If you want a very relaxing time at one resort, go to Fiji. Whilst it is a very pleasant for this type of holiday, there is not much to do there. There is much more to do and see in Cairns, plus more choices of places to stay and eat. You will have the same type of weather in both places. Also Cairns has the GBR whilst Fiji doesn't.

Hi, Laura!

From what you have said here, I would agree that the fly/drive option is a better one than the cruise.... you would spend an awful lot of time on the embarking/disembarking process that might be better used for sightseeing. Luckily, the airports at ALL the major cities you mentioned (I think) are close in to the city, so you won't be stuck with a half-day journey to get from the airport to the city. The exception to this is, I think, Fiji... others may correct this, but my understanding is that the airport is at Nandi, on one side of the island, while the capital, Suva, is on the other. (There are, however, resorts in the Nandi area, so you don't have to visit Suva at all if your interest is solely the water.)
New Zealand is a honey of a place to get around in.... not much traffic, relatively short distances from point to point, and something to stop and photograph around every corner. In two weeks you could see just about every corner of both islands. Spend most of your time in the South island.. the two northern cities (Auckland and Wellington) are good only for a day each, if that.
To see Sydney you would need to allow four days, a couple of which ought to be spent just taking short scenic ferry rides from Circular Quay to some of the suburban areas... Manly, Watson's Bay, Taronga Zoo, Balmain. It is possible to travel from Sydney to Brisbane by bus in about twelve hours.... there are night coaches and daylight coaches, and the price is fairly reasonable. This will mean you will see something of the east coast as you journey between centres (it must be said, however, that this is not a very scenic drive, as there are a lot of expressways between the two capitals, and you will be looking at billboards.)
Whether you choose Cairns and the Reef, or Fiji, be prepared for rain in February. And, of course, it will still be hot in Sydney and Brisbane. I think if I were you I would "do" Sydney in January and save New Zealand for February, as the holiday activities in Sydney for a month after Christmas are something to experience... open-air concerts, movies under the stars, fireworks, etc. Summer holidays run from about a week before Christmas to Australia Day, which is January 26.
Have a great time!

Thanks ever so much for your replies. I think we will probably end up doing the fly/drive tour on our own as we will have a little more flexibility. You say expect rain in Feb., but how about March? Again, if we tour on our own we have could move it back a month. Would we need to make hotel/motel reservations ahead? We kind of like just going where the road takes us. Also, so many people I have talked with said they prefer NZ to OZ and to take a full two weeks in NZ and bypass everything except the GBR in Australia. Any feedback? This is a great board and again, many thanks. I'm sure there will many more questions before this is over!!

We are from Lakeland & are planning the same trip but only for 6 wks, stopping in Hawaii on the way over, flying to Sydney, Cairns, Melbourne, then over to Tasmania for a 10-day drive ourselves, & on to a 12 day driving ourselves around both New Zealand islands. Have been doing a lot of research -- no one ever goes to Tasmania but it is gorgeous (talked to people who've traveled there) Go on line to Auckland, Rotorua, etc. & ask for any booklets they have.Example: the glow worm caves are typical tourist & we don't plan to go but N.Z. & Aust. both have wonderful web sites.Exchange rate is good, cars are not that expensive & you can see so much more. From what I've heard, don't miss Milford Sound. Hope this helps.

Hi Laura
Firstly I'm please that youhave decided to drive rather than do a cruise.

To answer your latest questions where you go in NZ depends a lot on your particular interests - are you a city lover or do you prefer the countryside? Do you want organised entertainment or is your idea of a NZ holiday deserted beaches, picnics, scenic spots, meeting the local people? or are you an "I've been everywhere person" who wants to do the country from top to bottom in 2 weeks?

Once you have identified these things then a wonderful NZ holiday can be planned. Basically so much to see and do in a short time. As a local I have a lot of first hand knowledge. Get back to me and I will be pleased to help you.
Kerry

Hello again! Thanks Carol and Kerry. I'm getting so excited! This will be a slow year I just know it! To answer your question Kerry - we have traveled extensively around the Caribbean and have been to Hawaii but never around the globe! So no we are not "been everywhere people". But we do like to "fly by the seat of our pants" so to speak. We like to have a route in mind but not reservations. If we like a particular place along our route and find nice people then we stay a day or two, if not we drive on. We like more of the scenic beauty than the big city life. Anymore suggestions would be helpful. Hey, how about the March vs. February and must we have room reservations at that time of year? Any tips on that? Thanks so much again.

