Giant Monsters In Queenstown

My suitcase isn't even unpacked and I'm standing in my hotel room in Queenstown, New Zealand. I'm thinking about in my most conscious and wishful day dream, just yearning for the giant monster bird to still be there, chasing us in a place that has often been described as beautiful as the Biblical Eden.

Only I know that isn't ever going to happen. Besides, it's the other way around. We were guilty of chasing after the giant monster bird, and it was all about drumsticks the size of a cow's leg.

You wouldn't think that in a paradise like Queenstown, that giant extinct monsters once roamed, would be one of the many reasons you'd want to visit there, but it was and is. We all need reminders as we travel to far away places, of the very things that should be etched in the human mind. Someday, we might have to stand before our maker and explain ourselves. Understanding what humans did to other creatures like the Giant Moa, is why some of us need to travel -- to grasp the enormity of it all.

Beyond the fossils found in Queenstown's museums, this is one tourist destination unequaled by most others. Where else could you go to enjoy a four season lake (Lake Wakatipu) with water so blue and so clear, you'd think it was faked in a photo or postcard? Or, find snow capped mountains beckoning the mind to it's Alpine resort mountain views, tales of yesteryear's gold rush, views so breathtaking that they provide almost instant relaxation and rejuvenation?-- All of which shout "outdoor adventures" to be found here! Not only does the scenery shout, it delivers when you go to Queenstown, New Zealand.

Before I tell you about Queenstown, New Zealand and the Giant Moa, remember that key to visiting any destination is having a great place to stay when you get there. Over one million visitors come to Queenstown every year, all eager for the all that it has to offer.

People have been visiting Queenstown for over one hundred years. The town continues to attract everyone from backpackers, to those seeking luxury hotels and resorts, so be sure to book well in advance of your trip.

There are a huge range of accommodations in Queenstown, and one way to find the right one for you is to let one of my favorite hotel booking sites to find cheap hotels in Queenstown, that are just right for your travel budget. Hotel Club's reliable online booking is where you'll find a wide variety of choices for your accommodations in Queenstown.

Back to the Giant Moa that led me to Queenstown the first time -- Humans made them extinct, just a mere five hundred years ago, solely because we ate more of them faster than they could reproduce.

A flightless bird, it is thought they were the tallest bird to ever walk earth. In this species, the females were dominantly large compared to the male.

They were over twelve feet tall and weighed over five hundred pounds. Their feathers were reddish-brown, more hair like, similar to a peacocks. They were also the “big foot” of the bird world.

Unfortunately, the indigenous tribe, the Maorishunted them to extinction by the end of the 1500s in New Zealand. However, they weren’t the only humans to blame for this unfortunate situation -- their natural forest habitat was slashed and burned to make room for farm land.

Giant moas (eleven different species of them) were ratites -- meaning that they were in the same bird family as the ostrich, emu, cassowary, rhea, and even the kiwi.

While there is plenty of evidence of their existence in Queenstown, New Zealand, you’ll get a false picture of what they really looked like -- if the only thing you see is their bones mounted in a museum. Museum mounts typically, have them standing erect with their heads held as high as possible, to emphasize their extreme height. Just like a common turkey, they most likely didn’t run around with their necks extended.

It would be impossible to outline all the things to do and things to see in Queenstown, so I'm just going to give you a sampling. This is one destination where there is something for everyone in the family or group to talk about for years after your visit.

First of all, if you are looking for adventure, then you’ve come to the right place. This is the adrenaline junkie’s ultimate destination, here you’ll find:

• Bungee jumping
• Canyoning
• Canyon swinging
• Climbing
• Cycling
• Off-roading
• Hiking
• Heli-skiing
• Hunting
• Mountain biking
• Parapenting
• Skiing
• Snowboarding
• Triathlon events
• Whitewater river rafting

If you’re looking for something outdoorsy, but a little less strenuous, then there’s:

• Bird watching
• Fabulous day spas
• Fishing (rainbow trout, brown trout and quinnat salmon)
• Gold panning
• Golfing
• Horse treks
• Hot air ballooning
• Ice skating
• Jet boating

• Kayaking

• Ride the skyline gondolas

• Sailing

• Scenic flights

If you just came to Queenstown to relax, your options are also unlimited. Just sitting outside anywhere is to take in breathtaking views. Then there are the:

• Day spas
• Thermal bath pools

If you came to shop and look, you are in shopaholics paradise:

• Art galleries to visit
• Craft markets
• Opportunities to watch jewelry being made by 1st class artisans
• Hand painted ceramics
• Designer label shopping

• Jade hunters (the Maori) were the first inhabitants of Queenstown
• There is no bad season to visit Queenstown, every season brings new delights to be discovered.
• Queenstown offers four different golf courses for golf lovers, each has something different to offer in terms of terrain and stunning views
• Downtown Queensland is one where everything is within walking distance
• Casual is the word for the dress code in Queenstown, leave your suits, ties, and formal wear behind
• Do bring jackets and sweaters for the expected sudden changes in temperatures, especially after dark

• Auto rental companies restrict some vehicles from being taken out on mountainous country roads

• Do be prepared to find quality knitwear, sheepskin, and even possum fur.

• Do be prepared to shop for great deals on jade (green stone).
• Do be prepared to shop for bone carvings.
• Don’t forget to sample great New Zealand wines.
• Shopping is generally seven days a week.

There’s no limit on the variety and quality of dining experiences in Queenstown.

However, because of the huge of number of tourists descending upon this fabulous vacation spot, be sure to make reservations for dinner, if you expect to eat at one of the better restaurants in town. The choices are far too many to list.

Expect to find some of the finest dining when it comes to seafood, especially mussels, oysters, blue cod, and trout. Also expect to find some of the finest dining when it comes to farm raised venison, lamb, and beef. Your taste buds will not be wanting when it comes to visiting Queenstown.

Be sure to check out what events are happening in Queenstown prior to your expected arrival or prior to planning your trip. Queenstown, hosts a number of sporting events from triathlons, to cricket tournaments, to world class golfing events.

Additionally, Queenstown has twice yearly a Southern Lakes Festival of Colour, which are six day arts events and a Winter Festival that last ten days. The Winter Festival embraces art, sports, entertainment, and food and wine, among a host of unusual other events, within this event.

There are many other events taking place throughout the year, again too numerous to list.