Queenstown, New Zealand 1

Queenstown is a not-so-hidden gem

in the southernmost part of the world that is habitable.

This time of the year, full of Chinese tourists, and normally full of young Westerners, many from Germany, looking for the pleasurable life in paradise.

Jet Boating

This style of boat was invented here because the water is so shallow

The engine sucks up water and shoots it back out, like a jet ski.

Queenstown gondola and luge

Bean portrait

Towards Glenorchy and Paradise

(the town is actually called Paradise)

LOTR and MANY other films have been shot here, namely X-Men Origins; Wolverine. You can see the same mountain on the right side, but in the LOTR movies they photo-shopped in the other mountains to make it look more grand.

Smallest library in the world

This may have been in the 3rd LOTR film, shot here.

It's hard to see because the shot in the movie was taken from across the water.

Milford Sound

(actually a fjord)

This is voted one of the best scenic tours in the world

I really like this photo, thinking like, I hope that boat can return...

The water here is quite cold, even on a hot day,

so it's seems like these tours can regularly count on seals hanging out on rocks to sunbathe.

My Glenorchy/Paradise tour had only two others with me, so it was just like a private tour, and we got REALLY lucky with the weather. 

Australian mate says, "Check out this rainbow"