Hi again, Laura! I don't know about the rainfall around the Great Barrier Reef areas in March, but I will bump this up to the top so someone will see it and answer it. I do know that March will be a lot more pleasant in Sydney than February, which, at the end of our summer, is still quite a hot month. April is even better than March... in fact, in Sydney, April is as good as it gets.

Of course, as an Aussie I am biassed, but I was hoprrified at the suggestion that you should come half-way round the world and skip everything in Australia except the Barrier Reef. New Zealand is a very scenic country, I will admit -- in most cases, much more scenic than Australia, and since it is small, it is easy to see ALL the scenery in a week or two. But are you coming on holidays just to look at pretty mountains? Australia is, I believe, a much more interesting country, culturally and artistically, than New Zealand, and Sydney is one of the few great cities in the Southern Hemisphere. Coming to Australia and missing Sydney and the east coast of Australia would be like us
coming to the USA, landing at Rhode Island, and then saying we had seen America! If I had to "give up" one country, either Australia or New Zealand, I wouldn't hesitate for a moment in making my choice. Here's a point worth pondering: few Aussies migrate to New Zealand, but countless thousands of New Zealanders migrate to Australia every year, seeking a "better" life. Seems the beautiful scenery starts to pall after a while, and you look instead at the dearth of museums and art galleries, the crime rate in the north island cities, and the problems in finding anything to do that isn't connected with the scenery!

Forgot to answer your second query about making reservations..... as far as Sydney and the east coast is concerned, I wouldn't bother with making reservations at that time of year. There are a huge number of hotels in Sydney.... many built for the influx of visitors for the Olympics.... and when the Olympics closed, the hotels had a hard time turning a profit. Then came September 11, and there were so many vacant rooms that the hotels were actually asking the government to subsidise them! If I were you, however, I would book the first night, and it should be at the Russell. You will be in the best location in Sydney, the hotel is very romantic, and it's within easy walking distance of about another dozen hotels, so if by chance you don't like it, or think you are paying too much, you will be able to find another room on Day 2 in a few minutes. There is a post on the Russell on this forum, including a website for you to check for yourself.
I don't know about pre-booking in March in New Zealand, but I wouldn't imagine this would be necessary.
Have a great time!

Thanks Alan. I guess it's back to the drawing board on the agenda! My sister-in-law just returned from Australia and said it's a "no miss". I'm wondering if we should still consider the two week cruise with with the post cruise trip to the reef. At least we would catch a little of everywhere including Tasmania. More food for thought for us! Again, thanks so much.

Most of the OZ/NZ cruises get to see nothing of either country in the main - unless you count cities as seeing a country - except for Sydney which is a no -miss place and consistantly gets the top ranking for cities in the world best to visit by the big Travel Mags. My suggestion if you want to really have a look at OZ is to stay some in Sydney - fly to Cairns, get on one of the Barrier Reef 3 day cruises like ( fantasea ) which is the one I THINK which goes from Cairns down to Townsville calling in at islands and coral cays for snorkling on the reef and which my friends did last year and loved. Spend a couple of days around the Daintree/Port Douglas region first though or longer if possible.
March is much better than February and less likely to have monsoonal rains. It is also a better time to see most of the rest of Australia too.
I note that you thought about Fiji - well if you are into islands then the GBR has more - with just about everything that anyone could want. Hayman Island in the Whitsundays ranks in the top 10 best islands in the world and they are having super deals at the moment so you would be able to get some great specials in March if you came then. Also, and no-one has mentioned this before, you won't encounter an armed conflict and a Government takeover in Australia as did Fiji ( either last year or just before that) and there is always a chance of another one.
I don't know where you are coming from but I know the USA well and I have been to NZ a few times. NZ has nothing on the USA when it comes to awesome mountains, skiing and scenery and lakes. I have spent a lot of time in the NW USA and in Colorado/four corners etc. Been to northern Idaho, Washington State, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming etc etc not to mention Alaska and for my money NZ cannot hold a candle to those regions. Think about it.

Laura, I just looked at the Fantasea site which is: http://www.fantasea.com.au/aboutus.htm
but this was not the one I was thinking about although this is very interesting too. Would mean that you could "do" the Cairns/PD/Daintree/Cape Tribulation area and then do this if you wanted. I don't think you would be disappointed.

