Grant Eckert

The weather in New Zealand is often like the country's landscape: dramatic, wild and unpredictable. For such a small country, New Zealand has an incredibly varied climate, and there can be major differences in the weather. New Zealand's climate creates some diverse landscapes as well, ranging from almost tropical conditions in the north to snowy glaciers in the south.

New Zealand is considered to be one of the youngest countries in the world, as it was the last major land mass to be discovered by Europeans. For a young country, New Zealand boasts many fascinating and important historical sites, a legacy of its original inhabitants, the Maori and also its years as a British colony.

Australia is a huge country, almost as large as the contiguous United States, and one of the most important tips for any traveler would be to give themselves enough time to really see the country. Most international visitors fly into Sydney, the country's largest city, but the rest of this vast country, which also happens to be a continent, is well worth visiting too.

People visit Australia for different reasons - the country has lively cities, spectacular scenery and a fascinating Aborigine culture. And many people go there to experience the country's unique wildlife, animals that cannot be seen anywhere else, such as the koala bear, kangaroo, dingo and wallaby.