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Still Not Your Typical Island
September 4th, 2009
In part one of this series, I examined Madagascar, the Maldives and Iceland – three islands that are far from your typical island (as you’d think of in the Caribbean). I’m going to continue that examination of three more islands in this post – Frasier Island (Australia), the south Island of New Zealand and the Azores.
Fraser Island
Location: 300 kilometeres north of Brisbane, Australia.
Distinguishing features: This world heritage site is the largest sand island in the world. Rainforests, undisturbed beaches, sand cliffs and over 100 freshwater lakes make up the terrain.
Travel Tips:
- No visa is required for US citizens staying shorter than 90 days.
- Fraser Island can be reached by guided or self drive tour from Hervey Bay, Rainbow Beach or Noosa (all tours and self drives are 4WD).
- Accommodations range from camping to hotels (Kingfisher Bay Resort) with everything in between. Resorts often fill up months in advance so book early!
New Zealand’s South Island:
Distinguishing features: natural beauty and diversity (fjords, mountains, glaciers, hot springs to name a few), incredibly friendly people, opportunity for virtually any adventure activity imaginable, growing as notable wine and food center.
Travel tips:
- No visa is required for US citizens staying shorter than 90 days.
- New Zealand gets cool (10 to 15 degrees Celsius) in June through August and weather can vary greatly in one day. Layering your clothes is a great idea!
- A few must sees include: Franz Josef Glacier, Arthur’s Pass (five national parks on the west coast), Queenstown and Milford Sound which can be reached by boat trip from Queesntown.
Azores
Location: Approximately 1500 km from Lisbon, Portugal (about a two hour flight from Lisbon and five hour flight from the US east cost).
Distinguishing features: Nine volcanic islands each with it’s own distinct landscape, from cliffs to vineyards, valleys, rolling hills and lagoons at the bottom of craters. They are also well known for their religious festivals, for which visitors travel from around the world.
Travel Tips:
- The Azores can get humid and wet, especially in the winter. The average temperature ranges from approximately 57 degrees Farenheit in January/February to 72 degrees in August.
- No visa is required for US citizens staying for under 90 days.
- The islands are popular for nautical activities as well as whale watching, golf and hiking.
