning feeling a bit sick in the stomach, and maybe a little sorry for myself, defiantly bummed to be leaving Brisbane and Australia. Rosie diid eventually get up and give me a ride to the airport. Felt a bit rushed in there, changed my last Australian dollars into Kiwi dollars, got my exit stamp from Australia in my passport and boarded my plan for a 3 hour flight. Customs asked all the questions they should:

“So how long are you here for then?”

“Erm, not sure really, just gonna see how it goes really.”

“Oh OK, well where are you staying tonight”

“Errr, yeah, no, yeah I dunno yet”

“So what are your plans in New Zealand?”

“Yeah, dunno really just gonna see how it goes, find a job, somewhere to live”

“Oh OK, well do you have a working/holiday visa?”

“Yes, yes I do, I have a 12 month visa, but I’d imagine I’ll only be here for a fair few months”

“OK, well can we see it please?”

“Well I do have it on me, but it’s on a USB stick”

“Oh, hang on”, she leans back to speak to another custom officer behind her, talks for about 6 seconds..... “OK sure, welcome to New Zealand, have a great time”...passport stamped! Why wasn’t it that easy when I arrived in Boston on Day 1!?!

Once I arrived, got through customs, and picked up my very very cheap duty free bourbon, I headed to the bus and straight into Queenstown town centre. The plan was to go into the Info Centre and book snowboarding stuff up for the next couple of days, but I was informed that there wasn’t really any snow, so I thought I was in an Info Centre I should book a hostel for the night, and they set me up with the Aspen Lodge, which I am currently still staying in....somehow! I went out that night and had a famous Ferg Burger, it was great, but I’ll never really fully understand how a burger can get so famous. I ended up going out that night and ended up hanging out with a big group of Aussies.......typical right, but they are everywhere here!

The 8 Bedroom dorm where I spent my first 2 weeks in New Zealand, my bed's the bottom left...ooooohhh!

Big Burger....

....Gets a big que!

I spent the next day checking out the town and venturing up the Tiki Trail (I’m not paying $33 for the Gondola when I can walk up), by the time I arrived to the top it was dark so I got some sick views of the town in the dark, before getting the Gondola down....well I might aswell!

The view from my room

Lake Wakatipu

Yeah you are! This is actually the name of the Adidas store!

As there still wasn’t really too much snow I spent the next few days house hunting and job hunting around the town, Frankton, and Fernhill. Until Thursday when I decided to have a day off and hiked up Queenstown Hill, where I met German Conny, and we spent the rest of the day checking out the areas around Queenstown. It is pretty round here, can’t really complain being surrounded by the mountains.

Queenstown Gardens

I have since run up this mountain....so pleased with myself!

Frankton, with Queenstown Airport runway

Queenstown from the summit

Frankton in the distance

Spent the next few days on the job and house hunt. I had previously been offered a job in Queenstown at the local call centre cold calling old folk back in Australia, I was gonna do it, not to make any sales (cos that would just make me scum) but I wouldn’t mind taking these a-holes (as in the Call Centre’s) money but fortunately I got offered a job working at Reading Cinema on Saturday about 15 minutes after my “interview”, it pays less and hardly offers any hours, but still...

On that Sunday me, and Californian brothers James and Andy hung out with some beers and more scenery checks! Seriously, if I can do anything for free I will do it!

You drive 10 minutes out of Queenstown and it becomes remote as, with views like this!

James successfully crossing the water...

...Andy unsuccessfully crossing the water!

I stated work last Monday, and it’s pretty easy as, but least I’m working again, it’s been well over 4 months now! And at least I get free cinema tickets, and discount on pop corn....really moving up in the word. Just kinda of a shame that my weekly wages won’t really cover weekly rent and food over here...plus living! Before work on Wednesday though, James, Andy and I had another view of the area, this time heading up Lake Dispute Walkway.

He really wanted our beer

I did wake up on Thursday (my first day off) and finally just caved, spent the money, hired my snowboard gear from R&R and FINALLY headed up the mountains. Spent Thursday up Coronet Peak, with one of my managers, Helen, and her other half Adam, and spent all day Friday up The Remarkables, on my own at first before Adam joined me again, then Sam, James and Andy joined us later! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Yeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, I love being on a white mountain with a board strapped to my feet. I was so pleased with how well I got on, considering it’s been a year and a half. I don’t think I’ve been this happy since I was snowboarding in Jasper, Canada! BEST HIGH IN THE WORLD! Then spent Friday night in church, yep that’s right Friday night in church....last time I was in church was when a church in Reading was giving out free food to festival goers just before I left England....and the same reasons apply here. I’ve never eaten so much, I was actually too full for over 3 hours, I didn’t think I was even gonna be able to get out...but I did!

At the Coronet Peak base

Just before my first run in over a year and a half!

Ice Bar at the top of the mountain

And Friday

At the Remarkables base

Still flying the flag loud and proud!

On route, down the mountain

I aint played this game since I was in Florida over two years ago, can't really remember the rules (or the name actually),  the American brothers had no idea (it's an American game) so we just made our own drinking game rules...it worked really well, even with other randoms in the bar!

I also got moved rooms yesterday to a bigger 10 Bedroom dorm, least I have a kitchen in there now (sort of) and it's $4 cheaper a night.

Since I've been in this internet cafe, I got an email from Louise Turner up in Mt Hutt, and lucky for me, I got offered the job on Mt Hutt as a Night Custodian, that I had to sadly turn down back in June. Starting pretty much straight away, free lift pass, free accommodation, free snowboarding lessons for all abilities, $50 a week for food, loads of hours going, minimum wage, but so what, I'm gonna be living on a mountain, just as I'm kinda getting over Queenstown, I get offered this! So been arranging that between typing all of this. Once this is posted I will arrange my travel to Methven, and get on the go, They need me there until the end of the season, 7th October, and apparently the mountains closed today as there's too much snow. So yep, I have just quit my job at the cinema! Good times! Should be up there for this weekend!