Australia/New Zealand
Australia
Call it Earth’s largest island or smallest continent; what you can safely say is that Australia feels like a world of its own. The country’s immerse diversity—reflected in its landscapes, climates and endemic species—has long fascinated visitors. Add its cosmopolitan cities to the mix and it’s easy to see why this vast nation straddling the Indian and Pacific oceans is a must for any traveler’s bucket list. Cruise ships call at numerous Australian ports, including Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Hobart and Darwin. And shore excursions or vacation packages will have you cuddling koalas, diving the Great Barrier Reef, and witnessing Aboriginal Dreamtime storytelling… to name just a few ways you’ll discover the Land Down Under.
New Zealand
If you found yourself fascinated by the dramatic scenery displayed on “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” films, know that these lands don’t belong to mythical Middle Earth but to a country located closer to the ends of the Earth. Often overshadowed by its larger, more popular Oceanian neighbor (and we use that term loosely) Australia, New Zealand rewards travelers with breathtaking sceneries, endless stretches of beaches, and welcoming locals in a decidedly smaller package. One of only four countries to lie completely south of the Tropic of Capricorn, New Zealand consists of two distinct worlds: the subtropical, smaller yet more populous North Island, and the temperate, mountainous, and rugged South Island.