Queenstown's Winter Festival: Dog races in the snow, heli bungee jumps, and lots of music

Queenstown, oh Queenstown! Here, friends of extreme sports can find new challenges every day, and everyone else will find plenty to do in this city surrounded by mountains. Throughout the year, you can choose to bungee jump, skydive, or jet ski on the water. But what you can only experience in winter is the unforgettable Winter Festival, which kicks off the winter season for four days every year. We had already read about it in our travel guide and, curious, immediately started researching on the internet. What we read there, we had to see with our own eyes!

So we quickly drove south from Dunedin and immediately faced a little problem: where should we stay overnight? Campermate offered us numerous options in and around the city, but due to the Winter Festival and simply because it is Queenstown, the price per night was extremely high. After a quick calculation... no, we preferred to invest the money in something else, so we spent the festival time on a parking lot about 10 km away, right next to a bridge that was used for bungee jumps every day. Without a toilet. So we prepared for extra relaxed mornings, but hey, we had chosen it that way and that was the plan.

We missed the first evening of the festival, but the second promised to be especially great early in the morning. Firstly, because the sun wanted to show what it can do, and secondly because the day's program seemed to be made just for the two of us. After warming up at McDonald's after the somewhat chilly night (it gets a bit fresh in the car when the temperature drops below 0 degrees at night), we drove to the city center and found out how we could get to today's spectacle. This was taking place in the Cardrona ski area, which is not accessible from below with a lift like ski resorts in Europe, but rather is perched high up on a mountain peak about half an hour's drive from Queenstown.

Basically, there are two ways to get up there: either drive yourself or take a comfortable shuttle ride. The weather was so fantastic that day, and there hadn't been much snow in the days before, so we were able to easily make the entire journey with our Fred. We later found out that this is not always the case, but more on that in another post. Anyway, we were on our way up the mountain to the Cardrona ski area at half past ten.

When we arrived, the curvy, steep, and gravelly ride was immediately rewarded multiple times. We were greeted by an unforgettable view of the mountains. The visibility was so clear that we could see for kilometers. The snow crunched under our feet and there were happy people everywhere... and their dogs! Big dogs, small dogs, chubby dogs, and dogs dressed up in funny outfits... dogs everywhere. Our smiles got wider and wider. We were really looking forward to the upcoming event because a dog race with their owners racing down the ski slopes and a barking contest were announced. If that wasn't totally crazy and awesome, then what was?

While the competitors gathered and final announcements were made, we had some time to look around. The ski area was really beautiful. In addition to the authentic huts for ski passes, cafes, and rental equipment, we could see the first ski lift and admire part of the ski area. Tobi's eyes started to sparkle immediately, and that sparkle wouldn't fade all day. As much action as there was at the base, there was very little on the ski slopes higher up. The ski season had just opened three days ago and it hadn't snowed properly yet, but it was clear that skiers and snowboarders could have a lot of fun here.

In high spirits, we found a good spot to watch the upcoming race. And then it started. Divided into two groups, the first group raced to the ski lifts. At first, the announcement "Please do not use the open chairs" was ignored by some, which led to a lot of laughter when the first dogs and owners plunged down half a meter later. Then it seemed that the message to only use the gondolas had arrived, and within fifteen minutes, the first group was fully up top. We couldn't hear the starting signal from below, but it was more than obvious that it had started. About 40 people and dogs raced down the slopes at breakneck speed. In the distance, we could see the first unintentional somersaults (and also that no one was seriously injured, as everyone immediately got up laughing). After about five minutes, the winner crossed the finish line: a beige-colored Labrador raced with high speed over the marking sprayed on the snow. Shortly behind him, his owner ran, visibly panting but grinning from ear to ear. There was cheering and rewards for the victorious dog. Shortly after, the middle field arrived. Stumbling and laughing, dozens of dogs ran past us, some still accompanied by their owners, others already busy with more interesting things. One dog spontaneously decided to explore another slope, and the very small ones seemed to like waiting at the edge for their slower second half. More and more dogs and owners gathered in the finish area, and the winning couple was announced again before the track was cleared for the second round. This was just as funny. In any case, we had a lot of fun and encountered dozens of dogs.

Once the second group had safely reached the bottom as well, it was time for the barking contest. You can imagine it like this: anyone who wanted to could step forward with their dog and then convince them to jump onto the loading area of a truck and then, on command, bark. The only rule was that if someone couldn't convince their dog that this was the perfect time to bark, they had to do it themselves. The second participant couldn't prevail against her dog and climbed onto the truck laughing, then gave her best bark. Simply hilarious. About 20 dogs later, the jury withdrew to determine the winner, who was crowned shortly thereafter. The winners of the race also received their prizes and were allowed on the podium.

