Queenstown New Zealand

I had just been introduced to a conservatively dressed businessman and couldn't help noticing he was wearing eye makeup. In many of the world's major cities we expect such things, but on a bloke on the South Island of New Zealand, such a sighting is distracting -- so much so that I felt compelled to inquire. "Blimey," he said, "I tried to rub it off last night with vodka. Is it still there?" I laughed. Only in New Zealand. I was at the 29th annual Queenstown Winter Festival last year.

For the best burger on the planet, it's Fergburger. At about $7.50, the burger is a meal in itself. You'll get a good laugh from the menu, with choices such as the Codfather (fish burger), the Cockadoodle Oink (chicken and bacon), the Holier Than Thou (tofu) and the Bun Laden (falafel). Well worth a visit after enjoying the adrenaline adventures in Queenstown. Fergburger, 42 Shotover St., Queenstown Town Centre, Queenstown, New Zealand; 011-64-3-441-1232, http://www.fergburger.com . Alan Matis, Sherman Oaks

For the best burger on the planet, it's Fergburger. At about $7.50, the burger is a meal in itself. You'll get a good laugh from the menu, with choices such as the Codfather (fish burger), the Cockadoodle Oink (chicken and bacon), the Holier Than Thou (tofu) and the Bun Laden (falafel). Well worth a visit after enjoying the adrenaline adventures in Queenstown. Fergburger, 42 Shotover St., Queenstown Town Centre, Queenstown, New Zealand; 011-64-3-441-1232, http://www.fergburger.com . Alan Matis, Sherman Oaks

I had just been introduced to a conservatively dressed businessman and couldn't help noticing he was wearing eye makeup. In many of the world's major cities we expect such things, but on a bloke on the South Island of New Zealand, such a sighting is distracting -- so much so that I felt compelled to inquire. "Blimey," he said, "I tried to rub it off last night with vodka. Is it still there?" I laughed. Only in New Zealand. I was at the 29th annual Queenstown Winter Festival last year.

Until the end of the year, in this space we will profile what options, from tours to celebrations, still remain for travelers looking to ring in Year 2000 elsewhere. "Deal of the Week" will return in January. Greet the millennium in the resort town of Queenstown, New Zealand, on the shores of Lake Wakatipu on the 19-day "Down Under Discovery" tour by Globus & Cosmos. The trip includes visits to Christchurch, Mt.

When I read the story, "It's Shear Fun in the Woolshed" (April 10) by Jeff Spurrier, it brought back memories of the wool shearing we had seen in the Agrodome in Rotorua and later at the Walter Peake High Country Farm, Queenstown, New Zealand. When I got to the paragraph: "It carries everything from homespun wool jumpers to koala dolls," I gave a whoop of laughter. Before we went on our tour last November we asked friends in Melbourne about the weather and about what type of clothes to take.

On a recent trip I fell in the bathroom of my room in a Queenstown, New Zealand, hotel. A smooth, soap-like compound was on the floor, not cleaned up, and this caused my fall. I fractured my collarbone in several places. I went to see a solicitor (attorney) to collect medical expenses. I was told that there is no such thing as negligence there as far as the courts are concerned. What they have is a workmen's compensation plan run by the government that will consider if a claim caused permanent injury, this being decided after a year, and medical costs would be evaluated on what they would cost there, where such costs are minimal due to a government plan.

Spring hiking may be at its best right now, almost anywhere. Just remember the old maxim: It's the art of knowing what not to take. Here are the best current fares to some grand hiking areas.

Trout are pretty picky characters. They like their water vodka-clear and their insects served just so. The good news: You can find the fish from the Sierra to Siberia. Here are the best airfares to some of the world's best trout spots: *--* ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND LAX $709 British *--* *--* ANCHORAGE LAX $415 Delta, United, US Airways SNA 545 Alaska, Delta, US Airways BUR 445 United, US Airways LGB 415 Alaska, Delta, US Airways ONT 473 United, US Airways *--* *--* BOZEMAN, MONT.

The Southern Pacific Hotel Corp. will offer its Down Under hotel pass again in 1988, but with new rules. You will have to buy a minimum of 12 coupons at $32 per coupon, or $384 total. The brochure you get with your purchase tells how many coupons are needed at the 66 hotels--in Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti and Fiji--where they are valid. Most participating hotels are in New Zealand and Australia. Rates range from $64 to $128 per room a night on a single, double or triple occupancy basis.

If you happen to be traveling to the South Pacific, look into the possibility of using coupons offered at 45 hotels through the Southern Pacific Hotel Corp. The coupons can be used at properties in Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti and Fiji. You have to buy a minimum of 12 coupons at a cost of $40 per coupon. Two to four coupons are required for a one-night stay, except in Tahiti, where five to seven coupons may be needed, depending on whether you have a regular or above-the-water room.

Far from being left out in the rush of special offers to Europe, the Far East and South Pacific are also spinning out special programs. Honolulu-based Royal Road Mutual Holidays offers five free nights at a quintet of Hyatt hotels if you buy a pair of round-trip air tickets from Honolulu for $896 to Auckland or $996 to Sydney, per person, aboard Air New Zealand or Continental Airlines. Flights are available from Los Angeles or San Francisco.