Amazonia Travel

By: Rich Gonzalez
What is it about the unknown that makes it, at times, seem so exciting?  Is it the thought of standing at the foot of where the ocean breaks, staring up on the crescent moon and wondering what is on the other side of it?  I often find myself thinking about visiting the far side of the world; places like Australia, Fiji and New Zealand for starters.

 

With flights heading out to Australia from LA, you can catch some Z's and wake up literally on the other side of the planet!  With its over 2.9 million square miles of land, this country is filled with history, underwater treasures and, for the nature lover, some of the most amazing creatures to ever roam the wild. If you're a wine lover, or one that occasionally enjoys a nice glass, Australia, with its average temperature of 67F (19C), has some of the world's best Chardonnay. Some major spots to visit might be a no-brainer but as simply obvious as it might be to some, the Great Barrier Reef is not a simple attraction.

 

The largest coral reef system in the world is composed of 2900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching approximately 133,000 square miles. If the mere size is hard to comprehend, take into account that you can see this massive structure from outer space! 

Fiji, a skip and a jump from Australia, is an island nation in the South Pacific and another major stop of interest for the adventurer.  Consisting of 322 islands, the islands are mountainous with peaks of up to 1300 meters and are covered with tropical forests; thus making it a haven for the outdoorsman who likes hiking.  Located on Fiji is the Yasawa Group, where one of Fiji's most famous resorts lies, Nanuya Levu also known as Turtle Island.  The name might sound a bit familiar to those of you 1980 movie buffs, the filming of The Blue Lagoon was shot there; so if Hollywood has known about this place for 20 plus years, it must be worth checking out.

 

Then there is New Zealand.  The indigenous Maori (the people of New Zealand) named this country Aotearora, which translates to The Land of the Long White Cloud.  This 'cloud' island country has got nothing to be 'gloomy' about.  Located about 1250 miles southeast of Australia across the Tasman Sea, New Zealand is a cornucopia of nature and beauty. This country has a wide area of mountains, and of course that 'little' barrier reef.  Some of the most breath taking mountains are located here, such as the Southern Alps that reach 12,320 feet. Volcanoes are also located in New Zealand, some of which are active, like Mount Ruapehu which stands 9,177 feet.

 

Any one of these countries are worth at least putting on your radar for your next trip, but all three?  With the economy woes, can any regular person afford to go and ink up their passport?  What if I was to tell you that you could fly to all of these places for as little as $1199?  This is not longer just something to read about, you can actually experience it.

 

Take life a little bit less seriously and find those answers that have been bothering your soul.  3 countries for the price of one air pass...it's like the Euro Rail, only in the air.