It’s been a minute! After a long winter break spent traveling through New Zealand and Australia, we came back and immediately hit the ground running with work and life. I’m cozied up in Windham Mountain this weekend, finally slowing down and trying to make sense of the two weeks we spent down under. Today I’ll tackle our trip to New Zealand and next week Byron Bay, Australia. But before I get to that, a quick note. This newsletter now lives on Substack and is officially separate from LF emails, which you should sign up for as well, because if you’ve been around for a while you know I tend to get write-y everywhere.
If you missed it, and part of why I’ve been quiet here, you can read what I wrote after the shooting of Renee Good in “Finding Our Common Language” in which I do what many other business leaders with much more power refuse to do and call it what it is: FASCISM.
And another piece I wrote about our new and deeply important collaboration with Jonathan Haidt’s organization, “LF x The Anxious Generation.” You can also read my Q&A with Jonathan HERE.
Okay. Let’s get into Loose Threads. I’m keeping it relatively light today, though don’t let that fool you. I am very much still losing my mind over here with the news cycle.
I’ll do my best to capture this trip. If travel writing is not your thing at all, feel free to scroll to the bottom for quick hits. New Zealand this time, Australia next week.
NEW ZEALAND
You probably don’t know this, because why would you, but my husband Sean was actually born in New Zealand. He and my boys are all official Kiwis, passports and everything. It felt like time to visit the motherland.
You may know the story of our forever brand muse, my mother-in-law Janet MacPherson. Janet met Sean’s father, Tim Murdoch, in Santa Barbara. She had just graduated college, and he was there promoting an at-the-time unheard-of surf film called The Endless Summer. He swept her off her feet, which I’ve learned was very much Tim’s signature move, and convinced her to move to “warm, sunny” New Zealand. There, she gave birth to Sean and went on to become the New Zealand women’s surf champion.
The only problem was that New Zealand is not very warm and not always sunny. Summer is unpredictable and often cold and wet. Perfect sweater weather, honestly. Janet high-tailed it out of there after four years. We luckily got some sunny days during our visit.
Before the itinerary, my overall take on New Zealand:
New Zealanders are proud, grounded, and deeply committed to caring for their country. You feel it everywhere. Trash cans are tiny because they simply don’t create trash the way we Americans do, which had me thinking for weeks after we got home: why on earth do we get so many napkins with a takeout lunch? There’s a strong emphasis on egalitarianism, understatement, and shared responsibility. People aren’t flashy or status-driven. They’re friendly and respectful without being performative. Everything, from trails to sidewalks, feels like a communal effort. The air is the crispest air I’ve ever inhaled in my life.
I was also surprised by how removed I felt from the US and Europe. Even though everyone speaks English, New Zealand feels like its own universe. It was thrilling to be so far from the political noise back home. The country feels genuinely cut off. (And yet, every time I wore my “I didn’t vote for him” sweater, I was met with enthusiastic nods and knowing replies.)
I wish I had more time to dig into its Māori history and culture. If this interests you at all, I highly recommend watching We Were Once Warriors.
Now, our itinerary. And a quick shout-out to my husband Sean, who I know reads this and who planned the entire trip. Pro tip: for the best places to stay, you truly need to plan months, if not years, in advance as they book fast. Thank you for all the homework Sean!
We flew direct from NYC to Auckland and then immediately connected to Queenstown on the South Island. The flight was far easier than expected. That long leg meant we actually slept and arrived rested. You’re a full day ahead of your pals back home, but only really 6 hours in terms of time if that makes sense?
QUEENSTOWN
Stay: Matakauri Lodge. A perfect first stop. Right on Lake Wakatipu, surrounded by crazily beautiful mountains, with beautiful hikes everywhere.
Do: Milford Sound is an absolute must. The best way to experience it is by helicopter, flown by incredibly skilled pilots who make the journey feel both intentional and surprisingly calm. I have never felt safer in a flying vehicle. The payoff is immense. You truly see the landscape unfold, with jaw-dropping views the entire way. It’s no surprise films like The Hobbit were shot here. It may honestly be one of the most majestic places I have ever been.
We stopped multiple times for unforgettable pit stops, including filling our water bottles straight from ancient glacier fjords that feed into towering waterfalls. It was SURREAL. You can read more about this experience here.
My boys did the Shotover Jet through the canyons in Queenstown. I skipped it due to an old neck injury and instead took a long hike near the hotel while listening to Pivot, where Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway discussed how they spend their money.
From there, we flew back to Auckland, rented a car, and drove to Raglan, the iconic surf town. The hardest part of the entire trip was remembering to drive on the opposite side of the road. Otherwise, we were amazed by how organized, efficient, and clean everything was, especially the airports.
RAGLAN
Stay: In Raglan, we stayed at Whale Bay Surf House, right on the water and very groovy. Dinner in town at Iso was where you could tell the locals go to hang. It felt like an old-school California surf town.
Do: SURF! Sadly there wasn’t much surf while we were there so we left a day early for Taupō and Huka Falls. A scenic two-and-a-half-hour drive brought us to what might have been my favorite stop in New Zealand….
Before getting into Huka Lodge specifically, a quick interlude on what I think actually makes a place a top of the list “luxury” experience:
I have many thoughts on this, and very few of them have to do with five-star ratings. Yes, food, service, design, and cleanliness need to be excellent. But to truly rise above, something else has to happen.
The people it attracts cannot be tacky. Cue Countess Luann. The most luxurious places tend to be harder to get to, not overly hyped on social media, smaller in scale, and deeply attentive without being fussy. They must care about little details and they must not nickel-and-dime you along the way. Bonus points if you never see a bill your entire stay and the mini bar is completely complimentary.
I realize this may sound pretentious and I would probably be rolling my eyes reading it too. My only excuse is that hotels are our family business, and scrutinizing what makes a place special is sort of part of our family DNA.
For me, a huge marker is whether the staff genuinely seem to enjoy their jobs. You can feel it immediately. It signals a culture that values people from the top down. That energy is contagious.
Lastly, and this matters most to me, a place has to feel transportive. Too many luxury hotels feel interchangeable, not just with each other but increasingly with luxury restaurants, spas, offices, and even residential buildings. The best resorts feel singular and original. You know, without question, that you are nowhere else in the world.
Huka Lodge hit every one of these notes.
We stayed three nights over Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. It was extraordinary without being showy. The staff were deeply warm and fully present, even during the holidays. We fished in the river on the property, played tennis daily on one of the most beautiful grass courts I have ever seen, went on a three-hour mountain bike ride, and hiked constantly around Huka Falls. We even played golf - a first time thing for this family of surfer/skiiers. The food and wine were exceptional, and nothing felt overdone.
Oh, and I was obsessed with the details of the place- including the staff uniforms. The pants were custom made by Rodd & Gunn, a New Zealand brand, in a shade of jeweled green I had never seen before. The GM even let me take a pair home.
The other guests were unfussy, grateful, and quietly cool. The kind of people who wake up with gratitude rather than attitude.
We played cards at cocktail hour every night (the game of choice was “pitch” which every midwesterner seems to know but none of my coastal pals) and truly settled into family mode. I will never forget our time there.
Post note: I learned while writing this that Queen Elizabeth II was a frequent and favored guest at Huka Lodge, visiting four times during her reign. Its secluded luxury and Scottish-like scenery reminded her of home, and she often enjoyed fly-fishing and private dinners in the lodge’s library, a spot she especially loved. The fact that this wasn’t advertised on arrival speaks to a very New Zealand sensibility, understated and self-assured, where the place is allowed to do the talking.
From there, we went back to Raglan briefly, then returned to Auckland to catch the ferry to Waiheke Island.
WAIHEKE ISLAND
Waiheke, can, I suppose be described as the Hamptons of Auckland, though Auckland itself is surrounded by water. The best comparison I can make is Sag Harbor meets old-school Malibu, without pretension and without a single chain store. It is truly special.
STAY: We stayed in a two bedroom apartment which was part of the Delamore Hotel. It was really nice being able to spread out and do laundry! The hotel was laid back and cool.
DO: At one local shop selling beautiful linens called “The tailor and his lover” I started chatting with the owner, Felicity. Within minutes, she clocked that she followed Lingua Franca and knew our brand well. It was surreal and genuinely made me blush. LF magic, all the way on a small island in New Zealand. Visit her shop for sure if you find yourself on the island!
We ended up talking politics, and she shared that she is afraid to visit her daughter in the US because of her social media activity (she’s a HUGE Kris & Dave fan how fun!?) protesting this president. She said many of her friends feel the same way. Hearing that firsthand from a smart, successful New Zealander was deeply unsettling.
I know I said I would keep this light, but truly, what are we doing??
After that, we met Sean’s cousin Simon for lunch at his restaurant called “The Local” (which has the best fish tacos I’ve ever had). I had wanted to meet him for a long time, and he generously shared stories about Sean’s father, who passed away in 2021. From there, we headed north for zip-lining, wine tasting, and dinner at the Oyster Inn.
I’ve always swooned over our Montauk pal Zippy Seven’s New Zealand boat house found on Waiheke Island. So, when Sean spotted her and her mate Terence Connors on the street here it was a full circle moment!
By the 29th, I could no longer remember what day of vacation it was. We were heading to Australia next, where the water would be warmer, the sun brighter, and we would finally stay in one place for more than three nights…
This email is getting too long to go into what I read on the trip but I promise I’ll do it next week!
Question - did you like this sort of newsletter travel log? Let me know in comments.
It seems like EVERYONE is talking about Heated Rivalry. Are you watching? Do we need a “coming to the cottage” sweater? Head’s up to our big launch with Wuthering Heights this week. I’m so excited to see this film!
In A Thing or Two newsletter I was tipped off to these cool coffee mugs for people like me who carry coffee mugs around town like savages, instead of a thermos.
At our Lingua Franca holiday party (yes we did it in January - why not?) our visual merchandiser Meredith brought the chicest bag ever to the table. It’s from the “wearable sculptures” line by Carlos Peñafiel presented by Lemaire and now I have to get my hands on this egg bag in brown!
The Winter Olympics start Feb 6th. I’m so so so here for Lindsay Vonn’s big return. I’ve been thinking of her amazing comeback while pushing myself to do better on the slopes this season. Related: this was considered physically impossible until now. It is incredible!
I watched Sentimental Value on the plane and was delighted to see Elle Fanning's recent spread in WhoWhatWear. It’s cool people are still doing creative shoots like this, ai be damned.
I’ve clearly fallen into the NYC history algorithm this week, which has delivered a few gems: the story behind Park Avenue and the surprisingly relevant history of an incredible cathedral uptown.
It also tossed in some very current New York treats, like MoMA’s new supermarket-style stores (so good) and a magic show experience I think my boys would lose their minds over.
My only remaining question: when exactly are our McDonald’s getting these exercise bikes?
Is this paint splatter or 1.5 million embroidery stitches? Whatever it is, it’s really cool.
Two places that I have no doubt meet the criteria I laid out above for a truly singular luxury resort: this one in the Dolomite village of San Lorenzo di Sebato, Italy, and these umbrella operations across Egypt, founded by Florian Amereller. Now to get my travel agent (um, husband) on board.
And finally, this song that is scientifically proven to make babies happy almost makes me consider having a third. (NOT!) I did want to pass it along to all the baby mamas out there currently looking for a little extra help.
That’s it for now. Just a reminder that there are still kind, talented, interesting people out there doing cool things. Go find them—and dig it the most.
xo Rachelle
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