Australia/New Zealand

hkiesling

DH and I are finally getting around to planning our honeymoon (we took a minimoon to Washington DC).  We're thinking about going to Australia for a few days and then on to New Zealand for a little over a week.  Have any of you been to either place?  Any tips or suggestions on times to travel, things to do, or places to see?  TIA!

veijes

We were looking into both for our HM and all I know is that the seasons are opposite so we wanted to go in the winter so it would be summer weather there. Also, Australia is so big, I would research and pick an area and what you are looking to do. Traveling to Australia is like traveling to the US, you pick a state to visit depending on what you want to do. I do know my grandma went there for a month and a half to travel and said she wish she had more time because she didn't get to see everything she wanted, but she LOVED it there! And my grandma isn't just any grandma, she is 65 years old and went skydiving two year ago!

Sorry I couldn't be much more help!

theophania

Ooh exciting!  I went to Australia about 6 years ago to visit FI when he studied abroad there.  Sydney is a must!  I spent about 2 days there and a day and a half hiking in the Blue Mountains, which are a bit outside of Sydney.  I would highly recommend them both. We also took a boat from Sydney to a neaby peninsula/island? that was sort of like a beach weekend getaway for the Australians, and that was fun! I also went to Melbourne for 2 days, but depending on what kind of thing you are looking for, you could also go to the gold coast (NE coast) where all the coral and tropicalish part is.  I didn't have time to go there during my stay.  One nice thing is that they have a fairly good train system. The majority of Australia is desert, and cities are very thinly spaced, so you will likely want to stay on the eastern coast.  As Veijes mentioned, seasons are opposite to here. I actually went there in July, which was the coldest month, but it was more like fall weather in MN (pants and a long sleeve were fine). 

On my way back to the states I stopped in Auckland for 3 days and I have to say I would not go back.  The city itself was fairly industrial.  We did go on a day trip exploring some nearby islands, which was fun.  From what I have heard, the south island of New Zealand is really the one you will want to go and see.

hkiesling

Thank you!  I should have clarified that we would be in the Syndey area, or at least the west coast.  We would fly in there, then maybe spend a few days there, and fly on to New Zealand.

ef7310

I visited both several years ago. We traveled all over the place in NZ. On the North Island, definitely look into Rotarua. It's a beautiful area with lots of hot springs areas. On the South Island, we spent time in the South Alps, which was also gorgeous. 

In Australia, my favorite thing was the Sydney Harbor Bridge Climb. It's basically just a lot of stairs, but you get amazing views from the top. Plus you get to wear these awesomely flattering grey jump suits We also took a harbor cruise one night, which was fun. Brisbane is also a great area. We spent a few days at the Tangalooma resort on an island off of Brisbane. If you're into snorkeling, going out from Bundaberg is a great area without being too far away from Brisbane. 

Let me know if you'd like any more info about those places or if you have other questions. One of my best friends lived in Sydney for several years, so I can ask him too. 

hkiesling

Oh these are all great ideas!  Thank you ladies (I always said knotties were the best resource for ANYTHING!).  I'll start looking into these places right away.

maybe984

I went there several years ago, and here are my tips:

It doesn't matter what season you go in. In most places, their winters are as hot as our summers... and their summers are beyond horrific unless you like weather you can't stay outside in for more than 20 minutes at a time.

Like ef7310 said, Rotorua is really pretty if you're interested in the North Island of NZ... but be prepared for it to stink to high heavens. The hot springs are sulfurous, and your clothes will still smell like rotting eggs once you get home.

Tangalooma Resort on Moreton Island is an ABSOLUTE must! It's one of the prettiest places I've ever been to, the resort itself is pretty inexpensive, and you get to feed wild dolphins with the cost of your stay. The resort isn't super luxurious or anything, but it's a really beautiful island with a lot of stuff to do.

Sydney and Brisbane are really cool, as well. They have surprisingly different vibes, too. I would compare Sydney to New York or Chicago... whereas Brisbane seemed to have this laid back, glamourous LA feeling.

Oh, and if you go to Australia first, be prepared to feel ever-so-slightly let down by NZ. NZ is beautiful, but in a much different way... and the juxtaposition can make it seem less appealing. It's really rainy and humid a good portion of the time...  and the temp drops about 50 degrees every night once the sun goes down. I would definitely recommend going, but just be prepared for a different atmosphere entirely. It's like spending a week in LA, and then going hiking in the Appalachians. Tooootallly different.