Australia and New Zealand, two of the most sought-after destinations for travellers, are a must for every beach-lover, art-fanatic, history-geek, and budding traveller.
There’s so much more to the two countries that are often stuck with an incredibly recognizable accent and an image of boomerangs for a stereotype.
Although both are sometimes lumped together as being roughly in the same place, there is a long list of fascinating differences and we need to talk about it! Here is a quick rundown of the best things you need to tick off your travel list as soon as possible…
Blue Mountains
We all need to tick a few world heritage sites off our list, but did you think about heading to New Zealand for them? Blue Mountains presents to you one million hectares of tall forests, sandstone cliffs, canyons, waterfalls and bushland.
The natural attraction’s blue-hazed beauty will blow you away, and you can choose to experience it through short bushwalks or longer hikes. You’ll be surprised to come across restaurants, retreats, vibrant arts and events.
You’ll spot kangaroos, wallaroos, echidnas, wombats, butterflies and many of the 150 bird species that live along the six foot track; you can even camp along the way at three different campgrounds to get the most out of the experience!
Did You Know: You’ll not only be taking in breathtaking scenery along the way, you’ll be taking in over 200 years of history on this 1884 track!
Sydney Opera House
An Australian icon not to be missed when you head to the exciting city is Sydney Opera House (a building you’re bound to recognise even if you’ve not been there yourself!)
Wander around inside and you’ll be surrounded by colourful decor left, right and centre; wander around outside and it’s still a marvel to be appreciated. Take a seat at its alfresco Opera Bar to stare at the sparkling white exterior (or you can sit inside one of the shells and experience the architecture from there!)
Make the most of visiting and witness an opera show, or if that doesn’t tickle your fancy you can choose from a range of talks, comedy, dance, music, and even pop gigs. It’s never-ending…
Did You Know: The Sydney Opera House took 16 years to build! It’s been appreciated for a lot longer than that…
Akaroa
This one’s a stop-off that’ll keep you busy for days, and it’s not just beautiful bays and harbor (although this is enough to entertain us). There’s cruises, sail boats, cycle tours, and excellent walking tracks.
Not to mention, Akaroa’s waters are home to the rarest and smallest marine dolphins aswell as the Hector’s dolphins and other special wildlife to witness on a harbour cruise!
The spectacular surroundings are perfect for a spot of sea kayaking, or you could even take a trip to the largest little penguin colony on mainland New Zealand.
Did You Know: Akaroa is a small town on Banks Peninsula that is a result of violent eruptions from three volcanoes! This is why the bays surrounding it are the legacy of the earth’s fury!
Bay of Islands
The list of places known for its stunning beauty and history continues; the bay of islands is a paradise consisting of 144 islands!
Join a daily cruise, charter a yacht or hire a sea kayak and you’ll be able to set off on an adventure that’ll include witness wildlife like penguins, dolphins, whales and more!
For something a little different, you can find an array of tranquil towns: KeriKeri is full of galleries, shops and gourmet food shops, and Kawakawa runs a railway line through the centre with the recently restored vintage steam train engine, ‘Gabriel’!
Did You Know: The island Paihia used to be known as ‘the hellhole of the Pacific’ in the 1800’s and is now one of the country’s most refined places to visit!
Auckland
Set your expectations high here with Auckland, rated the third most liveable city in the world! It’s an urban place to visit but you won’t have to travel long at all for the most beautiful beaches you’ve ever seen.
You can take a ferry to Waiheke, known as ‘the island of wine’ for all its wineries and vineyards, or the picturesque village of Matakana for its impressive farmers’ market and local arts scene!
If you’re up for something a little more fast-paced, don’t hesitate to visit The Sky Tower to jump 192 metres above ground level. Keep pushing the limits if you’re after that adrenaline rush and head to Auckland’s Harbour Bridge to bungee-jump into Waitemata Harbour!
Did You Know: Auckland was the capital of New Zealand for 25 years from 1842-1865, before it lost its title because officials travelling from the South found the journey too long (taking up to two months!)
What could be better than experiencing some of the most famous, incredible places in the world that people only dream of visiting, all in between relaxing in Solstice’s adult-only solarium, getting lucky in the onboard casino, winding down in the Art Gallery and feeling ultimate luxury with 24-hour room service and turn-down service.
You’ll feel right at home onboard Celebrity Eclipse as she takes you from Milford Sound to Sydney, before stopping at Doubtful Sound, Dusky Sound, Wellington, Napier, Tauranga, Auckland, Willis Island, Port Douglas, Cains, Airlie Beach and Bribane.
Do you fancy combining the incredible with luxury and experiencing Australia and New Zealand with Celebrity? Discover more details below and leave us your thoughts and comments!
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