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Australia
From cosmopolitan Sydney to the sun-drenched Outback and the teeming Great Barrier Reef, Australia is a world in one country. Combine that with the charm of the Aussie people, and you have a destination that can't be beat.
History
Australia's indigenous Aborigines enjoy the longest continuous known history in the world, with rock carvings dating back an amazing 30,000 years. Europeans didn't enter the picture until the sixteenth century, and no one laid claim to the continent until Captain James Cook flew the Union Jack over Australian soil in 1770. The vast, harsh island was initially used by the British to solve their problems of prison overcrowding, but soon an influx of free settlers followed, looking for fortune during the Gold Rush of the 1850s. Australia became a nation in 1901, although many of its legal and cultural ties with England remained. Over the years, waves of immigrants have made Australia their home, adding to the rich tapestry of the nation's culture.
Fast Facts
- Capital: Canberra
- Population: 20 million
- Language: English, aboriginal languages
- Currency: Australian dollar (A$)
- Time Zone: EST plus 13-15 hours
- Electricity: 220-240V
New Zealand
From the glacial mountains to lush, sheep-dotted hillsides, New Zealand is one of the world's most awe-inspiring escapes from reality. This small island nation is so chock-full of riveting natural beauty, you may have to force yourself to blink.
History
Deeply connected to its native Maori roots, New Zealand is a land with rich layers of history and culture. While initial discovery of the island is attributed to a Polynesian navigator named Kupe in 800 A.D., Captain James Cook laid claim to it for England in 1769 on his way to Australia. Relations between the new settlers and the Maori were initially congenial but soon soured, culminating in a war between the two groups in the 1860s. By the late nineteenth century, things had calmed down and sweeping social changes took hold. Independence from Britain was granted in 1947 and New Zealand's economy has prospered ever since. Recently, the Maori population has been booming, and a resurgence of native culture has enriched the lives of the nation's inhabitants.
Fast Facts
- Capital: Wellington
- Population: 4 million
- Language: English and Maori
- Currency: New Zealand dollar (NZ$)
- Time Zone: EST plus 17 hours
- Electricity: 240V, 50Hz
Australia and New Zealand Weather
Take our American seasons and turn them upside down when you visit Down Under. Winter begins in June, and summer in December. Australia is a large country, so weather will vary-from warm, tropical climates in the north to temperate, drier weather in the south. New Zealand also enjoys a mild climate, although mountainous regions experience a chilly winter. Pack lightweight, casual active wear to fully explore the natural beauty that Australia and New Zealand have to offer. Lots of layers are a plus if you plan to visit in the winter.
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