Honeymooning
 

My fiance and I have been vacilating between touring Australia or NZ or Southern Europe (Greece/Malta/Cyprus) for our Honeymoon in
time period : jan 23 - feb 4

-We both dislike extreme temperatures something mild is what we are looking for.
Is NZ or Australia the place to go? What is the avg temperature there late Jan or early feb?

-we both enjoy cafes, shopping, and SOME adventure. We both want to be indulged with good/healthy food, fine chocolates, massages, swimming and tons of relaxation.

Hi - Southern Australia (ie. Sydney/Melbourne) will be experiencing their hottest months at that time of the year. It can get into the 40's (and that is celsius not farenheit). Given your dislike of extreme temperatures it couldn't be recommended. On the other hand - northern Australia (i.e. Queensland, Northern Territory) will be at their most humid and quite unpleasant. It can also be a time of quite high rainfall in the tropical states. I believe NZ would be far milder.

I honeymooned on the south island of NZ myself several years ago and found it to be pretty amazing and it does cater for all tastes from the highly adventurous (kayaking, white water rafting, bungy jumping, hiking etc) to those who enjoy the gentler pursuits (food, wine and amazing scenery.

Where will you be coming from? I think from what you've described NZ would fit the bill. Although Australia is sensational I'm not sure it would be the right place for you at that time of the year. Also your time is fairly limited and the time you have would be perfect for a good exploration of the south island of NZ.

You could start is Christchurch, work your way down to Hamner Springs, Mount Cook or Lake Tekapo and then on to Queenstown, Milford Sound (spend a night on a boat there), move onto Dunedin and then wind your way back up through Akaroa and Lyttleton to Christchurch. Plenty of time to do all of that!

dear Mangal2008

I'm assuming you're coming from the Northern hemisphere? Then you should realise that the time period you are talking about is Australia's summer, and is often the hottest part of the summer at that.

Pretty much the whole of Australia's Eastern seaboard - one of the major tourist areas - is currently in the midst of a very bad drought . My home state of Victoria , the most southerly state on the East coast, for example ,is experiencing the worst drought ever recorded, so the chances of even higher summer temperatures on the East coast are very likely, unless the drought breaks before hand.

Queensland and the Northern Territory will still be very warm , Tasmania will be milder, but can still have high temperature days of 35C plus.

Western Australia regularly has 40C days at this time of year anyway.

You don't say where you would like to visit in Australia but if you hate the heat maybe you need to visit in the Spring, or Autumn......

Having said that it's unlikely you'll get comfortable swimming in Southern Europe in December/ January either as this is the depths of winter. Malta I know for sure can be cold at that time, with chilly winds which would make swimming unappealing.

I'm planning to go on my honey moon from 23 Jan as well. I was thinking of the following itenarary. Any comments?

23 Jan Day 0 Leave for Sydney from Mumbai via Singapore. Singapore Sydney on the Airbus A380
24 Jan Day 1 Arrive in Sydney
25 Jan Day 2
26 Jan Day 3
27 Jan Day 4 Arrive in Gold Coast
28 Jan Day 5
29 Jan Day 6
30 Jan Day 7
31 Jan Day 8 Arrive Queenstown
01 Feb Day 9
02 Feb Day 10
03 Feb Day 11 Arrive Franz Jozef
04 Feb Day 12 Arrive Christchurch
05 Feb Day 13
06 Feb Day 14
07 Feb Day 15 Return to Mumbai

My specific queries are:
(a) will this be too hectic a schedule for a honeymoon.
(b) Is wellington in NZ worth going to considering Christchurch/Queenstown are covered, and we're also going to Sydney.
(c) Any suggestions for Hotels in each of these places?

Hi Bhavik,

the short answer? Yes, I think your itinerary is too hectic for a honeymoon. Too much packing/unpacking and catching flights from Australia to New Zealand.

I work with alot of honeymooners, and although you don't know this YET, your wedding will be emotionally (not to mention, I'm sure, financially :) draining.:)

You'll be SO tired afterward from all the build up leading up to the wedding, to the day itself (smiling all day can be incredibly tiring), that you seriously need some "downtime" to just relax and stupidly stare at each other and go "wow..we're really married!" :)

I would urge you to concentrate on one destination and make the most of your time there.

Any reason you chose the Gold Coast and left off the Great Barrier Reef area?

Regards,

Melodie
Certified Aussie & Kiwi Specialist

Hi Melodie,

Thank you for your response. I left out Great Barrier Reef, because, we come from Goa, which is also a beach destination. We didnt want to stay at a beach resort for our Honeymoon, and we thought that Gold Coast would be a good compromise where there is some fun activitiy as well as u get a glimpse of the the Australian waters.

We are very keen on visiting Sydney for 3/4 days and New Zealand (south island) where the weather in January will be a lot cooler than australia and India and favourable for honeymooners. Would you think that if I excluded Gold Coast, it would make the itenarary less hectic? What itenarary would u suggest? Gold Coast is as much an attractive Destination as Sydney. For us from India, the australian region is far off, and this would probably be a once in a life time trip. And we chose this destination for our honeymoon because Switzerland and other parts of Europe will be freezing with extreme weather. Do suggest any other ideas that you may have. Thanks again.

Mangal, I would think NZ or if you really want to go to Australia, Tasmania. Everywhere else (in Australia) will be pretty hot.

Bhvik: Perhaps if you can say what it is particularly about the Gold Coast that appeals to you,apart from the beach which, as you say, you have at home; we may be able to give you some more informed opinions.

There certainly lovely areas in the hinterland (Mt.Tambourine, for one) but if the beach isn't your main attraction; I would be tempted to recommend you go elsewhere for that % of your available time.

Hi Bokhara,

The main tourist attractions like Dream world, Movie World and Sea world attract me Gold Coast.

Please do give your opinion.

Bhavik.

Ah Bhvik: If theme parks are your thing - the Gold Coast's your place!
Enjoy :)