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The seasons are reversed downunder: |
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New Zealand |
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The South Island starts to get snow and rain in early April. This lasts through mid November. The major hiking trails will be closed. Splendid views of the Southern Alps might be brilliant if it is a clear day, or you could drive through rain and fog. If at all possible, go to NZ in the most prime time, December through March.
My top choices
for touring NZ: In the central North Island, Rotorura has top rated Maori cultural offerings, and interesting geysers and thermal areas. Nearby is NZ’s largest lake – Lake Taupo – with great trout fishing, 3 volcanoes and lots of hiking. Off to the east coast are the towns of Napier and Hastings. They were destroyed by an earthquake in the 1920s and rebuilt in Art Deco style – a must for travelers interested in architecture, not to mention the nearby Hawks Bay wine district. At the bottom of the North Island is the capitol, Wellington, known as “windy Wellie” by the locals! This is the jumping off point for the ferry to the South Island. The South Island has NZ’s most fantastic scenery. Highlights are Queenstown, the “adventure capitol” and Christchurch, the most “English” of NZ’s cities, which boasts a wonderful craft market and lovely botanical gardens. The Fiordlands near Queenstown are an absolute must. Whether you hike, just drive through, or best of all, have an overnight cruise, this is a fabulous place even when it is pouring rain! |
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Australia |
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My favorite season for Australia is their winter. This is the “dry season” across the entire top third of Australia, which lies within the Tropic of Capricorn. Rain is unlikely. Daytime temperature is in the high 80s to mid 90s. Nights will be warm in the most northern areas, but quite chilly in the southern parts of that top third. But this is the best time to see the Outback! Broome, the pearl capitol of the world. The Kimberley with its million acre cattle stations. Darwin with its amazing ethnic diversity and tough history. The wildlife and Aboriginal rock art in the Kakadu National Park and restricted Arnhem Land. The “Red Center” -- Ayer’s Rock and Alice Springs. And on the east coast, the World Heritage Daintree Rainforest and the entire of the Great Barrier Reef, when water visibility is at it’s best because there are no cyclones in winter. At the same time, while it is colder in the south of Australia, it is not like American winters! Favorite places like Kangaroo Island, Melbourne and Sydney are cool but snow just does not happen! Australian summers are hot – both in the cities, and the outback, where temperatures go extremely high and travel in certain areas is dangerous. But this is best the time tour Tasmania, where the lovely Freycinet Peninsula is too often missed by American travelers. Cradle Mountain with it’s lovely lake and hiking. Port Arthur’s dark history as a penal colony. Hobart’s craft markets, especially on Saturday! And too many Americans miss the southern part of Western Australia - lovely Perth, and the fantastic Margaret River area! Spring and Fall: if your vacation time falls in Spring or Summer, I can plan your itinerary to start in one region and end in another, trying to get the best weather possibilities possible. |
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