When Pad and I first started talking about New Zealand – we were also talking about moving to New York. New York is my ultimate destination – the city I’m probably most in love with – and Queenstown was Pad’s equivalent of that.

Moving to New York seemed a stretch for us at the time (all I need to say is Green Cards and you’ll get the picture) but New Zealand seemed much more in reach – so that’s the destination where our plans settled.

And I’m so glad they did. 

Queenstown has completely won me over, and I didn’t think I’d be this sad leaving it behind. 

Queenstown is this phenomenally beautiful (devastatingly so – someone tweeted me yesterday) town.

It has these incredible sweeping vistas that surprise you at every corner you turn. I’ve never woken up and not been amazed at our view. There has never been a day when I haven’t been stopped or taken aback by it’s beauty, even on foggy days when all I can see is whiteness – I can feel the mountain air on my face and that’s enough. When somewhere is this overwhelming it demands your attention and you give it willingly, in whatever way you can.

I love the way the clouds cling to mountains and cut off the pinnacles on stormy days, tricking you into thinking there are no mountains there at all. I love it when the sun is so bright you have to shade your eyes and the sunset casts such long deep shows on even the smallest pebbles. I love the colour of the lake and how it’s the bluest water and cleanest water I’ve ever seen. I love it in the distance on windy days, when it looks like dolphins are jumping from the waves. I loved the snow and waking up to a white mountain top, that was green and brown only hours before. And falling asleep on the balcony with thunder and lightening happening right around me.

I cannot count the times when Pad has caught me just staring out of our living room windows. Sometimes if a TV show is boring – I’ll just stare out of the window instead – because the view is forever changing and much more interesting. There is a spot on the window with my hand prints where I just stand and look. No where has ever quietened me like Queenstown before.

Queenstown has this purity about it, and there is this peacefulness and beauty that swallows you up just being here. 

But saying that – the adventure and adrenaline that Queenstown serves up is something special too. Whilst it’s views and landscapes may stun you into silences – it doesn’t require you stay that way. Scream, and do it loudly. You’ll have no other option as you throw yourself from a plane, or down a zipline, or across a canyon. You’re spoilt for choice here and everyone knows it. There is no other place in the world that so magnificently caters to everyone.

Hopefully a few of these photos and this video can do it justice….