But, as with everything, good times have to end. We arrived back in Queenstown in the early evening, in time for a beautiful sunset and a final dinner with new friends. It has truly been an amazing trip and I think New Zealand has jumped up to be our favorite place on the planet! The biodiversity here is extraordinary; probably nowhere else on the planet (perhaps except the Galapagos) has the range of bird or insect life that is here. The variety of geographic and landscape features, not to mention the climate zone diversity in such a small country is truly noteworthy. But we also loved the people we met — very friendly and down to earth. They learned early on that cooperation, rather than confrontation, was the way to go to harness the talents of everyone who lives here. In fact, they were the first country to give women the vote. You feel very relaxed here for a myriad of reasons.
Anyway, it was time to head back to Australia via Auckland and, wouldn’t you know, we landed just in time for the Auckland Wine and Food Festival! What a perfect way to ease back into civilization. Deb even made a new friend! Until our next voyage, cheers!
I am a traveler and sometimes clay sculptor, following a long career working in consulting. My work allowed me to travel the world extensively and I was hooked. Today, I travel with my wife/best friend to explore new places, meet new people, and learn new things.
