Location: Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand
Queenstown was my last proper city-stay in New Zealand. Situated in the southern end of the country, the town is built around Queenstown Bay, an inlet in the Otago Region. It’s known for 2 staples: the Remarkables, the local mountain range and adventure sports. The Lonely Planet describes Queenstown “as much a verb as a noun, a place of doing that likes to spruik itself as the ‘adventure capital of the world’. It’s famously the birthplace of bungy jumping, and the list of adventures you can throw yourself into here is encyclopedic”. Well, I did none of those! 😄
Throwing myself off a plane, a mountain or a bridge do not interest me in the slightest and paying to do those things turn me off even more. I did, however, partake in viewing the dynamic play of light on the Remarkables and Lake Wakatipu as the sun sets.
The Remarkables & Lake Wakatipu as the sun starts to set in the horizon
While I was in Nelson a week before, one of my dormmates happened to be from Montreal! (We actually had a majority Canadian dorm, with 4 out of the 6 girls sporting the maple leafs. Of note the other two were British and Kiwi, so we dubbed it ‘the commonwealth room’). My new friend was now also in Queenstown, staying in the same hostel, so we planned to meet up the first night I arrived in the town. We rode the Skyline Gondola up the mountain shortly before sunset and waited for the evening sun to dim and for the city lights to wake up. Well, let me tell you, when you’re this far south of the equator and the sun sets, it’s cold! We shivered our way through the sun setting and enjoyed the changing light over the water and mountain range. Definitely a great way to view the city!
City lights at night, with the Remarkables mountain and Lake Wakatipu in the background
In the daylight, the town and surrounding landscape is just as alluring. Lake Wakatipu is vast and beautiful. I don’t know what they put in the water here, but it’s absolutely gorgeous! Not satisfied to be simply blue, it radiates green and turquoise, constantly changing with the sun.
I spent the day how I like it best: wandering. Strolling around the lake and through the botanical gardens, exploring the various little shops and markets, my skin warmed by the sun and my soul filled with ease.
And the best part? I was staying at one of the world’s best hostels! My dorm, a female-only dorm, had a single bed with a pillowy soft mattress, plush carpets, a stylish decor and a large en suite, finished in marble and stocked up with freebies such as hair towels, styling products, sunscreen, misc beauty supplies and even an ironing board! The view from my bed wasn’t so bad either! 
What I woke up to every morning