New Zealand has something to offer any style of traveler. It is a land of snow-capped mountains, long sandy beaches and wild coastline, rolling grasslands and sapphire fjords. This awesome landscape provides endless opportunities for adventure and play, while sophisticated but laid-back cities accommodate the tastes of the more urban visitor.

This journal entry is an excerpt from my upcoming book about my travels through New Zealand. I spent nearly two months, June 7-July 27 of 2012 traveling through the North and South Islands with my brother. This particular excerpt is from a portion of the time we spent in beautiful Milford Sound.

Tuesday - November 8, 2011:

Anticipation is increasing. Tonight, I will meet the other travelers at a welcome dinner, then, in less than 36 hours, we will be on the Kapitan Khlebnikov departing Lyttelton. From my past Antarctica trips, I recall an exhilarating yet scary feeling watching the land become smaller and smaller and finally disappearing …