A few years back, my husband and I went on a wonderful trip to New Zealand. We drank Sauvignon Blanc in Cloudy Bay, visited Hobbiton and hiked Tongariro State Park, the dramatic landscape that stood in for Mordor in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. The highlight, however, may have been riding part of the Rail Trail on the South Island. The 90-mile railway track turned bike trail takes riders through the golden rolling hills of the Central Otago. Mostly flat, it’s leisurely cycling and it gives you a glimpse of New Zealand rural life. If you go, make sure to overnight at the Wedderburn Cottages and the Pitches Store in Ophir.
