I am still in the UK of course, but am making preparations for my trip. For those of you who don't know New Zealand consists of three islands. North Island, South Island and Stewart Island as well as many other small islands surrounding its shore of which it has 18,000 km of coastline. Temperatures fluctuate greatly throughout the year. As I am going in July, New Zealand's winter the temperatures will be unlikely to get past twenty degrees. In the summer just gone by temperatures topped 36 degrees celsius. New Zealand has a varied landscape and offers the traveller a lot of adventure. It is becoming increasingly popular with travellers. It has topped to travel votes in the last six months, including Trip Advisor.com and the Daily Telegraph, which speaks volumes about how great it is. It is paradise, talking of which there is a town called Paradise in the heart of the mountains west of Glenorchy, on the South Island.

Australia has dominated New Zealand in terms of attracting travellers and publicity, however, even though Australia attracts more travellers, more peopl are wanting to go to New Zealand. I mean don't get me wrong Australia is beautiful and I am going to Oz as well, however, for me New Zealand is better for its sheer concentration of scenery.

Australia does offer 25,000 km of coastline and 7,000km of beach as well as ancient rainforest, and indigenous culture that has been going for 50,000 years as well as many other forms of varied landscape including its Outback and the Whitsundays, Fraser Island and the Great Barrier Reef. Its a nice country.

But to think that people prefer New Zealand to Australia is not surprising me that much. Until next time see you later!

From Kiwi Paul.