Home > Our Publications > Travel Australia and New Zealand > Feburary 2003

AUSTRALIA and New Zealand are two of the safest countries in the world at the present time for visitors- and they are also two of the cheapest - at around three dollars to the pound your money will go a long way in both countries.
Getting there can also be a holiday (and an adventure) in itself and it's easy to skirt around the Middle East or avoid flying the popular Kangaroo Route.
Admittedly, this takes a little longer but it may not be any dearer and you'll see something of the world - especially if you stop for a holiday or short break along the way. You can check how many stops you can have and choose airlines which go to the countries you want to see.
You can also buy a round-the-world (RTW) ticket and you then travel on two or more airlines and so visit even more countries. This type of ticket can give you some six or more stops and the airlines can offer discounted hotel and sightseeing rates at the countries where they stop.
A popular route from the UK/Europe these days is via South Africa where you can stop-over and visit a game park and see some fabulous scenery - and animals. And if you can manage (afford) it visit the beautiful island of Mauritius, a real jewel in the Indian Ocean.
For something totally different try the Japan Airlines route over the North Pole (see the snow)and spend a few days in bustling Tokyo.
If the Pacific is your scene then take the Air New Zealand flight which goes across Greenland and southern Canada (more snow in winter) and into Los Angeles non-stop (try to win your holiday money back with a side trip to the gambling mecca of Las Vegas - fantastic even if you don't gamble).
From LA you can then island hop across the Pacific with stops at Tahiti, beautiful laid-back Cook Islands, and even Fiji.
Or try going via South America which will keep you well out of harm's way and there's time to see and do down Rio way.
Whichever way you go to Australia and New Zealand it will certainly be worth it.