We're coming up to one of the best times of the year to visit Australia and New Zealand - the spring. If, as is likely if you're reading this, you live in the northern hemisphere, you may have some difficulty dealing with the idea of spring springing in the months that Americans and Europeans consider to be the fall, but it's a simple fact of physics: as the leaves are beginning to turn and drift off the trees up here they're beginning to sprout and bloom down there - or at least they are in the more temperate zones of southern Australia and New Zealand.
It's worth remembering that Australasia (Oceania, the Antipodes, call 'em what you will) span an awful lot of degrees of latitude. We northern hemispherers tend to think of them all packed up down there into a little corner of the world with their kangaroos and their koala bears, but the fact is that the northern extremity of Australia is nudging the equator and the souther cape of New Zealand is well on the way to Antartica.
There is, therefore, a huge range of weather conditions and temperature zones within the two countries, from the parched central desert outback of Australia to the alpine-like mountains, glaciers and pine forests of New Zealand. The good side of all of this is that if you're traveling down under there are a huge variety of things for you to see and do, especially if you're the kind of person who likes to get out and about in the great outdoors. Beach bums can find their fill of sand and (especially) surf all over Australia; skiiers can try their luck in one of New Zealand's many resorts; hikers and backpackers can explore the hills, valleys and deserts of both countries; divers can dive on the Great Barrier Reef. Perhaps the most fortunate group of all are wildlife lovers, who can explore one of the most rich and diverse eco-systems on the planet.
And, as we've said, spring is one of the best times to go - New Zealand still has its snows and Australia isn't getting too warm. The trans-Pacific flight isn't as far as you think, and you're guaranteed a very warm welcome!