New Zealand truly is a “kiwi wonderland”. One of the most isolated islands on the planet is blessed with unique flora and fauna, many species endemic to New Zealand. This includes the flightless bird (kiwi) that shares a name with a delicious juicy fruit (kiwi) that originates in China and was imported into New Zealand only in the 20th century.

The two main islands, North and South, sit in a moderate climate zone ranging from warm subtropical in the far north to cool temperate in the far south. The result is lush vegetation and some of the most luxuriant rainforest walking tracks we’ve experienced.

Maori culture, part of the Polynesian people group, is a key piece of the New Zealand historical and cultural puzzle, and geothermal activity generated by its position astride the Taupo Volcanic Zone on the Pacific Ring of Fire adds another unique element of drama and natural beauty.

In fact, pristine natural wonders are New Zealand’s main attraction: rainforests, glaciers, beach trails, and a seemingly unending necklace of crystal clear lakes bedecked along the spine of a chain of stunning volcanic mountains on both Islands. We sample these wonders on a series of walks from Auckland, New Zealand’s main city on the North Island all the way to either Milford or Doubtful Sound on the South Island.

When people ask us our favorite destination, New Zealand always sits easily in the top three.

Far out in the Atlantic Ocean, roughly one-third of the distance between southern Europe and the East Coast of the USA, lies a 9-island archipelago called the Azores Islands. Here, the tips of some of earth’s tallest mountains poke above the ocean surface from the bottom of a deep ocean at a juncture of three major tectonic plates.

The latitude of the islands combines with the moderating Gulf Stream influence and rich volcanic soil to produce a Garden-of-Eden effect. Luxuriant vegetation is an extraordinary feature of the Azores. The volcanic nature of the islands also produces a tremendous topographical variety: emerald green valleys dotted with a plethora of prolific dairy cows, black lava beaches bearing the pounding of a starkly contrasting and unusually clear blue surf, mysterious meandering lava caves, and a fascinating variety of lagoons and lakes…all explored on a well-developed system of trails and dirt roads.

Six hundred years ago, under the patronage of Prince Henry the Navigator, Portuguese mariners became the first to develop the ability to sail the open ocean, out of sight of land. In their relentless quest to round the cape of Africa in search of trade treasures of the East, they happened upon this blessed archipelago. Hence, though over 800 miles from Portugal, it fell under the jurisdiction of Lisbon and is today a part of the nation of Portugal.

Island hopping (by plane) to 4 of the Azores 9 islands offers a surprisingly diverse introduction to this luxuriant Atlantic archipelago.