By this time, we were already quite cold (hiking boots are great for hiking, but not exactly winter shoes. Our insulation was a bit lacking), so we headed back down towards Queenstown. There, an evening full of live music and unique flair awaited us in the bay of the city.

We had already seen several New Zealand cities by now and have to say that none of them really impressed us. But Queenstown was completely different. The whole city resembles a ski village, and the downtown area was built around a beautiful bay. Cute little shops, many restaurants and bars, and a great view of the surrounding mountains immediately made us feel at home. To celebrate the Winter Festival, a large stage was set up right by the water, where artists gave their best performances all evening long. Drinks were offered, and food from around the world could be tried (including Dutch pancakes), and the program for the next few days could be seen. We stayed by the riverside for quite a while and listened to the music. Simply an amazing evening. After the main acts were done, we were quite frozen and very tired, so we headed back to Fred and went to the 'campground.'

The next day started just like the last one: getting up early, quickly converting the car, and even faster warming up at McDonald's and, well... using the bathroom. Then we went straight back to the bay of Queenstown because it promised to be particularly fun that day again. When we arrived, hundreds of people were already waiting for the first event to start: a race only clad in underwear and at about 0 degrees Celsius. It seems that the Romans weren't the only ones who were crazy. For this race, a kind of giant inflatable obstacle course was set up, and the participants had to run, jump, and climb over it. Shortly after, the starting shot was fired, and about 10 barely dressed women ran barefoot along the riverbank, raced around the curve, and threw themselves onto the obstacle course. They were accompanied by the cheers of the audience. After about 2 minutes, it was already over just as quickly as it had started, and the men got ready to start. They too were dressed only in underwear and ran as if the devil was chasing them, but the thought of warm clothes probably drove them. This race was also quickly over, and the winners were celebrated. After the prizes were awarded, the crowd turned to the next spectacle.

Admittedly, we didn't quite understand the next action. We only know that a bunch of people in costumes, some inflatable boats, pool noodles, water balls, and probably very few rules were involved because suddenly this colorful mix was in the water. With lots of shouting and visible fun, the participants tried to push each other out of the boats. What exactly the goal was wasn't quite clear, but it was fun to watch. At one point, a winner was apparently determined, and cheeringly, a colorful bunch of unicorns emerged from the water. Instead of getting dressed immediately, they celebrated first. Since then, we are sure that New Zealanders seem to have a different operating temperature.

The rest of the afternoon continued just as crazy. Skydivers tried to land on a floating air mattress, a daredevil did a bungee jump from a helicopter, and dozens of people, dressed up and to the beat of music, jumped off a diving board into the cold water, performing various choreographies. You might still know this as "Birdman." We spent the whole afternoon in Queenstown's bay, listening to music, and watching one crazy thing after another. Just wonderful, this city!

The last day of the Winter Festival was relatively calm. Most of the program took place a bit further out, so we decided to take it easy. We leisurely strolled through the downtown area, inquired about various excursions around Queenstown and the three largest ski resorts nearby because our little visit to Cardrona had really made us eager to go skiing. For strength, we tried the most famous burger joint in New Zealand. Fergburger allegedly had the best burgers, and during the summer, the wait could sometimes be more than an hour. And indeed, when we turned the corner, the line had already grown past the neighboring shop. But a friendly staff member handed us the menu with a smile and said it would only take 20 minutes. Smiling, we accepted the menus because overhead radiant heaters kept our heads warm. It actually only took 20 minutes until we could order and another 10 minutes until we received our burgers. Fortunately, we immediately found a seat (a rarity) and got to work. What can we say? It was super delicious. Tobi swears that it was the best burger he had ever eaten. Definitely worth the wait!

For the rest of the day, relaxation at the local indoor pool was on the agenda (no, not just because we desperately needed a shower ;)). Like two satisfied whales, we enjoyed the hot pools and even swam a few laps (okay, two).

The next day we had a bit of downtime since our next plan was on the agenda the day after. So we decided to go for a short hike up to a viewpoint overlooking Queenstown. The steep ascent of the Tiki Trail took about an hour and a half and is really worth it. Alternatively, you could take the gondola up, but where's the fun in that? We arrived at the top a bit sweaty and enjoyed the view of the city while having breakfast.

Once back down, we decided to take a little mini trip to a nearby place called Glenorchy, mainly because the route there was said to be great and because the weather was too nice to do nothing. Glenorchy isn't worth many words in itself: a small town that was once a destination for gold miners and is now a target for many tourists and their cameras. Small but nice. We also took some photos and then drove back to Queenstown with Fred after a short walk. Because from there, our trip was supposed to start early the next morning. Where exactly it was going and why everyone who comes to New Zealand should definitely make a detour to this beautiful place, we will tell you in our next novel... um, post ;)

Greetings to everyone :*