A holiday in Australia or New Zealand is often a once in a lifetime experience for most families and although it is a long way to travel it is worth every moment.
Where to go in Australia?
Sydney
A trip to Australia would not be complete without spending some time in Sydney. As well as the famous sights of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, spending time at one of the nearby beaches learning to surf is a great way to spend time with the kids. Both Bondi and Manly beach can be easily reached from city centre by public transport. Sydney.com has lots more great days out with the family in the Sydney area.
Great Barrier Reef
Visiting the biggest coral reef in the world is an amazing way to see the underwater side of Australia. Stretching the length of Queensland, the reef is accessible by boat in under an hour from some places and offers the opportunity for both diving and snorkelling.
Australia Zoo
Australia is famed for its unique wildlife all of which can all be seen at Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo just north of Brisbane. Kids can enjoy a day of crocodiles, koalas and many more.
Where to go in New Zealand
Bay of Islands
New Zealand holidays have a lot to offer any family and north of Auckland is the beautiful Bay of Islands. Quiet coves offer sandy beaches and safe swimming for kids. Get out on to the water with one of the many operators offering dolphin and whale spotting tours.
Queenstown
For the more adventurous family Queenstown has some great activities. In the winter the ski slopes are open and kids as young three can join the ski school. For more information go to Queenstown.com.
Movie Locations
With both The Lord of Rings and The Hobbit being made in New Zealand you can visit many of the stunning landscapes and sets from the films. Hobbiton itself is based in the town of Matamata in the centre of the North Island however you can also visit Mordor filmed in the Tongariro National Park which also offers hiking in some of New Zealand’s most striking landscapes.
Getting the most out of a trip can all be in the planning so getting in touch with a travel specialist can help you decide what to do and save you time when your there.
When to go?
This depends on what you want. Summer in the southern hemisphere is from November to March and this is when Australia and New Zealand’s famous beach culture comes to life.
Although often wet and cold in the Sydney or Auckland, the winter can also be an excellent time to visit as this means snow in the ski resorts in New Zealand as well as much more pleasant daily temperatures in the central deserts of Australia. It is also the best time to visit the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland as this is dry season with generally more settled weather. Holiday Weather has a more in depth look at the average weather conditions in New Zealand and Australia throughout the year.
How to get there?
Flight time depends on your connections but is usually around 26 hours with New Zealand being slightly longer. Most flights from the UK stopover in South East Asia however a viable option to New Zealand is to fly via Los Angles which can cut down flight time.
Travelling with the kids to Australia or New Zealand is an experience that you will never forget.
