Australia and New Zealand are travel favourites for career break and alternative gap year holiday adventurers. For hints, tips and activity ideas, take a look at our Australia and New Zealand news features, reviews from our experts and fellow travellers plus our Quick Travel Guide below has some great career break and alternative gap year travel ideas. If you are looking for a company to help you plan your career break or alternative holiday, the boxes below lead to our company listings where you can find companies who can organise anything from whale watching off New Zealand’s South Island, to riding a Harley Davison round Australia's Uluru. We also have a volunteering section, so there is something to suite every gap year traveller in our Australia and New Zealand pages.
Tourism is a huge part of both the Australian and New Zealand economy and it's easy to see why - from the magic of Ayers Rock to the beauty of the Gold Coast in Australia or the contrast of New Zealand's North and South Islands, a trip Down Under is usually on everyone's to-do list. Whether you are looking to show your adventurous side and climb Sydney’s harbour bridge or take a relaxing swim with the dolphins in Western Australia’s Monkey Mia Australia and New Zealand have something for everyone.
If you are thinking of taking a career break, alternative holiday or golden gap year in Australia and New Zealand, you may wish to know the following:
Basically, when it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere, it's summer in the Southern Hemisphere so winter in Australia is June, July and August, and the hottest months are November through March. The ideal time to visit Australia depends on which part of the country you wish to visit - in the summer for example it can be unbearably hot in the North and the Red Center. Usually a trip in September and October is a good compromise as it's cool enough to really enjoy Ayers Rock and Western Australia will still be reaching temperatures of 88 degrees.
The climate in New Zealand is different and really means that it's a good place to visit at any time of the year. Summer is December, January and February, with winter June, July and August - the best time to visit could be argued to be February to April when the temperature should be pleasant.
Useful Links:
BBC: Australia and New Zealand Weather Page
There are so many great things to do in Australia and New Zealand, sometimes it's hard to know where to start - so we've picked out some of the best.
Visit the Blue Mountains
From 4WD adventures, to hiking and mountain biking, the Blue Mountain range in New South Wales is one of the most stunning destinations on the planet.
Visit the Blue Mountains Website
Climb Sydney’s harbour bridge
The ultimate view of Sydney - an experience not to be missed.
Visit the Sydney Bridge Climb website
Swim with the dolphins in Western Australia’s Monkey Mia
Experience the mystical world of wild dolphins - schools of dolphins visit Shark Bay every day so you're guaranteed to see some.
Visit the Monkey Mia Resort website
Take a Harbour Cruise in Auckland
Going to Auckland and not taking a trip around the harbour is akin to going to Amsterdam and not going on the canals - if you want to go further you can take a trip to one of the nearby islands.
Go Whale Watching off New Zealand's South Island
Kaikoura is on the east coast of South Island, and is the main place to see whales. It is also one of the most popular spots in the world where you can easily have access to sperm whales.
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