Greenheart Travel

Tag: new zealand

  • Australia Vs New Zealand:  Which Country Should You Visit?

    Australia Vs New Zealand:  Which Country Should You Visit?

    Australia and New Zealand may seem similar on the surface. Both countries have stunning beaches, beautiful natural landscapes, and a laid-back attitude. We promise these destinations are not the same, although we admit their flags are very similar. Here are some key differences that you might want to consider when choosing between the lands down under.  

    Size

    Australia is physically huge (about the same size as the United States) but the population is 24.6 million. To put that in perspective, there are more people living in the state of Texas. Most Ozzies live on the coast, making traveling between cities a bit of a trek.  For example, if you wanted to go from Brisbane to Perth, it would either be a 5-hour flight or a 46-hour drive.  Traveling within the country is doable as long as you don’t mind long road trips or dropping some cash of flights.

    New Zealand is significantly smaller both in size and population. There are only about 4.8 million residents, which is less than the number of people living in Alabama. Because of its size, New Zealand is a bit more accessible, but that shouldn’t leave you to believe that there’s less to do.  

    Activities & Nature

    Activities and nature go hand and hand in these countries. You’re going to have to be an outdoorsy person to really experience all that Australia and New Zealand have to offer.  

    Australia is dryer with more red dirt, making activities like hiking popular. Travelers often visit the Daintree Rainforest, a UNESCO World Heritage site where people can hike and take tours. People also tend to live near the beach, so water activities are going to be plentiful. 

    If you’re looking for something indoors, Australia also has a thriving nightlife scene. The Sydney Opera house is one of the most famous tourist attractions, but there’s much more to do beyond that.  

    New Zealand is a very lush green country that will definitely push you out of your comfort zone. Kayaking, rafting, and diving are just a few prominent adventurous activities.

    Something very unique to New Zealand is Hobbiton. You don’t have to be a fan of the Lord of the Rings franchise to be in awe of the remaining pieces from the movie set in “Middle Earth,” aka Matamata.

    Wildlife

    Kangaroos (or “roos” as they are called) are abundant in Australia. They are to Australia as deer are in the United States. You may also see koalas, quokkas, wombats, and emus.  

    The most recognized animal in New Zealand is the kiwi, the bird in which term for locals refers to. But they are not as common as you might think. In fact, kiwis are an endangered species. What you probably WILL see are sheep- lots and lots of sheep! It’s said that the sheep population outweighs the human population.

    Cost of Living

    Australia and New Zealand both fall on the pricier side when it comes to the cost of living. Australia tends to be more expensive but jobs pay higher wages to accommodate. 

    Each country has its own currency. $1.00m USD is $1.46 AUD and $1.58 NZD, to put it into perspective. 

    History & Culture

    Australia and New Zealand were both invaded by the British government, but originally they were each inhibited by Māori (New Zealand ) and Aboriginals (Australia).  

    Maori culture in New Zealand is still present. For example, “kia ora” is a common greeting that means “hello” in Māori You will also find Māori names for places.  

    Aboriginal culture in Australia is less apparent as it’s been largely wiped out through colonization. In the 20th century, Aboriginals could be jailed for speaking their native language, Wiradjuri. It is a sensitive topic in Australia, as extensive damage that has been done. If you’re interested in learning more, there are Aboriginal communities living in Northern Territory and Western Australia.

    Food 

    Both countries eat a lot of fresh fish and fruit, so there is quite a bit of crossover when it comes to cuisine. You will find dishes like prawns, fish n’ chips, and meat pies in both places. 

    Remember when we said kangaroos are to Australia like deer are to the United States? Do you see where we’re going with this? Yes, people DO eat kangaroo meat, so don’t be surprised if you see it in the grocery store.  

    You probably won’t find familiar packaged brand products in Australia, but local favorites are TimTams, Violet Crumble, and of course, Vegemite.  

    In New Zealand, crayfish, sea urchin, and hokey pokey ice cream (honeycomb) are uniquely popular. Jaffas are the candy of choice. If you want to try a something extra special, Hangi is a Maori dish consisting of meat and vegetables cooked in an underground oven. 

  • High School in the United States vs New Zealand

    High School in the United States vs New Zealand

    I have been in New Zealand for quite a bit of time and while I was not mountain biking through the redwood forest, tramping (hiking) in native bush, and kayaking deep in volcanic river canyons, I went to school. The transition was not extremely difficult but there are definitely a few aspects that confused me at first. Here is a wee article on the New Zealand school system written by an American international student to other international students who are about to embark on a journey of a lifetime.

    Firstly, since New Zealand is located in the Southern Hemisphere, it is important to realize that the school year, just like the weather, is switched. Instead of running from around August to June/May school runs from January to November/December (depending on your year level and the exams you choose to take). It can get chilly during the year, but it is important to wear your school uniform as many schools are quite strict about this. But do not worry, they will have jackets and pants as a part of the uniform. Lastly, New Zealand schools are proud of their culture and emphasize the Maōri word whanau (family) throughout the school. From the beginning of the year, you will be placed into a specific house with a portion of the school’s students and teacher. Many of these people will become close friends.

