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If you are going halfway around the world for the ultimate long-haul honeymoon, where do you want to be?
Australia may be (comparatively) next door to New Zealand's North and South Islands, but they couldn't be more different.
Australia
Size - Almost 3 million sq m.
Population - Around 22 ½ million, very sparsely populated.
Set Up - Large mainland + island of Tasmania + several smaller islands in Indian and Pacific Oceans.
People - English-speaking nation, most people of European descent. Indigenous people are mainly Aborigines and Torres Straight Islanders, making up around 2% of the total population.
Getting There - Approx. 18 hours travel time from the UK to Perth in the South West of Australia and 25 hours to Sydney in the South East.
Main Bits - Outback: Vast areas of red-tinted desert landscape, gorges, salt pans, canyons and interesting, but sometimes dangerous wildlife.
Coastal areas: A strong surf culture and sharks in some places like Perth, with pristine white sandy beaches in Western Australia.
Cosmopolitan cities: Filled with culture and activities and often a lively, but also relaxed nightlife
Climate -Plenty of sunshine throughout, all year round with the Southern third of Australia bearing quite a different climate than the central and Northern parts.
In the South, warm, sometimes hot summers (Dec to Feb) and cold winters (Jun to Aug).
Fewer seasonal variations in the North with hot & dry conditions Apr to Sep and hot & wet conditions Oct to March. The Southern third of the country has an overall milder and more pleasant climate.
When To Go - Australia’s high season falls in the spring, summer and autumn months (September to May), because of the warmer climate. Its winter months (June to August) are low season, but also popular with some snow-sports enthusiasts who head to New South Wales and Victoria to hit the slopes.
Heritage/Highlights - 18 World Heritage Sites, including:
- The Great Barrier Reef
- The Sydney Opera House
- The Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens
- Shark Bay
- 11 Australian convict sites
- 2 Australian Fossil Mammal sites
- Several islands
- Several rainforests
- Mountains
- National parks
- Lakes
Plenty of outdoor adrenaline adventures, like bungee jumping, climbing, kayaking and more.
Typical Food - Seafood, beef steak, BBQ, beer, fresh Fruit, kangaroo steak.
Wildlife Snapshot - Cuddly: Kangaroos, koalas, possums and wombats. Less cuddly: Deadly spiders, snakes, crocs and sharks.
New Zealand
Size - Approx. 100 thousand sq m (30 x smaller than Australia, more like the UK).
Population - Around 4 ½ million, also thinly populated, but more densely than Australia.
Set Up - Island country in South-Western Pacific made up of two main landmasses: North Island + South Island + several smaller islands.
People - English-speaking nation, most people of European descent. Indigenous people are mainly the Maori and make up around 14% of the population.
Getting There - Approx. 25 hours to anywhere in New Zealand.
Main Bits - South Island: The most mountainous part of the country with the Southern Alps, forests, breathtaking national parks, fjords, vineyards, rocky coastlines and crystal clear waters lapping sandy beaches. The main city here is Christchurch, which is reminiscent of an old English university town.
North Island: Less mountainous but more volcanic, with lakes, rainforests and flatter areas. It is home to the thriving city of Auckland, with beautiful harbours, unspoilt beaches, rugged wilderness and vineyards.
Climate - More comparable to the UK climate, New Zealand sees a fair bit of rain and wind as well as sunshine throughout the year.
On the South Island, the West has a wet climate, while the East has a dry climate, with winds in the summer months sometimes quite strong and hot.
Northland on South Island has a subtropical climate.
On the North Island, the climate is more uniform throughout with the Western side of the volcanoes wetter than the Eastern side.
On both islands, the East is drier than the West.
When To Go - New Zealand’s warmer outdoor season runs from November to April, with plenty of food & music festivals and sports events taking place during the summer months (December to February).
June to August is the quiet season, but popular with skiers and snowboarders.
Heritage/Highlights - 3 World Heritage Sites, including:
- Ti Wahipounamu, an area in Southwest New Zealand containing four national parks, with the world’s finest remaining examples of Gondwana flora and fauna in their natural habitats.
- Tongariro National Park with volcanic and glacial landscapes.
- New Zealand Sub Antarctic Islands, including NZ’s five island groups in the Southern Ocean and famous for their large number and diversity of pelagic seabirds and penguins.
Plenty of outdoor adrenaline adventures, like bungee jumping, climbing, kayaking and more.
Australia has a vaster landscape than New Zealand and is drier in places, with more thriving cities. You are likely to cover more ground in Australia to see the sights, but can enjoy desert landscapes as well as snow-capped mountains and rainforests all in one country. Australia is generally more ‘wild’ than New Zealand.
In New Zealand, the landscape is generally more lush and mountainous than in Australia, the Maori culture more thriving than Australia’s Aboriginal culture and the towns more traditional. Its breathtaking scenery is more accessible and forms the backdrop for Lord of the Rings films.
One thing both countries do have in common is that they are positively filled with natural beauty that will make the perfect backdrop to a romantic honeymoon...