We are wanting to plan a trip to one of the Pacific Islands and don't know which is the best place to visit. We want to plan for 2 weeks. We also have a 12 and 14 year old.<BR>THANK YOU!<BR><BR>Kim

Kim,<BR><BR>that's just waaayyy too general of a question... it really depends on what your interests are / things you like to see, hobbies, etc.<BR><BR>Both countries are wonderful and entirely different. You can't go wrong visiting either,but it's really a matter of personal taste, or deciding to visit one this year and the other another time!<BR><BR>Regards,<BR><BR>Melodie<BR>Certified Aussie &amp; Kiwi Specialist

interesting to hear Australia described as ONE of the Pacific islands! I guess it is - but.....~<BR><BR>Your question is waaaaay too broad.

I also am planning a family trip with our four kids aged 9 to 15. Although I want to see Australia and New Zealand, we chose to just go to Australia on this particular trip. One reason is weather in that we are going in August, and at that time New Zealand will be quite chilly whereas it's an ideal time to visit many parts of Australia such as GBR and the Red Center. So the time of year you are planning to travel might be something to consider. Other than that I can't offer much guidance as I've never been anywhere in this part of the world. We are very excited to go!

One thing I know is that Ozzies and Kiwis really HATE it when us Yanks lump their countries together because they happen to be near each other. My opinion: <BR><BR>NZ is a small, rural, pastoral country with great scenery and natural wonders. In particular, soaring mountains, spectacular fjords, glaciers, marine mammals and birds, and volcanoes feature prominently. Kiwis tend to be low-key, self-sufficient, and provincial. The original native population consisted of Polynesian Maoris, who were tightly organized into a series of groups that arrived in NZ about 1,000 years ago.<BR><BR>Oz is a huge country, that, while famous for its outback locations, has a population primarily located in a number of large, bustling, cosmopolitan cities. In contrast to NZ, the scenery is dominated by endless flat deserts interrupted by the occasional rocky outlier, tropical rainforests, and the Great Barrier Reef. Australians tend to be much more outgoing and more diverse than Kiwis; while Ozzies probably don't like to hear it, Americans will feel much closer to home in an Australian city, while most of New Zealand feels like more of a foreign country. Oz was originally inhabited by Melanesian (perhaps) Aboriginal tribes over 20,000 years ago - these tribes were much more loosely-organized than the Maori, and were treated far more harshly, resulting in a total erasure in some regions. <BR><BR>We took our 7 and 10 year-olds through Oz &amp; NZ for about 8 months, and they enjoyed both places immensely. There are great (but different) things for families to do in both places, and you should decide which sort of country you would prefer to visit, and what sorts of activities most interest your family. If you are more interested in outdoor adventuring, NZ is for you. If you are more interested in visiting cities and touring deserts, you should go to Oz. I don't think you can go wrong - except to try to see both countries in two weeks.

Mmmmm I think I will have to take you on here Alf. Firstly though I will say that we certainly do have deserts BUT I live nowhere near the desert and neither does 87% of the population of Australia. I live surrounded by beautiful hills with National Parks surrounding me that have wonderous rain forests, waterfalls, flora and fauna that is found no where in the world and a countryside that is so beautiful as to take your breath away. Australia also has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and THE most beautiful beach in the world ( recently assessed) We have fantastic waterways, the Great Barrier Reef, The Beautiful scenery in Tasmania which is World Heritage listed as is Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory. We have the oldest cave and outcrop paintings in the world 60,000 years old and Australia is the oldest country geographically in the world.<BR>The high country in Victoria is much like that of New Zealand. very rural and dotted with trout streams and lovely valleys and hills. <BR>I don't know where you went or at what time of year but it does't sound as if you saw too much outside the usual &quot;tourist destinations&quot; and that is the real reason for this board so that people don't get trapped into just the tourist places and get to see other areas as well - that is if they listen to our suggestions once in a while. <BR>Australia is probably one of the most diverse countries in the world climatically and geographically and probably ethnically too. Sure we lack the glaciers and the really high mountains. We do have more snow fall on the Australian Alps than does on the Swiss Alps, we can boast the first ski school is the world together with the *now* World champion aerobatic skiier ( more fool her ).<BR>Australia is an ancient land which spans 3 and neally 4 climatic zones. Our cities are as modern as any in the USA with Sydney being our most beautiful city with its harbour and natural attractions. <BR>Our climate is second to none in that there are few extremes and it is in the main very temperate. <BR>One other point too is that there was never total erasure of the aboriginal population anywhere in Australia. If perchance you are taking about Tasmania it is interesting to note that the Aboriginal population with roots going back to the 1770s have been granted their own land there. The Aboriginals were never Melanesian with the exception of the North Queensland tribes from around the off shore Islands. They originated from Africa through the Malaysian peninsular over to Australia when there was a land bridge - if you ever get a chance to see the Museum in Kuala Lumpa you will see that their aboriginies are very much the same both in facial structure, body and former lifestyles. There is also evidence to say that they actually were not the first inhabitants in Australia and interestingly enough there are DNA similarities and cultural similarities between the old tribes in Terra del Fuego in South America and the aboriginies of northern Western Australia. <BR>There are better times to come to Australia than others and some places are better at some time than others too. <BR>Anyway suffice it to say that 1 Million New Zealanders can't be wrong - they live here!<BR>

