Australia is Australia. And New Zealand is basically Australia, just a smaller island. And Fiji is just Australia, but an even smaller island, with more beaches.
Of course that’s not true, but when thinking about Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, many people don’t really know how to differentiate the three, so here’s a helpful guide to each location in which ISA offers programs in the Pacific Region.
Adelaide, Australia
walkable • livable • progressive
CITY HIGHLIGHT
Adelaide is home to the Adelaide Arts Festival, considered one of the world’s largest celebrations of the arts.
Auckland, New Zealand
urban • coastal • multicultural
CITY HIGHLIGHT
Auckland’s Sky Tower stands at 1,076 feet and is the tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere.
Brisbane, Australia
engaging • relaxed • vibrant
CITY HIGHLIGHT
In Brisbane, students will find the largest and oldest koala sanctuary in the world – Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Founded in 1927, it is one of the few sanctuaries where visitors can hold koalas for free.
Cairns, Australia
tropical • natural • beautiful
CITY HIGHLIGHT
Cairns is home to a pair of the most treasured natural places on earth: The Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest.
Christchurch, New Zealand
cosmopolitan • vibrant • international
CITY HIGHLIGHT
Within two hours of Christchurch International Airport, visitors can find a great deal of things to do including enjoying one of the many wineries, skiing at the world-class resorts and participating in a number of sporting activities both in the water and on land.
Dunedin, New Zealand
majestic • relaxed • friendly
CITY HIGHLIGHT
Dunedin (pronounced duh-NEE-din) is the South Island’s second largest city and the commercial center for the Otago region
Gold Coast, Australia
sunny • beachside • urban
CITY HIGHLIGHT
The city has 35 miles of coastline, and its beaches are known for having some of the best surf breaks in the world.
Hamilton, New Zealand
affordable • natural • walkable
CITY HIGHLIGHT
Near Hamilton is the iconic Hobbiton movie set, which was built for use in the film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy.
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
unique • majestic • adventurous
CITY HIGHLIGHT
The Tasmanian devil, a carnivorous marsupial with one of the strongest bites of any living mammal, is only found on the Tasmanian island.
Melbourne, Australia
riverside • eventful • active
CITY HIGHLIGHT
Melbourne is the cultural capital of Australia with its extensive architecture, museums, galleries and theaters.
Newcastle, Australia
recreational • historical • beachy
CITY HIGHLIGHT
Stockton Beach acted as a fortified front against possible Japanese naval attacks during World War II. Tank traps are still found at some points on the beach.
Palmerston North, New Zealand
agricultural • scenic • small-town
CITY HIGHLIGHT
Palmerston North is colloquially known as Palmy. The Maori people originally referred to it as Papaioea, believed to mean “How beautiful it is.”
Perth, Australia
relaxed • sunny • vibrant
CITY HIGHLIGHT
Perth is the world’s sunniest capital city.
Suva, Fiji
multicultural • vibrant • dazzling
CITY HIGHLIGHT
On Fiji’s Tauveni Island, visitors can place their feet in time zones that are 24 hours apart.
Sydney, Australia
metropolitan • iconic • fast-paced
CITY HIGHLIGHT
With a staggering 4.5 million residents, Sydney boasts the largest population in Australia.
Townsville, Australia
small • intimate • authentic
CITY HIGHLIGHT
Townsville is Australia’s largest urban center north of the Sunshine Coast.
Wellington, New Zealand
stunning • artistic • trendy
CITY HIGHLIGHT
Because of the city’s compact geography, over 18,000 people walk to work each day.
Wollongong, Australia
artistic • oceanic • natural
CITY HIGHLIGHT
Wollongong is home to Nan Tien Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere.