Toluna’s ANZ Road Trip

From 11-29 November, we’re embarking on a virtual road trip around Australia and New Zealand – and we’d love for you to join us and win some points and prizes along the way!

First stop: NSW & ACT

New South Wales is not just known for Sydney and its famous landmarks. Get away from the city, and explore the Blue Mountains or the Hunter Valley. Or head along the coast to Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay. And let’s not forget Australia’s capital city – if you’re not that enthusiastic about Parliament House, Canberra is also home to the National Gallery of Australia and the Australian War Memorial.

What is your recommendation of things to see or do in New South Wales and the Australian Captial Territory? Leave an answer on our Topic. Our favourite responses will get 1000 points, and you’ll also be featured in our video postcard!

New Zealand’s South Island

We’ve crossed the Tasman and landed in New Zealand’s South Island. The landscape here is breathtaking! There’s Milford Sound (Piopiotahi) and Mount Cook, making the South Island perfect for anyone looking to explore and experience the natural world at its best. Thrill seekers also recognise Queenstown as the location of the world’s first commercial bungy site. Have you ever been bungy jumping? It looks fun but scary.

From glaciers to vineyards, mountains to beaches, we wish we had more time to spend here! No doubt there are many hidden gems that we don’t know about – so tell us how you would experience New Zealand’s South Island. You’ll get 300 points for answering this Topic, and could also be featured in our upcoming video postcard!

New Zealand’s North Island

Woo hoo, New Zealand’s North Island – here we come. This place is just as stunning and diverse as its southern neighbour. There’s Cape Reinga (Te Rerenga Wairua), Waitomo Caves, the hot springs of Rotorua, and even an active volcano off the Bay of Plenty!

But we can’t visit the North Island without mentioning Hobbiton – the set for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Have you been to Hobbiton? A prequel series for Lord of the Rings is underway and will also film in New Zealand, making this amazing country synonymous with J.R.R. Tolkien’s stories. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when we talk about New Zealand? You’ll get 300 points for answering this topic, and could also be featured in our upcoming video postcard!

Queensland

Are you still on the road with us? We’re back in Australia and making our way through Queensland. The Sunshine State is of course home to the world famous Great Barrier Reef and idyllic Whitsunday islands. Away from the beaches, you can also hike and explore the amazing Daintree Rainforest. Have you been this part of Queensland?

Further south along the Sunshine Coast, there’s Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and our favourite – Australia Zoo. Made famous by the late Steve Irwin, it’s a great place to learn about Australia’s unique wildlife. Australian spiders and snakes are often thought of as the most deadly in the world, but there are also many cute and cuddly animals. Which of Australia’s native critters is your favourite?

Comment on this topic and complete at least one survey by Friday 22nd November, and you could win one of three $10 GiftPay e-gift cards. You could also be featured in our upcoming video postcard!

Northern Territory

We’ve reached the Outback and some of the Australia’s most iconic scenery! The Northern Territory is a wonderful mix of wetlands and waterfalls, and stark desert landscapes. World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park is Australia’s largest national park, and can be explored on foot, by car, or by boat cruises through its waterways. In addition to the vast array of wildlife, Kakadu is also home to many sacred aboriginal sites and rock paintings.

Further south is the Red Centre and the formidable Uluru, but let’s not overlook Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), which is just 40km from Uluru. The Devil’s Marbles is another spectacular rock formation in the Northern Territory. In Aboriginal mythology these massive rocks are the eggs of the rainbow serpent and are called Karlu Karlu.

The NT is definitely a unique and culturally important part of the world. If you have been to the Northern Territory, how was your experience? If you haven’t, which sites would you most like to visit? Our favourite responses on this topic will get 1000 points, and you could also be featured in our video postcard!

Western Australia

We’re more than half way through our trip, are you still with us? Today we’ve arrived in Western Australia, and this state is so big and diverse, we don’t know where to begin! There are the magnificent gorges and rock formations in The Kimberley region in the north of the state. And in the south is Western Australia’s wine region, with over 150 wineries.

