Recovery Mode: Activated
After an incredibly cool helicopter ride back to Queenstown, we took a day to recover, reorganize our gear, and prepare for the flight back to Australia’s Gold Coast.
There’s no question it took the group a few days to recover from the Milford Track—especially the rocks.
The rocks won.
For several days afterward, going up and down stairs looked less like normal movement and more like a group physical therapy session.
Back on the Gold Coast, we swapped hiking boots for sandals and traded mountain trails for beaches and surf.
One of our favorite stops was Tallebudgera Creek—a beautiful stretch of crystal-clear water where you can swim across the creek, walk the sandy shoreline, and simply slow down. The tides completely change the character of the place, giving it a different personality depending on the time of day.
It was the perfect reset.
What this trip gave us most was the chance to experience the majesty of God’s creation up close—from the towering peaks of New Zealand to the beaches and waters of Australia. Standing in places like Milford Sound, walking through Fiordland, and ending on the Gold Coast was a reminder of how breathtaking this world really is.
We were also reminded how blessed we are to have dear friends who not only made this trip possible but unforgettable. Great adventures are always about more than the destination—they’re about the people you share them with.
And no amount of beach time could prepare us for the 16-hour flight back to Dallas-Fort Worth… followed by the final leg home to Cleveland.
That part never got easier.
Before the trip, we worried that 18 days in Australia and New Zealand might be too long away from home. Turns out… it wasn’t nearly long enough. Yes, we missed family, home, and the normal routines of life. But before we even boarded the plane home, we were already talking about coming back.
Next time?
The Great Barrier Reef.
Because some adventures don’t end. They just turn into plans.
