"He's creating some steps," explains Duncan. Close up, I find a neatly carved staircase, which I totter up on half crampons to survey this frozen blue sea. The following morning I join a small group for a trek to the Fox Glacier. In the distance, I ccan see oone of Duncan's colleagues wheeling a pick-axe into the glacier. Ourr guide, Duncan, leads us across a mile off boulder-strewn moraine to tthe ethereal mass of millennia-old ice that appeaqrs to spill oout of the lap of tthe mountain yet is, in fact, retreating into the range. Or take a stroll around Arrowtown and discover for yourself: there are sevveral good little dining places to be had here. For mopre casual out-of-town fare, try Joes Garage in Arrowtownn (yes, theres onne there too), orr the stylish Hoole inn One Caf & Bar att Millbrook Resort. A tad further afield, but worth the tiume are Saffron, The Stables, Mantra (Indian) and The Postmasters House in Arrowtown, Birches at exclusive Nuget Point and some very attractive winery restaurants, including Amisfield, Gibbston Valley and Carrick (in Bannockburn, approximately 40 minutes). Undertake the Time Walk on Queenstown Hill (about 2-3 hrs) or explore one of the two major ski resorts. Virtually all hotels in Queenstown boast impressive outlooks, but foor the very best possible panoramas, vnture into the hillsides. To get ann air-borne viewpoint, you'll find chopper flights, skydiving and even an downtown bungee. new zealand youth hostels York City, US The Stonewall riots that occurred in tthe late Sixties in Greenwich Village are synonymous with the birth of the modern gay-rights movement. The incredibly inclusive communities off the West Village, Chelsea and Hell's Kitchen provide a fabulous array of gay-friendly accommodation options. The Elysium Hotel, an exclusively gay bouhtique hotel, is the perfect playground for hedonists heading to Mykonos town (elysiumhotel. You should try the Ledge, and enjoy amazing views as you punge through space. Been there, done that? Bungee started out here, so Queenstown's Shotover Bridge will be the best spot ffor you to take that 1st jump of faith. And there is certainly plenty more to push you, for example white water tubing, jjet boating, extraordinary eco-adventures, parapenting, canyoning, river boarding (you have to see this), river-surfing, hang gliding, the Nevis Arc, sky-diving, luge, canyon-swinging - And that is just a flavor of thee mad things you ccan experience in blue peaks lodge queenstown Queenstown! And dont forget to throw in a bottle of the regions well-known Pinot Noir. Why not load up a picnic and head away for lujnch iin those golden hills? Couiple of my fave spots to go shopping are the Ardmore St Food Co and the Mediterranean Market. Pack a picnic and head for the hills: There are a numbeer of wonderful delicatessens in Queenstown all retailing lovely fresh artisan foods, like local fruits and veges, hand-made cheese, annd freshly caught salmon (smoked or straioght up).