When I was 19 I traveled to Taiwan to teach English to the sweet elementary children at a school.
I was notified, after living there for a few months, that I was too young to obtain a work visa. They’d never had anyone apply and be accepted under the age 20 as an associates degree was required for this teaching position. I obtained my associates degree at age 18 (post here on how to do this) so they were unaware of the 20 year age limitation.
I was given severance pay of $800 and I used it to book an open-ended round trip ticket from Taipei to Auckland. I told my family and friends I’d be gone weeks to years.
This was a dream come true for me as I grew up near Big Cottonwood Canyon and always had season passes to Brighton Ski Resort, Snowbird, etc. which were self paid for via student pass discounts. I would walk to the bus stop and snowboard multiple times a week. I began competing in snowboarding and wanted to professionally but knee injuries prevented this.
Anyway, before I blew out my knees, my dream was to go snowboarding in New Zealand and when I was released from my teaching contract in Taiwan, I was over half of the way there so I decided it was now or never.
I boarded the plane in Taipei and landed in Auckland with a little cash, a backpack and a suitcase and a bus pass to get me to Queenstown and I was off on my own—it was a most epic adventure.
The beauty and scenery in New Zealand is majestic!—Think Lord of the Rings trilogy movies… the scenic shots of the mountain tops and scenery and you’ll get a good idea of the beauty that awaits you in New Zealand. Especially in Queenstown and the surrounding areas of the south part of the South Island.
I flew into Auckland and bought a bus pass that theoretically would get me from Auckland to Queenstown round trip if I just took the bus and ferry from the North to the South island.
I had a few contacts from friends who I actually met at church in Taiwan. They agreed to host me as I traveled from the North Island to the South (crossing via the Wellington ferry).
Back then it was safer and I just used my bus pass and my hitch-hikers thumb when I went off of the bus route or wanted to save my bus miles.
I stayed in hostels and with pre-arranged contacts. I stayed with friends (the Laity and Cammock families and a few others in Hamilton and Christchurch) who offered me a place to stay along my travels to Queenstown.
I arrived in Queenstown at just the perfect time; I got to see the tail end of winter and snowboard at the resorts and then watch the beauty of spring emerge.
I got a six month lease on my flat (apartment) right on the lakes’ edge in Queenstown. I was blessed to get a studio apartment with its own fireplace. I would chop wood, getting it rolling and relax and read on a few of my days off when I couldn’t make it up snowboarding.
I had an electric heating blanket for the nights that I did not use the fireplace. It’s pretty chilly here in the winter and early springtime.
When the weather warmed up, I would walk my flatmates dog for her along the walking path of the lake outside our front door.
It truly was dream-like. Queenstown and surrounding areas has the most stunning scenery EVER!
Here are a few things I LOVED and things NOT to miss out on while in Queenstown—especially if you snowboard and ski.
The Remarkables.
If you snowboard, do not miss a chance to snowboard and/or ski at the Remarks. The view from the top is unparalled. It overlooks all of Queenstown. I got a few powder days at this resort and LOVED it!
Coronet Peaks.
This is another ski resort to not miss out on. I loved boarding the park here. The views are wide angled and tree-less. It is so neat if you are used to the Wasatch Mountains as boarding above the tree line—surrounded by 360 degree of unparalleled views and scenery is other-worldly!
Breakfast, lunch or dinner at the Bath House Restuarant.
I waitressed here (I’ve always had to pay my own way in life) and a contact was able to get me the job.
It is a common stop for visitors from all over the world.
I’d recommend a brunch time or lunch here because the lake is so beautiful in the daytime.
The Bathhouse is an incredible heritage site and restaurant located on the water with mountainous views all around.
Waitressing here was part joy and part misery. My manager hated Americans, especially Christian Americans so he was hostile towards me but I needed the job, so I stuck it out.
I can remember on days when he didn’t work, I enjoyed every minute of working here. The scenery, the people I met from all over the world, the food— it was amazing!
Queenstown Sky Gondola
At the top of the sky lift in Queenstown, there are Maori performances (or there used to be) and the view is gorgeous!
I was able to ride this up one time with a friend from our local church and her mother.
She offered to pay for us which was very generous. I do not think I could have afforded it on my own. I was so poor when I arrived into Queenstown and it was miracle after miracle that occurred that allowed me to stay as long as I did and snowboard the few times I was able to.
Spa Day
There are a lot of spas in Queenstown always pushing the envelope with new and cutting edge treatments. Try one if you are in to spas!
