Spectacular scenery … rich, diverse cultures … warm and friendly people. Australia and New Zealand certainly have a lot to offer adventure-seeking travelers. Although I haven’t visited the South Pacific myself, hearing about others’ experiences has me thinking about heading “Down Under.”
My children, Edward and Charlotte, have visited these countries—and had plenty of wonderful things to say about each. They’ve been encouraging me to embark on my own journey. But they’re not the only ones who have been captivated by the South Pacific’s wonders; OAT travelers—like Sondra S. and Carol A.—also rave about the time they’ve spent with Aussies and Kiwis.
For about 25 years, I had wanted to go to New Zealand. However, as a single parent with two daughters, the cost of the trip was out of reach for me.
Once my daughters were grown, I didn’t travel for two years … but then I called OAT and said, “Book me on your trip to New Zealand.” After all, at 70 years old, what exactly was I waiting for?
This was the most marvelous experience. Everyone should go there—and I feel like an ambassador for this trip without the official credentials. I’m 77 now, and I still travel as much as possible.
Sondra S.
6-time traveler & Vacation Ambassador
Austin, Texas
Pure New Zealand has a wonderful itinerary. Our Trip Leader Adrian Oldfield made what would have been a great trip into a truly outstanding and memorable travel experience. I am ready to go back to New Zealand now. With Adrian’s knowledge of each place we visited, he gave us insider tips on what to do and where to go, along with additional “discoveries”—all of which maximized our travel experiences.
New Zealand has everything—beaches, rain forests, glaciers, geothermal areas, volcanoes, fjords, lakes, and mountains—and all stunningly and gloriously beautiful. With its fascinating Maori culture, interesting, vibrant cities, and warm, welcoming people, it will be difficult to top this trip “Down Under.”
Carol’s OAT group exploring Franz Josef Glacier.
Carol A.
15-time traveler & Vacation Ambassador
Albany, New York
And my inbox isn’t the only place where travelers are sharing their experiences about their travels to Australia and New Zealand with OAT. In our Traveler Discussions forums, travelers are asking questions about their upcoming trips.
Here, fleetfoot wants to know when the best time to travel to the South Pacific is …
Our next trip with OAT or Grand Circle will probably be to Australia and New Zealand. We are trying to determine the best time to visit these two countries. It appears spring and fall are the seasons to go, but which one is better? We prefer the least precipitation. What is the best month to visit?
Our OAT travelers haven’t been shy about sharing their own experiences and opinions with their fellow travelers—and have been extremely helpful suggesting their own tips to questions like fleetfoot’s. If you have opinions or insights to share with fleetfoot, I encourage you to add your voice to the discussion.
If you haven’t already visited our Traveler Discussions forums in our Community section, please do so. It’s a great space to interact with your fellow travelers: Have your questions answered about your upcoming adventures, or share your tips from your own travels around the world.