Joyfully Optimistic

“New Zealand is an otherworldly mash-up of climates, geologies, adventures, and luxuries. (Oh, the things you can do!)”, writes Condé Nast Traveler’s Susan Hack, who “tries it all in the Southern Hemisphere’s hot zone”, on a 14-day journey tramping and “helicoptering” around the country. “Was my high-priced, high-octane, eco-orgasm worth it? Yes, yes, yes. Was it green? Well, I guess I’ll be doing lots of recycling and composting from now on to compensate for my gargantuan New Zealand carbon footprint. But as refreshing as the air itself is the joyful optimism and forward thinking. Just standing still here you’re on the move, the earth beneath you uplifting rock born in Gondwana, taking you on the eons-long ride toward Australia.”