Winter in North America is summer Downunder. What a perfect time to escape the cold weather blues and enjoy the sun, sea, and surf in Australia and New Zealand! As well as the weather being absolutely gorgeous, your Christmas can shine a bit brighter with this fun-filled winter vacation! Here are some great ideas to tempt you to pack up your Christmas stockings and head to the South Pacific.
Hamilton Island Perfectly situated in the Great Barrier Reef, Hamilton Island offers an experience like no other: great weather, brilliant beaches, coral reefs, and wildlife, as well as numerous activities. Each year Hamilton Island runs its annual Summer Festival which is jam packed full of fun activities. The festival runs from the middle of December to the middle of January, so as to coincide with various school holidays. It certainly adds something special to the festive season.
Sydney Summer is a fantastic time to be in Sydney! The days are sunny, the weather warm, and the beaches are just waiting for a visit. But for something a little bit different, check out our 2-Day Roar and Snore. Camp in safari tents in the heart of Australia's most famous zoo, Taronga Zoo, and wake to spectacular views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Roar and Snore is a fully hosted experience that includes architecturally designed tents, a sumptuous roast feast, drinks in the main tent, and up-close animal encounters with lions, snow leopards, meerkats, and more! Wake the next morning to a glorious sunrise, the roar of a lion, or an elephant trumpeting, as you prepare to experience the Taronga Zoo before the crowds arrive. Feed a giraffe or pat a seal as you go behind the scenes to learn the secrets of this famous and fascinating zoo. A night at Taronga Zoo's Roar and Snore is an experience that you and your family will treasure for a lifetime.
New Zealand Visit New Zealand… all of it! It is just too hard to narrow down where to recommend for a summer visit. There is a long list of reasons why travellers should visit New Zealand. To start, the country offers a rich history and culture, along with many winelands which produce excellent vintages. However, one of the major reasons to visit is what is offered by Mother Nature. Enjoy breathtaking landscapes of stunning and diverse natural beauty which include majestic and dramatic fjords, spectacular glaciers, rugged mountains, vast plains and farmland, long coastlines, wonderful sandy beaches and active geothermal regions, plus so much more.
Imagine experiencing all this during your Christmas vacation, while the snow is falling back here in North America!
By Meg Boyd
Melbourne-born Meg arrived in Canada in January with no winter coat, one suitcase, a one week booking at a youth hostel, and a sight-unseen job offer at Goway Travel. She thought she’d stay for a year – that was 12 years ago! Never one to shy away from adventure, Meg has been in the industry for 23 years and has journeyed extensively through Europe, Asia and North America. Meg’s heart however belongs to the South Pacific, including New Zealand, Fiji, and her native Australia.
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