Simply Gobsmacked with New Zealand

To Arthur's Pass

I find it difficult to write about a place where language falls kilometers short of describing not only what can be seen, but also the awe and true wonder such a space inspires. Filled with staggering diversity in landscape, culture, and biodiversity a trip to New Zealand--even during the off season--is wrought with two perils; is there enough time to soak it all in? And, oh goodness me, am I in love?

There were moments that needed to last longer than they did, and then there were moments where my heart leapt from my mouth and I scrambled about trying to catch up the pieces only to promptly loose them all over again. Sure other places around the world could boast snow capped mountains, primeval forests, clear every shade of blue rivers, marshes, heath, cliffs, gorges, waterfalls, rolling hills, silky beaches, and more mountains; however New Zealand has all this packed into roughly 268,000 square kilometers and the transition between them is dramatically understated. There is a reason some kiwis like to say that after toiling with the rest of creation, God decided to mix things up a bit and created New Zealand last. They are probably right.