Australia and New Zealand, Aussies and Kiwis: peas in a pod?
Clones? Two parts of the same country? Given the fact that in
cruise parlance the two are seldom uttered separately, it's hard
not to make these assumptions. After all, folks from both places
talk in the same funny, almost-Brit-but-not-really accents,
drive on the wrong side of the road and, like everyone else
below the equator, walk with their feet up and their heads down.
But these are myths. In fact, Australia and New Zealand are
about as different as two neighboring countries can be. Starting
with geography, Australia is one of the flattest land masses on
the planet, its highest point rising 7,310 feet above sea level.
New Zealand is extremely mountainous, with Mount Cook towering
over 12,000 feet. Australia's land features are best
characterized as gentle and regular, with sloping plains and,
with the exception of Sydney Harbour, a smooth coastline with
few inlets or bays. In contrast, New Zealand's shoreline, like
Norway's, is deeply incised w