Adventure Vacation Guide 2012: Queenstown, New Zealand

by Kyle Ellison on

Just as I mentioned in the Adventure Vacation Guide to Chamonix, France, what separates an adventure destination from an adventure capital is the ability to get an adrenaline rush for all 365 days of the year. Although Queenstown may be closer to the South Pole than the Equator, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t adventure activities perfectly suited for every season of the year.

Also, as an added bonus, under the country’s traveler-friendly Adventure Compensation Corporation program (ACC), many travelers to New Zealand are actually covered for any medical costs they may incur while inside of the country. Seriously. I’m not making this up. You hurt yourself, you’re covered. End of story.

So now that you know that you’re covered in the extremely unlikely event of an accident, what sort of adventures can you sniff out in Queenstown? How about throwing yourself off the Kawarau bridge at the AJ Hackett bungy center, the original bungy operation in New Zealand? Or maybe take a jet boat ride through canyons which are way too narrow at speeds which are way too fast?

Extreme sports aside, Queenstown is also within striking distance of Fiordland, the protected and mountainous region which is home to such treks as the Milford Track and the Routeborn Track, a trail which was recently chosen as one of the top ten treks in the world by Lonely Planet.

In the winter months, The Remarkables ski area stoically lurks on the craggy peaks that form the backdrop to the town, the Southern Alps providing some of the best skiing opportunities in the Southern Hemisphere. Lastly, with the New Zealand dollar currently holding steady at $.75 to the US dollar, it’s also a somewhat a cheap way to get your thrills in 2012.

[flickr image via Or Hiltch]

5 Ski Adventures for Summer Vacation

by Kyle Ellison on

Learned some new ski moves over the winter and concerned you may lose them over this year’s summer vacation? While many may try to escape the blizzards and cold this time of year by planning a warm, tropical summer vacation, those who just can’t seem to get enough of the slopes and snow have plenty of “winter” travel options for the upcoming summer travel season.

Here are 5 summer travel destinations that will keep you strapped into your boots and hucking airs throughout the entire summer season.

1. Queenstown, New Zealand
Boasting arguably the best powder in the Pacific, the town of Queenstown on New Zealand’s South Island is the region’s unrivaled adventure sports capital during both the winter and summer vacation periods. Set along the spine of the Southern Alps, resorts such as Coronet Peak and The Remarkables operate throughout the North American summer, well into late September and early October. Meanwhile, the fabled slopes of Wanaka’s Treble Cone are only an hour’s drive away.

2. Bariloche, Argentina

How can you not visit a town where the only thing more famous than the ski adventures is the endless amount of chocolate? While the town of Bariloche is a popular summer vacation getaway for those in nearby Buenos Aires, during the ski season travelers from all over the globe flock to resorts such as Cerro Catedral, which is located a mere 19km from the nightlife and chocolate shops of the Bariloche city center.

3. Portillo, Chile

Only a 2 hour drive from the international airport in Santiago, no conversation of skiing in Chile is complete without mention of Portillo. Perhaps South America’s most well known ski resort, Portillo offers 35 runs that range from beginner to heli-skiing options, and the hotel associated with the ski resort is notorious for its homegrown Chilean atmosphere.

4. Falls Creek, Australia

Another summer vacation destination for local Aussies during the warmer months, during the beginning of June this section of Australia’s highlands becomes blanketed in white. The nation’s largest alpine resort, Falls Creek offers everything from downhill skiing to cross country terrain, and is located just 4.5 hours from Melbourne’s international airport.

5. Mt. Hood, Oregon

The only year round lift-serviced ski resort in the United States, Oregon’s Timberline Lodge offers summer skiing options for those in the States who may not have the time or travel budget to venture far from home. While the glacier offers spring-like snow conditions throughout the entire summer travel season, public access is somewhat limited due to the large amount of summer camps taking place on the salted slopes.