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Australia and New Zealand FAQs

By: Elizabeth Hansen

Where's the best place to experience Australia's Great Barrier Reef?

If you need - like most of us - to watch your budget, go to Cairns and join one of the daytrips to the reef offered by local tour operators. These include Quicksilver, Ocean Spirit, and Great Adventures. You'll have a great day snorkeling over the reef (or diving if you're certified). You don't even have to get wet to marvel and the colorful coral and fish: most operators offer tours on semi-submersible boats.

If money is no object, head to Lizard Island, Orpheus Island, or Heron Island - or plan to spend several days at each place.

Where is the best place to see Australia's wildlife?

Every city has a wildlife park (and these range from very good to not-so-good), but it's far better to observe kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, fairy penguins, crocodiles, and other native animals in one of the country's national parks. Of these, my favorites are Flinders Chase NP (on Kangaroo Island in South Australia), Cradle Mountain NP (in Tasmania), Lamington NP (in southern Queensland), and Kakadu NP (in the Northern Territory).

Should I combine Australia and New Zealand in one trip?

My clients frequently ask me this question, and I tell them "no" because they don't have enough time to go to both places. In fact, once we get into planning their trip, they often feel they don't even have enough time to do everything they want in one country. Unless you have a month or more, limit yourself to either Australia or New Zealand (and plan to come back to enjoy the other one next time).

When is the best time to go to New Zealand?

When you go to New Zealand will depend on what you want to do once you get there. The most popular time is from November through March (late spring through early fall) because that's when the weather is best. Long days and fair skies are great for hiking, cycling, and the other outdoor pursuits for which New Zealand is famous.

On the other hand, if you're heading down under to go skiing in the Southern Hemisphere winter, you'll want to travel in June, July, or August. The other reason to travel in winter is that outside of ski areas there's a dearth of tourists, and many motels and hotels offer significantly-discounted rates.

Personally, I think fall (March through May) is a great time to go to New Zealand because the country isn't crowded with visitors and the daytime temps are still pleasant. Airfares are lowest from April through August.

Which is better - the North Island or the South Island of New Zealand?

Where you spend your time in New Zealand will depend on your interests and the time of year you're traveling.

The North Island is great for people who are interested in Maori culture, and it's wonderful for witnessing New Zealand's thermal activity - geysers, bubbling mud pools, and the like. Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, has a gorgeous harbor which seems almost constantly to be full of sailboats. Wellington is home to the world-class Te Papa Museum of New Zealand and is the national capital.

Recently, however, most of my clients have opted for the South Island because they want to go hiking, swim with dolphins, bungee jump, raft, jetboat, and so forth. In fact, all of these activities are available in the North Island, too, but the South Island has developed a reputation as an adventure center. Both islands are very beautiful, but the South Island is less populated and more rugged.

Keep in mind when you plan your trip that the weather is warmer up north, and places like Dunedin and Invercargill can get mighty chilly outside of their notoriously-short summer season.