In my humble opinion, the Australian Outback is one of the coolest places on earth. Yes it is a significant extra cost to include a trip inland to Alice Springs and just like you I was wondering if I should pay for the flights or just stick to the coast. Someone recommended it to me and I'll pass the favour along, if you are going to OZ you MUST go to the Outback. Words can't describe it. There are tons of tours that leave out of Alice Springs. The cheaper ...

This is a great city, it holds its own in the mega-sights competition with Sydney and offers amazing day trip options. I did three big day tours, Autopia's Great Ocean Road, Autopia's Penguin Parade and the Yarra Valley Wine Experience - all of which are highly recommended! The Great Ocean Road and the 12 Apostles are very iconic Aussie coastline. I splurged and did an 8-minute helicopter ride over the coast around the Apostles for $50. Penguin Parade on Philip...

I spent almost a week in Sydney and yet it seems all my pictures are only of that Opera House. Everyday I found myself staring at it from one angle or another, and one night I even saw it from the inside when I attended the ballet there. My insider Opera House tip - check out the bathrooms, they have the coolest sinks (I can only voucher for the women's of course). Go inside on the main level where the ticket sales are and right around the corner you'll find them...

Nelson is a lively little town on the northern tip of the South Island, however I will always remember it as the site of my most daring adventure sport experience - this was where I took a deep breath and signed up to throw myself out of an airplane at 1300 ft! Skydiving over Able Tasman National Park really was a once in a lifetime experience. I was in New Zealand for 8 months on a working holiday and when my brother came down to visit me I said we'd go s...

New Zealand's top warm weather destination for travellers, the Bay of Islands is just a few hours north of Auckland in a region Kiwis call The Winterless North. Many companies offer 1 day or multi-day tours leaving out of Auckland that will take care of your accommodation, transportation and will get you to all the must-see highlights of the region. Since I had 8 months to spend wandering (and working) in New Zealand, I opted to buy an Intercity Bus Flexi pass w...