Australasia Travel Guide

Australasian Overview

Not just Australia and New Zealand, the South Pacific islands of Tonga, Samoa and Fiji also come under the Australasian umbrella. One of the fastest growing tourist areas in the world, with beautiful tropical beaches, winter (or summer, if you're from the Northern Hemisphere) skiing, year round sun, and stunning scenery there is something for everyone here. The oldest continent in the world, Australia, is now one of the most modern and exciting places to visit.

Australia

Australia is a vast land of diversity and contrast. It is a land where the populous coastal strip contains a dramatic heartland. From the architectural landmarks of the Sydney Opera house and Harbour Bridge to the impressive natural beauty of Ayers Rock, from Bondi beach to the Great Barrier Reef it is a land with something for everyone. Added to the geographical diversity is a cultural diversity derived in part from the high number of immigrants from all parts of the globe who have made Australia their home. Australia is a fully 'Westernised' society from the first world but its location on the Asian end of the Pacific rim gives it a flavour all its own.

Britain initially used Australia as a penal colony and convicts were amongst the initial settlers. Up until after the Second World War the bulk of migrant were of British origin, although significant numbers of Germans came to South Australia. Also, large numbers of Chinese came into the country as a result of the discovery of Gold. After WW2 the demand for Labour was such that many 'displaced persons' from Europe found their way down under creating vigorous populations of Italians, Serbs, Croats and Greeks. Latterly, as Australia has engaged more and more with its Asian neighbours, so the number of migrants from the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and other Asian nations has risen. All this has added to the multi cultural mix of Australia.

New Zealand

New Zealand (or Middle Earth as it is increasingly known) is a beautiful place. It is a little larger than the UK but with less than a tenth of the UK's population. This means there is a lot of open space and the people of these islands exploit this space to the fullest.

The outdoors is to New Zealanders what the skyscraper is to New Yorkers. The choice of landscape on offer is huge; in this comparatively small area, it is possible to see sandy beaches and craggy fjords, volcanoes, snow-capped peaks and temperate rainforest.