I didn't mean to slam Australia. I love Australia - between work and vacation, I have spent over 8 months there, and I bet I have been to more of the country than most citizens. I've driven from Melbourne to Port Douglas, Townsville to Four Corners, Darwin to Adelaide, Broome to Perth, and all around Tasmania. I was merely attempting to contrast Australia with New Zealand in response to a question. <BR><BR>It seems to me that I actually did write that most of the population does NOT live in the outback, and I also wrote about tropical rainforests and the GBR. I have spent a lot of time in Victoria's mountains, climbing Mt. Kosciusko, and skiing at Thredbo, but I'm sorry, they just aren't that rugged or high when compared to your neigbor's.<BR><BR>When I wrote my response, I knew that it was full of generalities and simplifications, and I suspected that someone might take issue with it. Just my opinion, but it is not based on ignorance, as you implied.

Alf, I did not imply or mean to imply that your post was based on ignorance, nor did I think you slammed Australia, but when I read your post it it just seemed that Australia was so boring and I was merely pointing out that it is not. I don't think there is anyone in Australia who skiis that would rather ski in Australia if given the opportunity to ski in NZ. Our mountains are hardly more than hills and we are very fortunate to have NZ's wonderful peaks to go to for that very reason. I just wanted to make Australia sound less boring than you did - in my honest and humble opinion that is. I for one would be the first person to tell you that parts of Australia bore me to death. I have been to NZ 3 times so I must think it is worthwhile and before any Kiwis jump on me - most of my friends are Kiwis as well and for what its worth Alf I usually agree with everything you say! So lets kiss and make up xx

G'day Kathy<BR>Sure, from the point of view of who lives where I think that the movement back and forth across the Tasman is balanced up with the Aussies in NZ but I was unsure that you Kiwis would like me to have mentioned that Especially as one of us will not be talking to the other when it comes to meeting on the World Cricket Cup bash between the two of us coming up soon. <BR>I just think that it is wonderful to have 2 so very different countries so close but who speak the same language. Probably would even be better if we had the same currency for that matter. <BR>I think the countryside in the South Island of NZ is spectacular and I am sure no one would disagree with me on that and I am just waiting for a time when I retire and have the time to spend there checking out all the nooks and crannies. <BR>Having lived in Canada and the USA and for the information of the first poster Kimthornton14, there a far greater difference between these two countries i.e.Aust and NZ much more so than the difference between Canada and USA. If you want some help in determining where you want to go you will have to give us some idea of what you would like to see so that we can hone in on that. If you are from the Rockies in either the US or CA then the South Island of NZ is probably not for you - same as if you are from Hawaii then the GBR won't be terribly different. So its over to you now.

I guess that I should also mention that one item that is apparently shared by Ozzies and Kiwis is an extreme sensitivity to perceived slights against their countries!<BR><BR>I may be no great authority on Abo history, but I am a geologist, and I can assure with great confidence to Kathy that there are certainly far more active volcanoes on the North Island than Ruapehu! Tongariro, Ngaruahoe, Whakaari (White Island) and Mount Tarawera are all considered to be active. In addition Taranaki (Mount Egmont) and Rangitoto are dormant. <BR><BR>I have conducted field work on Whakaari and have some great photos that should leave little doubt that it is currently active. You need a respirator to safely approach the crater, which is filled with a boiling cauldron of highly acidic liquids. Very reminiscent of some cross-Tasman arguments. <BR><BR>

Anyway, after all that, what was the question Kim, do you mean an island like the Fiji islands or Norfolk Island or do you mean NZ and OZ?<BR>Have a look at the purenz.com website for NZ, it really is a great source of info.

Kathynz,<BR><BR>White island is an island but it is also and active volcano.<BR>All the other volcanoes Alf has mentioned are considered active as well. <BR><BR>Kim, re your trip.<BR>If you want South Pacific Islands with palm trees and white sand, try Fiji, Samoa, Tropical Queensland.<BR><BR> Australia ia a great holiday choice with desert country to explore, big cities to play in and the wildlife is fantastic. <BR><BR>New Zealand has drop dead gorgeous scenery, a very laid back life style and enough adventure activities to keep your heart racing for the whole 2 weeks.<BR><BR>It also depends on the time of year, winter is great for the Pacific Islands, tropical Qld, and some fantastic skiing in NZ.<BR><BR>Summer is way too hot ( and humid ) in the tropical regions but NZ, and Australia would be at their very best.<BR><BR>Also, what sort of activities are your kids into, that could also sway your decision.<BR><BR>In a nutshell, the whole damn region is paradise and where ever you decide to go to, you cant go wrong.<BR><BR>Good luck with your planning.<BR><BR>Christa<BR><BR>