Shelby Landeck: From Queenstown to Fiordland

With an exciting adventure to look forward to every weekend the time is really starting to fly by here in Dunedin. It seems like I just got back from my trip to Queenstown, and I am about to head out to Fiordland for a weekend of tramping and camping.

Queenstown, ‘the adrenaline capital of the world,’ lived up to its name. Fortunately, we begun the trip on a relaxing note with a wine tasting at the Wooing Tree Vineyard. The winery pulls its name from the tree in the middle of the vineyard that many locals claim to have been conceived under. We nervously tasted several different wines (with the knowledge that we would soon be jumping off a bridge in the back of our mind). My favorite of the lot was “Beetle Juice,” a 2007 wine that placed in the top 10 of New Zealand Pinot Niors.

From there it was off to the birth place of bungy jumping, Aj Hackett’s Kawarau Bridge Bungy. I watched the first 15 or so people from our group take the plunge with excitement. It wasn’t until I sat at the edge, while they wrapped a strap and a towel around my legs (that’s it!! just one strap looped around my ankles a few times, a towel around that, one extra strap to keep it all in place, and a harness around my waist) that the terror set in. Waddling, ankles bound, to the edge of the platform, I asked if this was such a good idea… the technician assured me it was, told me to smile and wave at the camera and my friends, and with a gentle but firm palm placed on my back began to count down from three.  Not wanting to jump, but liking the idea of being pushed even less I took the plunge. Before I began screaming and my stomach was lodged in my throat, all I remember thinking is how beautifully blue the water below me was.

The weekend continued with jet boating on the Shotover river the following morning, a hike up Queenstown Hill (which from the top gave an incredible view of the Remarkables mountain range). A few days in Queenstown is not enough, and I look forward to going back! Hopefully this weekend in Fiordland will be just as exciting.

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Shelby Landeck: Kia Ora

I’m officially all settled in with a reliable internet connection and a warm bed to sleep in at night. Living in Dunedin for the past two weeks has been a bit of a blur, from a toga party that would have rivaled any UMass riot to the absolute beauty that can be found on campus and a few miles outside of town.

I’ve done a great deal already while traveling around; I’ve seen penguins rise out of the ocean in the moonlight, I’ve seen constellations of glow worms cover the ceiling of caves, I’ve even rolled down a long winding hill in a giant rubber ball, seen the famous Maoraki Boulders, and I’ve stayed out too late and gotten up too early.

Though its not all fun and games… classes have started and the midweek has calmed down a bit, but this weekend will come eventually and with it my trip to Queenstown, home of the first ever bungee jump!

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Shelby Landeck: Finally Ready for My Trip Around the World

The trip I have been talking about for the past year is finally here. New Zealand.  27 hours of travel begin tomorrow morning at 4 a.m:

2 hour drive to Logan International air port in Boston, Mass,

6 hour flight to Los Angles, California,

7 hour layover in LA,

12 hour flight to Auckland, NZ.

3 hour bus trip to Routura, NZ (where our orientation will be held).

A lot of travel, but I have a feeling that spending four and a half months in one of the most beautiful places on earth will be worth the hassle…. photos and stories of adventure and mischief to follow.

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