Budget Accommodation in QueenstownIELTS Listening Practice Test with Answers

Hi Lewis, it's Jacinta here.

Oh hi Jacinta, I was just going to call you. I was thinking we ought to do something about accommodation for our trip to Queenstown.

Yeah actually that's just why I rang you. I've been looking on the internet, there was one place that looked okay called Travelers Lodge, but when I checked availability for January, when we're planning to go, I found it was fully booked.

Right, well we better do something now I suppose.

I've actually got a list up here on the computer. There's one place called Bingleys that looks possible, it's $19.75 a night. That's US dollars, they quote all the prices in US dollars.

So that's about $26 or $27 New Zealand dollars. That's okay, that'll be in a dormitory is it?

Yeah, they say 8-bed dorms and the hostel's right in the town centre and they've got a cafe. They have theme nights every weekend, whatever that means.

Oh you know, like certain sorts of food and music. And people might wear special clothes like that Egyptian evening we went to last year.

Oh okay, what else? They've got a Sunday area and then all the usual things, internet access and so on.

Sounds good, was there anywhere else?

Yeah, a couple more places. There's one called Shall I Lodge, which is just $18 US dollars. That's for a bed in a 12-bed dorm. They do single and family rooms as well. It looks as if it's a bit out of town, says it's got an Alpine setting, a quiet Alpine setting. What do you think?

Not sure.

Oh, but actually it's not far out at all. It says 10 minutes’ walk from town, so... Oh, and it says it's children friendly.

I'm not so sure about that. What about the third place?

That's called Globe Trotters. Let's see. They do private rooms or five bed dorms for $18.50. It's in the centre, just by the lake. And that includes breakfast.

Didn't the other two?

I don't think so. They didn't mention it, so probably not. Oh, and it says something about a free skydive. Wow.

Don't know if I'm all that keen on jumping out of airplanes.

Oh, actually, what it says is you can win a chance to do a skydive. They give one away every day to one of the guests.

Well, if I win it, you can do it. Anyway, do they have room?

Yeah, I'll check the availability. So I'll go ahead and book there then.

Fine.

I was looking at what there is to do, too. There are lots of sites offering deals for adventure sports. I suppose we have to do a bungee jump.

Why?

Well, it's cranes town where they more or less started it as a sport.

You can. If you really want to jump off the side of a bridge with an elastic rope tied around your ankles, I'll watch.

OK, so what do you want to do?

As far as adventure sports go, I was talking to someone who went white water rafting there. He said it was really awesome. They drive you up the shot over river, and then you come down on a rubber raft through the white water rapids where the rivers really narrow and fast and end up going through a tunnel nearly 200 meters long. I think it's quite expensive, though.

Oh, I'm on for that a few hours.

Cool.

The other thing you can do is the jet boat ride. That sounded just a lot of noise, though. It's basically just whizzing round on the river on a very fast boat, isn't it?

My friend did that as well. He said it was a bit touristy, but worth it. I'll give it a go. You go right up the river canyon. He said the drivers were really skillful, but I don't mind going on my own.

But there's lots to do as well as a whole commercial adventure, but we ought to do some trekking. The scenery around there's amazing. I don't want to miss that. The place to start school and all key, apparently. About 40 minutes’ drive. That's where a lot to the wilderness trails begin.

OK, I'll pack my walking boots. I'd better start getting in training. I haven't done anything except sit at my desk for months. Now, is there anything else we need to decide?