Luxury Travel Insider · Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Phil Borman explains the unique mix of climates and landscapes in New Zealand, citing its position in the path of the Roaring Forties winds and rapid mountain uplift 15 million years ago. This combination leads to diverse environments, from rainforests to alpine zones, sometimes within short distances.
“You're absolutely right. New Zealand is really interesting. There are quite a few forces at play that lend to this perception, and as you correctly point out, that it's kind of like this combination of, you know, it's a bit Whistler. It's a bit Colombian rainforest. It's a little bit Iceland. It's a mix of everything.”
“The first factor is that New Zealand, in terms of where it sits, sits right in the path of the roaring 40s winds.”
“So New Zealand experienced rapid uplift about 15 million years ago.”