If you’re a fan of "it", there’s a tour for "it" in New Zealand: fly fishing, rugby, surfing, cooking, wine tasting, hiking/tramping, Lord of the Rings, more rugby, and on and on. In fact, there’s so much to see and do as you tour this exquisite country that we tend to forget some of the “downtime” pursuits. One of our own favorites is reading, and we're not alone—Kiwis are passionate about books.
It was with some pride weeks ago, as I watched Jeopardy! (America's Favorite Quiz Show) that my host, Alex Trebek, hit me with the $2,000 question in a category dubbed "Hollow"—and I knew it! See if your wits match mine:
Alex: "This Aboriginal instrument, also called a 'drone pipe,' is traditionally made from a Eucalyptus branch that is hollowed out naturally by termites."
Dibirdibi 2008, Sally Gabori, Kaiadilt people, the Queensland Art Gallery
New Zealand travel brochures depict two things: incredible scenery and extreme outdoor adventures. Walk into the airport in say, Queenstown, and the first thing you’ll see are posters and murals of breathtaking panoramas straight from the Lord of the Rings films, then scenes of people who are apparently having near-death experiences. Seriously. You’ll see people falling from great heights with their mouths agape in silent screams; some taking unfettered romps down a steep hillside inside giant, water-filled inflatable balls; and still others the hurling themselves from giant bridges and cranes with nothing but elastic bands strapped to their torsos.
By Kathryn Starkey, MD, and Molly Evans
With the holiday season upon us, our thoughts turn naturally to food. ‘Tis the season to eat, after all—and no one knows that better than the Australians. It may be summer Down Under, but the Silly Season means spending time with rellies (relatives) and mates, feasting on lots of Holiday edibles.
What is Australian food? We actually get that questiona lot. So, we'll start with a few bits of Australian foodie lingo: chook is chicken, sangers are sandwiches and lamington is a jam-filled wedge of cake.
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