The winter destinations down under for those seeking warmth

Planning with mouthwatering options

You will find the shortest flights from the Pacific coast and those from Hawaii will be even shorter. As these are long-haul flights, they will cost more which means that airfare will eat up a large part of your holiday budget. There is something here for you no matter what category of tourist you fall under. There are explorations of the Australian outback for the backpackers and there are the major cities with beaches for the families. You can go hiking in the mountains or walk along the river trails or those in the forested areas. There are Christmas celebrations with Santa and decorations in the shopping areas. You can expect grand fireworks displays at the Sydney harbor as the clock strikes 12 at midnight.

The big cities of Australia

Australia is large in size and looks like an island on the map, but most consider this country a continent. The major cities including the capitals of the 6 states are next to the Oceans and most have ports that are still in use. You can choose among the cities like Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. Here you will get to mingle with the locals and join them on the popular beaches. You will even be able to find accommodations close to the beaches to enjoy the views at day and at nights. There are museums and adventure parks for the families while the youth can enjoy the nightlife at the various bars and clubs.

The small towns of New Zealand

This country has some major cities but most people will come to experience the peace and calm of the smaller towns like Rotorua, Paihia, Akaroa, Piha, and Waipara. Most of these are close to water bodies like the seas, lakes, or rivers, each offering something different to the visitors. As you would have noticed the names of these are in the Maori language, so you will get to see their lifestyles and you may get to watch some traditional performances if you come at the right time of the year. Most of you will get to enjoy the surroundings with mountains and forests, apart from river rafting over the rivers.

The coasts and beyond

There are coastal areas in both nations, particularly enjoyable from December to February with warm waters. The Gold Coast and Kangaroo Island in Australia along with Bay of Plenty and Bay of Islands in New Zealand are full of tourists in these months. The locals in this part of the world are known to be enthusiastic surfers and you can test out your surfing skills with theirs. You can try kayaking if you trust your arms or go sailing on large luxury boats where you can enjoy the views around with meals and drinks served complimentary. There is the Great Barrier Reef in the Coral Sea to get to which you will need to get to the coastal towns like Cairns in Queensland. You can always try your snorkeling and scuba diving skills here.

Glaciers and Mountains

While there are Glaciers to climb in New Zealand, you can try rock climbing on mountains spread out across large parts of Australia. The Tasman Glacier offers ice walks where you can enjoy the views of the ice-covered mountains and the lakes. There are other Glaciers like the Clarke Glacier, Volta Glacier, and Fox Glacier where you can try helicopter rides to reach the summit. As for mountains in Australia, every state here has mountains with different types of green cover or no green cover. You can either choose to visit the tallest ones in the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales. You will find mountains in West Australia and Tasmania, full of wildlife unique to this part of the world and you will be able to spot bushes and flowering plants as you hike up them.

Come to the South of South Africa

Though not considered a part of Down Under, the summer months are the same in South Africa. On the coast of Cape Town, you will find the Indian Ocean mixing with the Atlantic Ocean, which means interesting beaches popular with holidaymakers looking for a different environment for their holidays. If you are looking for an experience similar to driving along the French Riviera, you can drive along the Garden Route with the sea on one side and different views of nature like forests on the other side. To add to your holiday in Cape Town, you will see mountains on its edges and you can reach to their top through cable cars, to enjoy the views of the entire city as the cars reach upwards. If you enjoy visiting wineries or you are interested in safari tours, everything can be arranged, though you must pre-book these activities, so as not to be disappointed, before you reach here.

Conclusion

Winter can be severe for some in the Northern Hemisphere and there are destinations worldwide offering warm escapes. If you are planning a trip down under, here we have suggestions for destinations and activities that you can get involved in.