New Zealand and Australia
Because this year is apparently both the Year of Travel and the Year of the Dissertation, Nick and I are going to New Zealand and Australia for Thanksgiving/beginning of December.
Nick's been to NZ before (his brother lives in Christchurch, so his family went to visit 4ish years ago), but neither of us have been to Australia.
I know some of you have been to at least one of these countries, so thought I'd ask again for input: we'd love suggestions of things we must do, stuff we must see, and stuff that's overrated.
We're planning on a few days in Christchurch to see his brother (and likely a daytrip to Akaroa), then a few days down in the fjordlands at the southern tip of the south island (because glowworm caves and seeing a glacier and going to pretty things sounds awesome), but nothing is (at all) firm yet. The issue really is that choosing between Natural Pretty Thing A and Natural Pretty Thing B is not my strong point (they all sound fine! I'm better on Ancient Ruins or Cultural Artifacts or HIstoric Sites), so if anyone has thoughts as to what's really worth doing (or doing again, for Nick), it'd be really helpful.
We're also planning on going to the Great Barrier Reef; it seems like the best city for that is Cairns, but if anyone knows of anywhere better please tell us! but that should be two-three days. We're figuring that it's not going to be at least much cheaper to go on some theoretical future trip, and it might not be there at all (plus, any excuse to swim with flippers is fabulous- you go so fast!).
And last, the actual excuse for going at this point is that Nick has a conference in Syndey (which means his airfare to NZ and back from Australia will be covered, as will the Sydney hotel!), so we'll finish out by spending about 4 and a half days in Syndey. I'm planning on working (mmm dissertation) during half the day and adventuring during the other half while Nick conferences for the 3 days of the meeting; then we'll spend the last day/day and a half doing stuff together.
As before, we would LOVE suggestions, so please let me know if you have any particular thoughts!
(Also, I have been reading things and watching things, I've just managed to get hugely behind in reviews. Hopefully I'll fix that soon.)
Nick's been to NZ before (his brother lives in Christchurch, so his family went to visit 4ish years ago), but neither of us have been to Australia.
I know some of you have been to at least one of these countries, so thought I'd ask again for input: we'd love suggestions of things we must do, stuff we must see, and stuff that's overrated.
We're planning on a few days in Christchurch to see his brother (and likely a daytrip to Akaroa), then a few days down in the fjordlands at the southern tip of the south island (because glowworm caves and seeing a glacier and going to pretty things sounds awesome), but nothing is (at all) firm yet. The issue really is that choosing between Natural Pretty Thing A and Natural Pretty Thing B is not my strong point (they all sound fine! I'm better on Ancient Ruins or Cultural Artifacts or HIstoric Sites), so if anyone has thoughts as to what's really worth doing (or doing again, for Nick), it'd be really helpful.
We're also planning on going to the Great Barrier Reef; it seems like the best city for that is Cairns, but if anyone knows of anywhere better please tell us! but that should be two-three days. We're figuring that it's not going to be at least much cheaper to go on some theoretical future trip, and it might not be there at all (plus, any excuse to swim with flippers is fabulous- you go so fast!).
And last, the actual excuse for going at this point is that Nick has a conference in Syndey (which means his airfare to NZ and back from Australia will be covered, as will the Sydney hotel!), so we'll finish out by spending about 4 and a half days in Syndey. I'm planning on working (mmm dissertation) during half the day and adventuring during the other half while Nick conferences for the 3 days of the meeting; then we'll spend the last day/day and a half doing stuff together.
As before, we would LOVE suggestions, so please let me know if you have any particular thoughts!
(Also, I have been reading things and watching things, I've just managed to get hugely behind in reviews. Hopefully I'll fix that soon.)