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Some friends took a bicycle trip to New Zealand several years ago staying in farmstays, resorts, and with people they met along the way. Until I started looking into a trip of my own, I had no idea there were so many luxury resorts in New Zealand. There are and they can be spectacular!


One of these that I came across is the Matakauri Lodge outside of Queenstown in an alpine setting on the South Island. Matakauri combines fine dining, a spa, amazing views of Lake Wakatipu and beautiful accommodations. The lodge can serve as a base for trips to destinations such as Milford Sound and for fishing right on the Lake right in front of the lodge itself.

Surely anyone who has seen Gauguin's paintings of this tropical paradise has entertained thoughts of visiting Tahiti! Where it once took months to travel there by sailing ship, these islands in the South Pacific can be reached in just over 8 hours by plane from Los Angeles. When you step off into the tropical air and are greeted by a Tahitian woman offering you flowers and hear the island music (picture taken in the early morning sunlight) you will be enchanted. Select a tiare flower and breathe in the gardenia-like scent; close your eyes and listen to the music.

My only real time in Tahiti was in the airport on the way to and from the Cook Islands - a total of about 5 hours - so I don't have first hand knowledge about the islands, but our Tahiti Travel Guide is there to help out anyone who is interested in visiting this destination.