However, it’s clear that the coast is an important part of WA – after all, there is a lot of coastline to explore! You could feed the dolphins in Shark Bay or check out shipwrecks and maritime museums. But let’s talk about beaches for a while…we think Western Australia has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world! There’s world famous Cable Beach, Ningaloo Reef and Lucky Bay – just to name a few.

Which beach in WA would you recommend, or would like to visit most? When on holiday, do you prefer relaxing on a beach or exploring cities, landmarks and other attractions? Answer this topic to receive 300 points, and you could also be featured in our upcoming video postcard!

South Australia

We hope we’ve inspired some wanderlust in some of you – the summer holidays are almost here and there are so many amazing places to visit in Australia and New Zealand. Today we’re in South Australia – another state with an array of natural wonders, from Outback vistas to pristine beaches and islands.

South Australia is the home of the world-renowned Barossa Valley wine region; tourist favourite Kangaroo Island; and Coober Pedy – the opal capital of the world. What’s more, November is a great time to visit Mount Gambier – an extinct volcano with beautiful crater lakes. The most famous of these lakes, Blue Lake, changes colour at this time of year – transforming from a sombre steel grey colour to vibrant cobalt blue, which it remains until March. This is an unusual phenomenon that we only just learned about! Has anyone seen the lake in its different colour iterations?

Have you encountered any unusual places during your travels – be it natural or man-made? Comment on this topic and complete at least one survey by Friday 29th November, and you could win one of three $10 GiftPay e-gift cards. You could also be featured in our upcoming video postcard!

Tasmania

Today we’ve left the mainland and arrived in Tasmania! Australia’s smallest state is packed with a multitude of wonderful places to visit – from rugged wilderness to art museums and historic sites.

Many people associate Tasmania with the old convict settlement of Port Arthur – despite the tragedy of modern events, this remains a must see for those looking to learn about Australia’s past. If you believe in ghosts, you can even join a lantern-lit ghost tour of the ruins. If nature is more your thing, there are a number of national parks – such as Freycinet National Park, Tasman National Park and South Bruny National Park – where you can hike and explore pristine landscapes as well as look out for the native wildlife. Which Tasmanian locations would you suggest to visit?

Tasmania is also a great destination for foodies, and visitors should definitely sample the local produce, cheeses and seafood. Since we started our virtual road trip, we haven’t talked about local food and delicacies. What are some of your favourite local foods – whether from Tasmania or closer to home? For many of us in the Toluna Team, food is an important part of travel. We always try to eat where the locals eat, and are even willing to taste the the more unusual delicacies that we come across. Have you sampled any unusual dishes while traveling? Answer this topic to receive 300 points, and you could also be featured in our upcoming video postcard!

Last stop: Victoria

Our virtual road trip across Australia and New Zealand is coming to an end today with our final stop in Victoria – a state characterised by its culture, sport and shopping! It was also the home of Australia’s gold rush, and history buffs can step back in time at Sovereign Hill – a recreated 1850s gold-mining town.

No road trip in this region would be complete without a drive along Great Ocean Road to see the iconic 12 Apostles and amazing cliffs along the ocean. Another popular destination is Phillip Island – home to an adorable colony of Fairy Penguins, which return to shore en masse every evening. As animal lovers, watching these penguins is a real treat! Which locations in Victoria would you suggest to visit, or would most like to visit?

Let’s wrap up in Melbourne – often labeled as one of the world’s most liveable cities. Do you agree? Apart from its array of restaurants, cafes and bars, Melbourne is known as a great shopping destination. Do you buy many souvenirs when you travel? What local souvenir would you give someone visiting from overseas? Our favourite responses on this topic will get 1000 points, and you could also be featured in our video postcard!

Lastly, thanks for coming on this journey with us, we hope you enjoyed the trip!