Dream Double Act – Australia and New Zealand

Iconic Landscapes

From the epic peaks of Milford to the sweeping glaciers of the West Coast, the verdant forests of the Coromandel to the rolling sand dunes of Northland – New Zealand’s landscapes are staggeringly diverse in a land roughly the size of the UK. Gentle, rolling hills and pasture lands may put you in mind of England’s green and pleasant lands, while the rugged Southern Alps are reminiscent of Canada. The best bit – it’s all very accessible!

By contrast, Australia is big and bold with expansive red deserts, ancient geological features, extensive beaches, and some of the world’s finest coral reef offshore. Also full of variety, landscapes linger in Oz, particularly in vast Outback where a dramatic mix of red desert plains, rugged gorges and extraordinary rock formations achieves legendary status. Add in lush green rainforests, azure blue shorelines and a couple of sizeable reef and this is a country of epic proportions that has to be seen to be believed.

Indigenous Culture

Centuries-old rock art and dreamtime imagery tell the story of one of the world’s oldest cultures – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia – a people who survived some of the harshest environments on the planet. Mixed with the “no worries” attitude and laid-back approach to life, this is the essence of Aussie multi-culturalism.

Equally fascinating, Māori of New Zealand were warrior tribes whose influence can be found throughout eastern Polynesia and form an integral part of modern New Zealand. Warm hospitality isn’t just an aspiration in New Zealand – it is at the very heart of the country’s indigenous Māori culture in Manaakitanga – a Māori term about forging a deep connection between the visitor and host.

Wonderful Wildlife

Australia’s wildlife collection is quite simply fascinating, offering both charm in the form its iconic marsupials and thrills (or even chills) from powerful reptiles, snakes and spiders. Off-shore encounters are equally unforgettable, with cetaceans, sharks and a myriad of tropical fish enchanting visitors. There’s no resistance to the sight of a koala catching forty winks in a eucalyptus tree, or a kangaroo bounding through the bush with a joey tucked in her pouch.

Less than a 1,000 miles to the east, New Zealand’s fauna is  more sedate (even timid), but no less engaging – from the nocturnal kiwi that symbolises the nation to the comical native parrots, the smallest dolphin on the planet to the largest toothed whale. New Zealand’s wildlife is largely endemic and utterly charming.

Classic Experiences

From bridge walks in Sydney or Auckland to hot air ballooning at sunrise over the Yarra Valley or the Canterbury Plains.

However, if you’re looking for a glacier hike, New Zealand is the hands down winner, whilst for anyone wanting to take a camel trek along the beach, choose Australia.

Vino-culture

Australia blazed the way in developing our taste for new world wines, and New Zealand followed. From the dry heat of the Barossa Valley to the Mediterranean climate of Margaret River and the Hunter Valley, the mild, sunny conditions of Marlborough to the dry, temperate climate of Hawke’s Bay, both nations produce some of the finest wines in the world.

Active Adventures

New Zealand may boast the title as the ‘Adventure Capital of the World’ in Queenstown, but Cairns in Australia’s Queensland runs close behind. Both countries offer a huge range of activities from skiing to snorkelling and just about everything in between. New Zealand, for instance, literally offers an A-Z of activities from abseiling to zorbing. Climate and opportunity may vary, but active adventure is an inherent part of life for both nations. If it can be done, it will be done.