Kerri Malone, 2012 New Zealand Adventure Tourism student blogger, writes:

View of Queenstown, New Zealand

Now stationed in Motueka for the next few days, our time in St. Arnaud, Fox Glacier and Queenstown are behind us. Fox Glacier was similar to being presented with a great large plate of chips (French fries for Americans) beside a fresh bowl of aioli sauce, and after a first touch of chip and finger, finding the entire plate of food alarmingly cold. Upon arriving in Fox Glacier, I was in such high anticipation to hike the glacier. Yet, when the group received the news that the Glacier walk was canceled due to torrential downpour and gusting winds that are characteristic of New Zealand’s West Coast, there was an apparent and collective sigh that echoed throughout the small café in which we huddled. The sigh was later manifested in an optional hike in which I joined, in the rain and gusty wind, but that was no bother. Of all that has happened in the last fourteen days, I can say with a breath of comfort that the Fox Glacier hike cancellation has been the only disappointment.

West Coast’s black sand beaches

In the past week, I assisted in the milking of a cow for my fist time, witnessed the starry illusion of a glowworm dell, gushed over petting sheep and reclined on a black sand beach off the Tasman Sea. Not to mention Queenstown – whew! As my most anticipated location in our hearty South Island program, Queenstown was a site of countless firsts. As paragliding was canceled due to gutsy winds, I went zip lining through mountains instead and what an experience that was.

Sheep farm

Of all the week, the Routeburn Track hike in Queenstown was my favorite. A six-hour tramp through a mountain with a deep incline, accompanied by a light rain, may sound nauseating. Yet, the bonding and intermixing of conversations, the streaking of rainbows across mountain peaks and my motivation to hike the optional accenting trail was exhilarating. Then, as the weariness of six hours of walking on a muddy trail consumed our knees and oozed into our shoes and socks, The Lord of the Rings soundtrack crept through the speakers of the van at the hands of our tour guide, Julie, as pink and purple streaks outlined the shapes of mountains out the window. The experience of that incredible day is just what I had imagined when I anticipated my time here.

Kerri hiking Routeburn Track