    A normal school day goes as the following:

    • 8:40, Arrive at school before
    • 8:40 – 8:55, Roll check/homeroom
    • 8:55 – 9:55, Period 1
    • 9:55 – 10:55, Period 2
    • 10:55 – 11:20, Interval (break)
    • 11:20 – 12:20, Period 3
    • 12:20 – 1:20, Period 4
    • 1:20 – 2:10, Lunch
    • 2:10 – 3:10 Period 5

    However, on days where it is stormy outside the school often shortens lunch by ten minutes allowing students to get out at 3 pm.

    Schools often have a few sports days (one fun day and two competitive days of track and field/swimming) throughout the year in which students have the day off in order to participate. The teachers, unlike most adults, are referred to as their last name (e.g. Mr. Dunn). Teachers are often formal when needing to be formal, but will still share a laugh with there students. Classes are relaxed and less strict compared to the US. For our interval and lunch break, many students flock to the school Cantine for a classic New Zealand pie or hot chips/wedges while others, like myself, bring their own lunch. Most students will eat outside throughout the school at benches or tables with their friends. There will often be an international room open as well for international students to meet for announcements and such.

    As far as classes go, you will be placed in a class with a number similar to the US but there can be lots of exceptions. For example, when I arrived in New Zealand I was a fifteen-year-old coming from my second semester of sophomore year, but on my first day of school in NZ, I was placed in Year 12. This is common due to the switched school years. As a student traveling to New Zealand at the start of the New Zealand school year, you will probably be placed in a year above what you currently are aged. Heres a handy chart to help with high school years, but remember, there can be lots of irregularities.

    New Zealand Years

    Age Group

    USA Grades
    Year 9 13 – 14 8th Grade
    Year 10 14 – 15 Freshman Year
    Year 11 15 – 16 Sophomore Year
    Year 12 16 – 17 Junior Year
    Year 13 17 – 18 Senior Year

    The grading in New Zealand is completely different from that of the US and follows the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) system. Students do internals (class projects and tests) and can do externals (exams) in order to earn a certain amount of “credits” for each class. Each of these externals or internals have a set amount of credits that can be awarded if the external/internal is passed. These credits can take many forms of achievement from ‘not achieved’ (F) to ‘achieved with excellence’ (A). At the end of the year, a student is required to have a certain amount of credits in a class to pass the class. One can pass a class with only achieved credits just like you can still pass a class with a C in the USA; however, students often pursue excellence credits as this will be noticed by universities and scholarships.

    This chart shows how the grading system transfers.

    New Zealand Grading

    USA Grading
    Not achieved F
    Achieved D/C
    Achieved with Merit B
    Achieved with Excellence A

    So that is basically everything you need to know! The rest will be a fun surprise. If you are reading this, I definitely encourage you to take a leap and a risk and go to New Zealand as an international student. You will not be disappointed!

  • Living in a National Park while Working Abroad in New Zealand

    Living in a National Park while Working Abroad in New Zealand

    Jimmy Gongola is a Greenheart Travel alum who is currently on the Work & Travel New Zealand program. We asked him to share in his own words what he does, where he lives, and what he does for fun on his program. 

    I’m having the time of my life in New Zealand! I’m fortunate enough to get to work and LIVE in Mt. Cook National Park, aka “glacier country”. I work at The Hermitage Hotel (first picture) as a front of house employee working front desk, porter, shuttle driver, room service, pretty much doing anything that needs to be done for the guests. There is only a population of about 180 people living in the national park because you need to work in the park in order to get housing. So it’s a pretty tight-knit community where we all hang out in our staff lounge and share meals in the dining center together.

    My accommodation (second picture) is a lodge that is less than a one minute walk to my workspace. There are six people living in the building each with our own bedrooms that have our own televisions and refrigerators, and we share two bathrooms. I have a perfect view of Mt Cook, the tallest mountain in New Zealand from my bedroom window.

    The park is a bit isolated from the busy city life so for fun we often find ourselves on one of the many hikes around the park to see the glaciers and waterfalls, we have a village basketball and tennis court, a staff gym, and you’re bound to see someone you know at the one and only bar and grill. When there is availability a job perk allows staff to go on any of the tours provided as well free of charge. These tours include off-road four-wheel drive adventures, taking a boat out on the lake to see the icebergs that have broken off of the glacier up close (third picture), helicopter rides that land on the glacier and allow you to hike on the ice and explore the ice caves (me, in the fourth picture)! The guided stargazing tour is also incredible as Mt. Cook National Park is the largest dark sky reserve in the Southern Hemisphere, you can see three different galaxies with the naked eye and if you’re lucky you can sometimes spot the southern lights.