Christmas in New Zealand

If you're coming from the northern hemisphere, you'll find Christmas to be rather different in New Zealand. Because of the country's European heritage and roots (especially British) you will see many of the same traditions observed - sort of. With a different climate and time of year altogether, the kiwi Christmas is something unique and it can be a lot of fun.

The most obvious difference to a northern hemisphere Christmas is the weather. It's the middle of summer in New Zealand. Many visitors from the US or Europe can't quite get their heads around having Christmas dinner as a barbeque on the beach! However, Christmas marks the beginning of the summer holidays for most kiwis, so many Christmas activities revolve around summer holidays.

Many towns and cities in New Zealand hold a Christmas Parade. They are usually held on a Sunday and can feature marching bands, floats and an appearance from the grand old gentleman himself, Santa Claus.

The largest and best known parade is the Auckland Santa Parade, which has been a feature of the Auckland Christmas since 1934. It attracts thousands of spectators every year and is a great event for children.

Kiwis maintain the British tradition of having a family dinner during the middle of the day on Christmas Day. This is usually preceded on Christmas morning by exchanging presents which will have been left under the Christmas tree in the home.

The Christmas meal itself is increasingly becoming a casual affair. Often it is a barbeque on the deck or patio. However, the traditional Christmas fare of turkey, ham and roast potatoes are still very popular, along with salads and of course a glass of bubbly.

For dessert, plum pudding and Christmas cake are often served alongside the kiwi icons, pavolova, kiwifruit, strawberries and cream.

New Zealand is an extremely diverse society and many of the cultures represented do not recognize Christmas in the same way as the early European settlers and their descendents. However, Christmas is a special time for all New Zealanders. It's a time to get together with the family and enjoy the great New Zealand summer outdoors.

5 Things to See and Do in Darwin, Australia

Darwin is situated on the edge of Arafura sea, which is at the top end of the Northern territory. It’s one of the greatest beautiful sites in Australia attracts a variety of tourist worldwide. The atmosphere is the kind of place you can enjoy and just explore the scene and adventure walking around its beautiful cool beaches watching the sun set and fall. There are a variety of cool interesting places and sites you cannot afford to miss while there ranging from, sites, beaches, national park museums etc.

Darwin botanic gardens, it’s a beautiful garden a few kilometers north of the city centre which provides beautiful garden display of tropical vegetation e.g. ferns, palm species, figs wetlands, water fountains, a coastal zone and mangrove board walk. The Australia’s new parliament house is also an amazing attractive beautiful architecture you cannot afford to miss; the Nt library is also located there. It’s situated Cnr Bennett Street. The Cullen Bay Marina located a short distance from the city centre and you can take a harbor ferry trip is the Ideal place you can enjoy specialty shopping while at the same time enjoying special sea food from the restaurants there including sea food, cocktail and also cool drinks can be enjoyed there while relaxing.

There include a variety of beaches in Darwin such as Casuarina beach which is just at the doorsteps of the Northern surburb.There is a big play ground, exciting sand all over and also a large area for car parking.Mindil beach which also holds the Mindil beach sunset market is always full of tourist due to its interesting things .It offers great, affordable, cheaper food and items around the market adding to the fact it’s a beach where you can swim on the banks and enjoy boat rides also having large massive grass area along with the cool atmosphere for tourists.

More and more things for you just in Darwin, these parks include Crocodylous park which is full of big cats and monkeys other than the many crocodiles, and it’s just located on the fair way of Darwin city. About some distance from the city is The Australian Aviation Heritage Centre .Many wild animals you cannot even imagine of are there not forgetting the massive bomber around the place. It a great tourist site for both domestic and foreign.Accomodation and delicious food are also provided there at their modern restaurant.

For those who like exploring new culture and learning more about other states past then Darwin is the best place to be. Museum and Art Gallery Of Northern Territory which is not far from Cullen Bay Marina and also Fannie Bay Gaol which is continuous in the same direction and the on east point at the far end of Fannie Bay Gaol is a natural reserve . They have natural historic displays, ancient and contemporary scenes among others. Just try Darwin in Australia and your holidays to Australia will be the most memorable, mate!

Down Under Wonder

The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is a favorite destination of scuba divers, underwater explorers, and lovers of exotic, romantic tropical islands. It is a succession of spectacular reefs extending from just south of the Tropic of Capricorn off the Queensland coast to Torres Strait in the north.

It is 2000 kilometres in length — and visitors to the Reef have a choice of multiple access points all up and down the north Queensland coast, starting as far south as Bundaberg near the vicinity of Fraser Island.

Great Barrier Reef is an inscribed World Heritage site.

At its southern tip, Australia's Great Barrier Reef is as much as 300 kilometres from the mainland, which is a reason for the popularity of access points further north where the Reef is easier to reach, such as on day trips from Cairns or Townsville.

One of the easiest ways to visit the Reef is to join any of a number of cruises originating from major towns or cities on the north Queensland coast. A popular jump-off point is Cairns on the far north Queensland coast. Basically, this would involve sailing out to the Reef and anchoring at a place suitable for snorkeling or scuba diving. Viewing the reef formations without getting into the water can be done from glass-bottomed boats or submersibles. A stop at one of the cays or coral islands may be included in the tour.

A WARNING: If going diving, be sure to make mutual arrangements with other members of your group to insure you are on the boat returning to shore and, if you’re not, to alert the boat crew right away of your absence. It has happened that divers have been left behind - and haven't been seen again.

Remember, too, that there may be perils in the water from stingrays, stonefish and other dangerous creatures. Know what they are, take precautions, it's relatively easy to be safe.