Laura, I just looked at the Fantasea site which is: http://www.fantasea.com.au/aboutus.htm
but this was not the one I was thinking about although this is very interesting too. Would mean that you could "do" the Cairns/PD/Daintree/Cape Tribulation area and then do this if you wanted. I don't think you would be disappointed.
Further, there are a lot of flights that go through/to Tahiti en route to Australia which you may wish to think about if you want a nice stop-over. OR for my money and depending on where you live in the US, you could perhaps come via Asia too which, if you have not been, would add interest.

Hi Laura
Sorry about the delay in responding - I have been having a few days off down at Tongariro National Park - beautiful weather and wonderful scenery. I don't want to get into a heated discussion with others over the merits of various places. Have been in the travel industry I have been able to travel a great deal. I think how you find a country is as much about people as places. NZ is a great "little" country (bigger than Gt. Britain and about the same size as Italy)and by and large the people are friendly and helpful (just like me!) So do come and enjoy what we have to offer.
Weather - February and March are our most settled times of the year with the temperatures round 70 to 80- degrees F The beaches are an attraction and we are still swimming here in the Bay of Plenty.
I see what you want and it a way that I have travelled in Europe - a drive discovery trip. I'm happy to help you with the planning - just contact me and given me the length of stay and numbers traveling.
As to Fiji - we are frequent visitors up there tending to go to out lying islands with a bit above budget accommodation and the great snorkeling. Off again in 3 weeks - happy to give you details of what we have found to be great value.
Kerry

I agree with the posters further back. Although NZ is a nice place it does not have anything to match the USA in mountains and scenery of that nature. Neither would I think that swimming anywhere in NZ outside the middle of summer would be like being in the iceberg club of Russia ( swimmers who go in when the water is icy) OK for those people who are used to it but the waters of NZ are far too cold for most of the year especially as you are from Florida.
I wonder if Kerry is a travel agent when she suggested that you write to her with information on how many in your party and other information.

Hi Laura

Sorry Beryl but you are wrong on two counts. Kerry is a MALE, and no he is not a travel agent! I have had 15 years in the travel industry in producing and marketing specialist travel products to North America. Now in retirement I try to replay so of the hospitality I have received when in USA and Canada by helping visitors to NZ have a pleasant and enjoyable holiday.
Beryl, you will have heard that NZers are very friendly people who go out of their way to help strangers so if you need any personal help with your visit to NZ that please feel free to contact me. In the 6 months that I have been helping people on this site I have met a number of wonderful people some of whom have dropped in for a cup of coffee, others for a meal or to stay a couple of days. Delighted to be of any assistance and yes it was a bit cold today for a swim but hopefully it will warm up tomorrow.
Kerry

Kerry, sorry if I suggested that what you are suggesting was self-interested but for my money only someone with a self-interest would suggest that another person from Florida ( warm and sub-tropical) could swim at any time of year in NZ.
I have been to NZ 5 times and know it well, I have been in every season and in every season I have been it turned out to be more like winter than anything else. It snowed in December in the south island, it snowed in spring, autumn and in winter. It was never warm, except for one day when it was darn hot at 32 Celcuis, but not to worry it was only 7 deg celcuis the next day. In the north Island it was windy and cool and when it was warm - in summer - the water was too cool for anyone other than those people who are used to it. It is a cool current that flows around NZ.
I am sorry if you think that stating facts are a detraction for visitors but isn't it better they are fore-warned than disappointed?
I would still suggest the South Island over the North because of the scenery in NZ but I would also stand by my statement that nothing in NZ compares with The Rockies, Alaska, The Tetons, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, NY State, Connecticut, to name just a few states. Sorry but that is my opinion and it is justified and you would know it if you have been to those places.

Hi Laura
Sounds like Beryl is working up a storm! It is true that NZ has a wide range of different climates just as USA has and while you can swim all year round where you live however where I have worked in Colorado at Copper Mountain Resort you would have needed to be more than a polar bear to survive in winter.

All I was trying to do was to give you an idea of the typical weather when you were proposing to come to NZ.
Now tomorrow snow is predicted for the alps in the South Island BUT we will have a high of 70 degrees F and I certainly would not have gone swiming today! I was hoping that you were coming to visit our country and to enjoy it not to make comparison with other places. Having traveled a lot - in some years I have made four trips to USA in six months, I go to enjoy not to find what is wrong. When I want hot weather I head for Fiji.

Kerry