Many international travellers plan a New Zealand, Australia vacation combined. This makes total sense. Once in the South Pacific, you might as well make the most of your time. However, there are some key differences between New Zealand and Australia. This also applies to the Fiji Islands
Weather for Uluru (Ayers Road) Australia
The weather for New Zealand and Australia can vary greatly between the two. While both countries have winter and summer seasons, there are some Australian regions that are best travelled in the winter season! A great example of this is Ayers Rock/ Uluru.
Uluru (Ayers Rock) Australia
Between October and March, temperatures can reach 50+ degrees celsius or 122+ Fahrenheit. Remember, you won’t always be near a pool or an aircon room. The best time for the Outback is between April and September.
Weather for the Daintree and Great Barrier Reef
Another example is the northern parts of Australia, including the Daintree and Great Barrier Reef in the Cairns & Port Douglas areas. Again, the best time to travel this part of Australia is in ‘winter’.
Daintree Forest
Their storm season occurs in ‘summer’ (Oct – March). Here’s Michael in July last year on a visit to the Great Barrier Reef . It was idyllic.
The Great Barrier Reef
Weather for New Zealand
The best time to travel in New Zealand is between October and April. You can go in September and May, as those month will fit very well with your Australia travel seasons. But these months will be cooler.
Lewis Pass
During New Zealand ‘winter’ season (June – August) expect low temperatures (down south to -5 degrees or 23 Fahrenheit), but also shorter daylight hours (in June/July, it gets dark at 5pm). You might want to rethink travelling with a motorhome during these months. It can reach freezing point at nights and if you have a low-rent motor home, it won’t be much fun heading to the camp ground toilet block at 2am!
Highlights Australian and New Zealand travel
For many travellers the key Australian highlights can be found in the ‘magic triangle’ – Sydney (Opera House and Bondi Beach) + Great Barrier Reef (snorkelling or diving plus Daintree Forest, time permitting) + Ayers Rock. With a 5-7 day Australian visit, there will be a limit to what can be achieved.
Sydney Opera House
In New Zealand most travellers are keen to see the thermal activities on the North Island, Maori culture, the fjords around Milford Sound and the New Zealand ‘adventure capital’ Queenstown. Visitors usually stay longer in Queenstown as there are so many adventure options. But there are other regions gaining momentum, just as beautiful and far less populated. Just about every region has a stunning wine growing area.
Rippon Vineyard Wanaka
Distances and getting around
Australia is huge continent with 7.7 million square kms (or nearly 3 million square miles). Distances are vast and realistically only achievable with domestic flights. You’re much better off with time and budget to use a 3-hour domestic flight from Sydney to Cairns, rather than a 3-day drive!
New Zealand is much smaller (0.28 million square kms or about 0.103 square miles), but distances are often underestimated. It takes longer to drive winding roads. There are so many photo opportunities on the way (the scenery is magnificent). Travellers visiting North & South Island will easily “clock-up” 4000 kms. Imagine using up your 2-week holiday with 50 hours of driving! So think about using 1-2 domestic flights or visit less regions.
Time allocation for Australia and New Zealand
Out of a time budget of 3 weeks and depending on the season being travelled, I would recommend having at least 50/50 for each country. New Zealand has so many natural, scenic and activity highlights and travellers seriously underestimate the time needed.
Trans-Tasman flight connections
There are excellent flight connections between New Zealand and Australia. Most common flights are Auckland to Sydney or Christchurch to Brisbane. But other less known are Queenstown to Sydney or Auckland to Perth.
Pricing, Accommodation and visa information
Prices between New Zealand and Australia are fairly similar. In respect of accommodation options Australia has the edge with some of the most amazing lodges, retreat and island resorts.
Visas for Australia, New Zealand vacation combined
With the exception of New Zealand passport holders, all travellers require an Australia visa, even if you’re in transit for longer than 4 hours. Check with your airline before you make any reservations into or via Australia
For New Zealand most European and North American and some Asian countries have visa-free policies with New Zealand for stays up to 90 days. Again, double check this prior to departure. Remember, your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 month after your departure date!
Happy Travelling!