The Island of Bora Bora

The Most Beautiful Island in the World.

Bora -Bora - Unquestionably the most mythical of the Pacific islands remains the island of all dreams.  Honeymooners and romantics from around the world have laid claim to Bora Bora where the castle-like Mount Otemanu pierces the sky above the crystal lagoon with its unique over the water bungalows that offer a magical oneness with this extraordinary environment.

 Lush tropical slopes and valleys blossom with hibiscus, while palm-covered motu circle the lagoon like a delicate necklace. Perfect white-sand beaches give way to emerald waters where impossibly colored fish animate the coral gardens. So much has been written about Bora Bora, and yet it is hard to find the right words to describe the magic that emanates from this island.

Seen from the air, Bora Bora has been compared to that of "a tiny emerald in a setting of turquoise, encircled by a sheltering necklace of sparkling pearls.
           
The airport, built by the US forces in 1942, is located on a palm fringed motu  about 20 minutes by boat from the main village of  Vaitape. Some other remnant of the US presence are 2 large cannons hidden in the lush hills overlooking the lagoon.
           
The view of Bora Bora from the airport is truly breathtaking. And as you travel across the spectacular lagoon you will soon understand why it is the main area of attraction for most visitors.
         
Bora Bora itself is rather small, and can be circled by car in about an hour. The lagoon is 3 times the size of the land mass and offers an amazing range of hues of blue and turquoise as you navigate its crystal waters.
           
To the southeast of the island is the Coral Garden, a natural underwater park where all types of fish and corals are found.
           
Off the Point Matira there is an area where the huge and graceful manta rays congregate for your viewing pleasure. There are other types of ray such as the beautiful spotted ray and the friendly gray ray which love to be petted during the "ray feeding" excursions.
           
At the entrance of the pass, the "White valley" teems with gray sharks and barracudas in a never ending ballet. Most of the temples (Marae) having been destroyed during the last century by the English missionaries, and unfortunately there is little archeological remnants left. Bora Bora lagoon offers a multitude of activities and excursions, one of the most popular being - where from chest-deep water you watch local divers feed 4' to 5' reef sharks by hand. It's a lot of fun and totally safe. The same routine is done with a large group of friendly gray rays. You can also take a circle-the-lagoon excursion with motu picnic, rent a small boat, visit the Lagoonarium near Le Meridien Hotel and take a 4x4 excursion to the panoramic view points and the US cannons.

Bora Bora Resorts have been welcoming couples for over 40 years and their special amenities have been fine tuned to perfection. From sunrise to sunset, each resort has designed their own blend of unique romantic experiences for their guests to choose from. Most of the recent hotel/resorts have been built on  islands (motu) in the lagoon surrounding Bora Bora.  They mostly face into the lagoon and the mountain of Bora Bora and offer privacy, over water bungalows, pristine water and extraordinary views. The Bora Bora Hotel was the first hotel ever  to feature over the water bungalows. With a few exceptions, overwater bungalows are still only ever found in French Polynesia due to the protected lagoons and the very even tides.

Australia’s Travel Tips

Australia has a stable political system and low crime rate on a world scale and so Australians experience a safe lifestyle. It is generally a safe destination with tourists enjoying unhindered travel experiences in terms of their personal safety and security.  However, as with all travel at home or away, you should observe the same precautions with your personal safety and possessions.

The Australian sun is very strong. Always wear a shirt, hat, sunglasses and SPF 30+ sunscreen lotion, even on cloudy days. If spending the whole day outdoors, reapply sunscreen regularly.  Stay out of the sun during the middle of the day when the sun is strongest. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.

Australians live with the risk of bushfires. The danger period is from late spring to summer and during this time observe some simple safety precautions. Before setting out on a journey, inform yourself of bushfire risks through TV, radio and newspapers reports. When camping, use designated fireplaces and comply with road warning signs and total fire bans. If you must light a fire, always extinguish it completely with water.

Australia’s beautiful beaches can hold hidden dangers in the form of strong currents called rips. Avoid them by always swimming between the red and yellow flags - they mark the safest place to swim on the beach.  Lifesavers wearing red and yellow uniforms generally patrol beaches during the warmer months of October to April, but some of the most popular beaches are patrolled all-year round. Never swim alone, at night, under the influence of alcohol or directly after a meal. Always check water depth before diving in and never run and dive into the water from the beach.

Shark attacks in Australia are very rare, however may be fatal. Shark netting on Australian beaches deter sharks, but you can further reduce your risk by always swimming between the flags on patrolled beaches and not swimming at dusk or evening. Avoid swimming alone, a long way offshore, at river mouths or along drop-offs to deeper water.
Crocodiles live in rivers and coastal estuaries across northern Australia, often changing habitat via sea. When travelling near crocodile habitats, observe safety signs and don’t swim in rivers, estuaries, tidal rivers, deep pools or mangrove shores. Also seek expert advice about crocodiles before camping, fishing or boating.

Marine stingers are present in tropical waters from November to April.  During this time you can only swim within stinger-resistant enclosures, which are set up on the most popular beaches. You will also need to wear protective clothing when swimming, snorkeling or diving on the outer Great Barrier Reef. Always observe warning signs.
When bushwalking or hiking, you can avoid snake and spider bites by wearing protective footwear and using your common sense. If bitten, seek immediate medical attention. Deaths from snake bites are extremely rare and there have been few deaths from spider bites since anti venoms were made available in 1981.

Australian capital - Canberra

Sunsets in Bali