The Skyline Gondola is something that can be seen from pretty much anywhere in Queenstown. Its path snakes up the side of a hill behind Queenstown, opposite from Lake Wakatipu.This is a ride that every visitor to Queenstown should take, no matter how adventurous. If you think it is not interesting enough for you, then go for the bungee jump nearing the top—not only can you jump off a platform 43m in the air, you can do it while everyone going up and down the mountain are watching you!Compared to everything else in Queenstown, this activity is actually relatively cheap—at least you don't have to consider not eating dinner to fit doing this into your budget. I believe I paid around NZ$35 for both the gondola and three luge rides at the top.The gondola ride itself is just a typical gondola ride, although if you are on your own it can be interesting. Luckily, the only other person in the cabin with me was a fairly normal British guy. As you creep up the mountain, Queenstown spreads itself out in front of you, along with Wakatipu and its surroundings, and the Remarkables become more and more stunning. Every once in a while, if you're lucky, you'll get to see someone jump off the AJ Hackett bungy platform to the left of the gondolas.At the top, there is the typical shop, along with a restaurant that is rather expensive and requires advance donations. I just stood transfixed by the views from seemingly every direction. I eventually pried myself (and the camera) away, and headed for the luge track.The luge track is up another small ski lift. Before you get on the lift, you are given a helmet. If you go at a time that isn't very busy, like I did at 5 o clock on a weekday afternoon, when you get to the top, you are put onto a luge car and sent down the beginner track. And although this is not actual luge (you are on a sled-type thing with wheels with handlebars which you can push away or pull towards you depending on the amount of speed you want, rather than on an iced track speeding downhill as fast as possible with no way to break unless you break yourself), it is still exhilarating to be rushing down hill that quickly. It's kind of hard to keep your eyes on the track when there is so much to be seen around you as well.I'm glad I bought more than one trip down the luge, because the advanced track looked much more exciting than the beginners track. I headed up the mountain and found that I was right—and my advice is, when it says slow down, big drop, they mean it! I didn't exactly heed this advice and found myself flying through the air, which was exciting and slightly scary. I definitely advise buying the three rides because you always want one more trip!
From journal Adventures in Queenstown