How to Differentiate Pacific Region Locations in 3 Words

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.

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Author: International Studies Abroad (ISA)

Since 1987, International Studies Abroad (ISA) has provided college students in the United States and Canada the opportunity to explore the world. ISA offers a wide variety of study abroad programs at accredited schools and universities in 73 program locations throughout the world.

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