Rainforest stroll

If you're one of the many visitors to this area in New Zealand, you probably made the trek for a photo of the iconic Lake Matheson. Once you've snapped that scrapbook shot, wander away from shore to discover a trail through dense woods that loops around the lake. Temperate rainforest forms a dense canopy over much of the South Island's west coast, thanks to heavy rains that fall as oceanic winds meet the island's lofty mountains. You might be overwhelmed by the resulting greenery, but keep an eye out for other colors too: The rain is also known to nourish a striking local sky-blue mushroom.