When you think of skiing, I’ll bet Colorado, Canada, or maybe even Switzerland may pop up in your head, but not New Zealand. Too bad.
More famous for its “Lord of the Rings” backdrops, New Zealand is also one of the best, and one of the few, skiing destinations in the Southern Hemisphere. And from August 30 through to September 6, they get themselves a good dose of gay in the DNA Gay Ski Week in Queenstown. And yes, the town is called that. Talk about simpatico.
Hosted by DNA, probably the best international gay publication in the world, at the Cardrona Alpine Resort, imbedded deep in New Zealand’s Southern Alps, the Gay Ski Week opens with a bang (no pun intended. Really.) at the MoreFM Opening party, but methinks the Strip Night on the 31stmay register as the must-do. But while the bitchy bingos, pool parties, and even a “Circus Night” on the 6th will certainly keep you occupied, what you should really be paying attention to are the slopes.
In Florida, even a good-sized hill can set off a bout of acrophobia, so gird your loins: Several of the peaks in the Southern Alps soar over 8,000 feet tall. Luckily for you, Cardrona Mountain only goes up to a little over 6,100 feet, but have no doubt that you will be above the clouds. Which is pretty cool, actually. However, unlike a lot of Northern Hemisphere resorts, Cardrona closes at 4 PM, which explains why the nights of the Gay Ski Week are as packed as they are.
And then there is Queenstown. Resting prettily on the shorts of Lake Wakatipu, the city has long been the bull’s-eye of New Zealand’s outdoorsy types. Skiing and snowboarding back have a headlock on winter sports, but come the Southern summer, bungee jumping is the craze. It’s also something of a New Age capital. Don’t be took shocked if, when you pick up your organically/ethically/locally grown latte, the barista asks if you want a tarot reading.
Finally, New Zealand is unique in the gay world because it is just so dang far away from anybody else. Belgium and the UK sorta blend, Canadians go to New Orleans as much as Americans do Montreal, but once you are in New Zealand…well, you are in New Zealand. This creates a nation-specific take on a lot of things, not just gay life. Which, I think, adds to whole experience.
For more info, go to gayskiweekqt.com. Steele Luxury Travel is a New Zealand Kiwi Specialist! Visit us at www.SteeleTravel.com for more information and to book your trip!