The Ladies

My mother-in-law, Elaine, and my Aunt Rita—a.k.a. “the ladies”—arrived from the States in tip-top shape, albeit minus one suitcase. Their missing luggage launched us into Queenstown with an immediate mission: gear up with raincoats, socks, and other essentials at our favorite Kiwi staple, Mountain Warehouse.

The next priority was coffee, which is a surprisingly complex endeavor in New Zealand. The classic American debate over the nuances of long blacks, short blacks, flat whites, cappuccinos, and Americanos began in earnest and didn’t let up.

The rest of the trip was a delightful blur. We spanned the south, from Queenstown and Arrowtown to the misty depths of Doubtful Sound, through Invercargill, and up to Christchurch. We did it all: bush walks, boat rides, garden tours, and “creature spotting.”

To clarify, while New Zealand has no native land mammals, it’s a sanctuary for unique wildlife like tuataras, albatross, and penguins. The ladies managed to see them all—even if the nocturnal kiwis they spotted were of the plush, stuffed-animal variety.

While they adored the albatross, I think their favorite excursion was to the Oamaru penguins with Mark and Dean. Indeed, there is a special kind of magic in meeting familiar faces in far-off places.

Each Airbnb we stayed in seemed more comfortable than the last, prompting Elaine to host a pasta night in Dunedin. After weeks of traveling, her home-cooked meal was more delicious than even our exquisite meals at Walter Peak Farm and Ayburn.

The only thing left unsaid is about our time at Little Paradise Lodge & Wild Dream Garden, and that’s because I’m speechless! You have to see it to believe it.

Final Remarks

• To all the friends and family back home who believed we all went bungee jumping, thanks for being so gullible. We love you for it!
• To Elaine and Rita, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making the trip!