This post is part of my Blog4NZ series. Blog4NZ, running March 21-23, is an initiative by travel bloggers to share memories, photos and stories from New Zealand in order to bring awareness to the fact that, despite the Feb. 22 Christchurch earthquake, the country is still very much open for business.
It’s been almost 2 and a half years since I last had my feet on New Zealand soil, and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t miss it.
New Zealand is like the home I never knew I was missing until I visited there for the first time, and had to say farewell far too quickly.
Now, I find myself looking back through my memories regularly, blissfully reveling in all the happy moments I was lucky enough to collect while I was there.
Here’s one I remember fondly:
Luging in Queenstown
Queenstown markets itself as being “New Zealand’s Adventure Capital,” and it definitely lives up to this title with its wide variety of adrenaline-inducing stunts to try, from bungy jumping to river surfing.
But there’s an adventure sport here to try that doesn’t require nerves of steel — luging.
Most people think of luging as a scary-looking winter Olympics sport, where athletes tear down a winding, ice-covered track at breakneck speeds. But Queenstown has a much safer option that can be fun for the whole family.
You can “luge” in Queenstown at the top of the Skyline Gondola for an affordable price. Your “luge” is actually a little plastic cart on wheels, and the track is paved instead of made of ice.
But the effect of zipping down a twisty mountain trail is still exhilarating.
And you can’t possibly beat the views.
Have you gone luging in Queenstown? Tell me about it!
I went luging! It was kind of scary but really fun. I had never heard of luging before I (hiked) to the top of that mountain and I thought, what the heck, I had already done a bunch of other adventure sports!
It was great fun and almost as fun was the sill helmet and gear you get to use!
Annie recently posted..Christchurch-Getting Over First Impressions
I loved it! My friend Jamie was actually kind of scoffing at some of the warning signs at the beginning – until she crashed her luge! Haha. It was hilarious, and we didn’t let her live it down for the rest of the trip.
Queenstown is my favourite town EVER. So much fun. And on a sunny day with that view, can’t think of a better luge. EVER.
Queenstown is such a great place to spend a few days. Or weeks. Or months. Haha. I’m partial to Wellington, but Queenstown is a close second for me!
And yes… as far as luge tracks go, you can’t possibly beat this one!
I went luging too!!! People always ask me if I bungee’d in NZ, and I always respond with, I like to keep close to the ground. No better way to experience a “thrilling adventure” in Queenstown then with luging!
So much fun!
Rebecca recently posted..Random Weekend- Book- The Sex Lives on Cannibals
It’s a great alternative to some of the scarier Queenstown activities on offer. Definitely a lot of fun, though!
I went luging in Rotorua, but this is one of the things I wish I had the time to do during my short stay in Queenstown. Views look to die for!
Yeah, I saw they had the luge in Rotorua, too, but I decided to save it for Queenstown, as I knew the views would be phenomenal — and they were! At least you got to try it out, though!
Okay, that still looks pretty scary to me!! Any idea what speed you get up to?
Dalene – Hecktic Travels recently posted..Dear Uncle Calvin
You can get going pretty fast if you let yourself, but you have full control of the brakes and everything, so you are able to go as fast or slow as you’d like. There are also two separate tracks — a “beginner’s” one, and an “advanced” one. So it doesn’t have to be scary!
I have no clue what their top speeds could be, however.
Luging on ice seems scary and dangerous, I mean your lying face down careening down an icy hill. But this actually looks like a lot of fun, and much safer, with the handles for steering. I’ll definitely have to give this a try.
Alouise recently posted..Let’s Go To New Zealand
I don’t think I would EVER try out proper luging on ice. Even if it was on a slow track at one of those places that once held the Olympics or something. I just don’t think I’m crazy enough.
But this version of luging was so much fun!