My flatmate, Ingrid, worked at a spa in Queenstown. She got me a few steeply discounted spa treatments. One I remember was a saline float and it was relaxing!
Milford Sounds and Fiordland National Park
You cannot make it as far as Queenstown and miss out on Milford Sound and Fiordland National Park!! I couldn’t afford the cruises around the sound, but the drive and the view/scenery from the beaches and hikes were incredible. Do not miss out.
Bungy Jumping
This bungy at Nevis is just outside of Queenstown. It was the World’s Tallest Bungy Jump (at the time I lived there —2004) off of a cable car suspended between two mountains. There is an 8.5 second free fall and the rebound jump is about 3-4 seconds (which is a typical bungee jump free fall).
My other flatmate had a friend who owned it and was offered free jumps. I just went to watch. When we got there, the friend turned to me and said, you can jump as well. I said, “Oh I can’t afford it, I just came to watch” and he said, “You are jumping for free girl, let’s get you harnessed up!” Kiwis are generally so chill and kind!
You have to dive headfirst and I almost didn’t dare since I am naturally afraid of heights… but I just said a prayer and went for it; I do not regret it!
It’s still operating today—here is a video of it.
Music Concerts
Queenstown has a bustling night life. I went to a concert (probably the only one that I could afford)…it was a local NZ band I like called Salmonella Dub. I still like their beats.
Cardrona
This is another resort I was able to snowboard at. I love boarding the pipe and I spent a lot of the day in the halfpipe.
Cardrona is not located directly in Queenstown but I was able to drive to Wānaka on a day off and check it out and then snowboard.
Wānaka is very quaint cute town with a little skate park in the middle of it. I’d recommend checking it out even if you don’t ride at Cardrona.
I was there after snowboarding. I found it fun to watch the locals skate and I wished I had my skateboard as well. I skated in the summer to keep up on snowboarding for the winter.
Walk around the edge of Queenstown’s lakes
Most of the lakes in and around Queenstown had walks around them that span miles. They are kept up well and make a great pass time. One of my friends, Matt Laity, came to Queenstown to meet up and we would walk the lake trails. It’s free and fun.
Hiking
When spring hit, on my days off instead of boarding, I’d go hiking. There are so many amazing places to hike around in Queenstown and surrounding areas.
People ask me how on earth I afforded living in Queenstown arriving practically broke and living there for 3 months. The answer is…miraculously!
First, I was blessed to have a church member, Ben Chardome, the branch President at the time, host me and rent me his extra car for cheap until I could find a job and a flat.
Second, lifestyle choices. I don’t drink alcohol, smoke pot etc. which saved me hundreds a week compared to what most locals have to budget for. I did attend concerts, get togethers, parties with my flatmates and when people found out I had never smoked or drank ever they always said, “That must save you lots of dollars!”
Third, I worked hard as a waitress; I worked about 5-6 shifts a week (Sunday I went to church. I attended the tiny branch there).
Fourth, I did free stuff or discounted activities. I got the local price on tickets to the snowboarding resorts, did free activities (rambles—Kiwi word for hiking), walks around the lakes, scenic drives, etc. and as mentioned I had flatmates that also had perks and shared them with me.
Fifth, I got free meals at the Bathhouse each shift.
Sixth, I spent very little on anything other than rent, petrol, necessities, and snowboarding tickets.
Seventh, I kept that bus pass secure— knowing I could easily sell my lease (my studio flat was awesome!) and have a ride back to Auckland and book my open-ended return ticket to Taipei at a moments notice. Which I did end up doing when my brother informed me he was getting married.
I got by and had the time of my life!
That said, flying home (routed through Taiwan to pick up a suitcase I stored there at the school I taught English at) was a bit nerve racking as I was on my last few pennies… I arrived home stone cold broke.
It was an adventure for sure!
I cannot wait to return with money to spend instead of just scraping by… but it was an adventure for sure. Truthfully, my favorite parts of New Zealand were the scenery and locals. You can meet them and see the scenery for fairly cheap. So do not let money be a deterrent. Many rent a van and camp as well to save on travels throughout the South Island.
I highly recommend traveling to the southern tip of the South Island of New Zealand if you can.
P.S. If you go to New Zealand to ski or to snowboard, do not miss the chance to board at Mount Ruapehu. It is an active volcano on the North Island. I was able to snowboard on it on my way to Queenstown. This mountain was used as Mordor in The Lord of the Rings trilogy—it was super unique to snowboard on an active volcano… and a bit of a queasy experience hoping it didn’t erupt. haha
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