Yesterday we focused on New Zealand’s natural landscapes, so today we want to tell you a little bit about its cities and activities. New Zealand is clearly an urban country. Over 72% of the population lives in cities, and half of them live in one of the four largest cities: Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Hamilton. The immigration policy is quite open and now 33% of the population was not born in New Zealand.

Auckland

Auckland is by far the largest city with almost 1,3 million inhabitants. It offers first class services and infrastructure and the main activities for visitors would be: shopping, cultural events, adventure sports, paradisiac beaches nearby and an interesting nightlife.

Wellington is located in the Cook Strait and it is the capital city. The lifestyle can be described as energetic and day or night there is always something to do. One thing that stands out about Wellington is that it has a high rate of eating places per person with cafes, restaurants and pubs spread throughout the city.

Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island. You can enjoy this peaceful city by visiting its local heritage buildings, its historic sites, its museums or its beautiful parks.

Regarding activities, New Zealand is the home country of adventure sports so if you are looking for a home exchange with a high level of adrenaline this is the place to choose. Rappelling, mountain biking, paragliding/hang-gliding, rafting, skiing, snowboarding, heliskiing, trekking, off road driving, bungy jumping, caving and some other unique activities are waiting for you and they all blend perfectly with New Zealand’s breathtaking natural splendour.

New Zealand had so much to offer that we had to leave Australia for next week. So now you know what’s coming in HomeForHome’s blog. There is much more to learn, so we recommend you visit these websites to get enticed by New Zealand:

http://www.nz.com/
http://www.newzealand.com/
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/

New Zealand, or Aotearoa in the indigenous Maori language, is a beautiful country. There is no simpler way to put it. To start our description, we must say it is comprised of the North Island (Te Ika Maui in Maori language), the South Island (Te Wai Pounamu) - these main islands are separated by the Cook Strait - and several smaller islands, of which the largest is Stewart Island.

The country has a well developed tourism sector, based on its spectacular natural landscapes. You have probably watched at least one movie in which New Zealand provided an award winning scenery: “The Lord of the Rings”. The tremendous peaks, calm grasslands, green forests and stunning fjords you saw, are a natural product of New Zealand.

Mountain chains, glaciers, volcanoes, unspoiled endless beaches, geysers, rainforests are some of the landscapes you could enjoy if you decide to visit New Zealand in your next home exchange. The Kiwis, as they call themselves, are starting the Spring right now, but the country’s temperate climate makes it a perfect year-round destination.

Milford Sound

The “Land of the long white cloud” (that’s what Aotearoa means) will be hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2011 and its own “All Blacks” will be leading the favourite’s list assuring a sense of celebration during the whole tournament that will be accompanied with a nationwide festival celebrating the best of New Zealand: its culture, food, heritage and lifestyle. The Rugby World Cup will start almost one year from now, on September 9th, 2011. HomeForHome can help you arrange your accommodation but for more information to plan your swap during this event visit http://www.nz2011.govt.nz/explore/

We will tell you more about New Zealand in our next post.

This week we continue to travel to the Southern Hemisphere in our search of destinations that are worth a visit in the coming months. In this occasion, we will focus on Oceania and its two main countries: Australia and New Zealand.

Oceania is the smallest continent with 5,3% of the Earth’s land. It is comprised of Australia, (and it is sometimes referred as Australia/Oceania), New Zealand, the Melanesia (including Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and New Caledonia), the Polynesia (including the French Polynesia, the Cook Islands and Tuvalu), Papua New Guinea, and countless volcanic islands and coral atolls scattered in the South Pacific Ocean.

One point to highlight about this part of the world is that Oceania is in itself a particular ecological region with unique ecosystems, animals and plants, and its long list of endemic species, which makes it a great destination for home swappers interested in ecotourism. From high mountains to spread coral reefs and several coral atolls, there is a lot to explore during your home exchange.

Right now, the Spring has begun in Oceania, a beautiful time to visit the area, but the Summer is just three months away and it would be the perfect time to enjoy the paradisiac beaches you can find in any of the coastal areas. In case you are wondering how many opportunities for home exchange in Oceania are available in HomeForHome, we can tell you that we have over 150 users registered and ready to swap their homes.

Uruguay is a small South American country located between two giants: Brazil and Argentina. It has a 600 Km long coastline bathed by the Rio de la Plata and the Atlantic Ocean. Today we will cover the 200 Km long Atlantic Ocean coast, from Punta del Este to Chuy.

Ocean waves and sandy beaches are the common feature but there are several differences in the character of the populated areas stretching along this portion of the Uruguayan coast. If we start moving West to East, the journey begins in modern and stylish Punta del Este (or just “Punta”) and moves away to more quiet and less populated beaches, some of which are sparsely explored and not easily accessible (a treat for adventurers).

Punta del Este, located in a privileged peninsula, is the preferred summer destination for the rich and famous from Uruguay and Argentina. As a glamorous jet-set summer hub, it becomes highly populated during the summer months and the commercial activity becomes intense.

Valiza's dunes (photo by Fernando da Rosa)

As you start to move to the East from Punta del Este, the scenery starts to change and the natural beauty seems to be enhanced by the scarce population and hustle-free lifestyle of the picturesque towns and fishermen villages that appear among the sand dunes: Jose Ignacio, La Paloma, La Pedrera, Cabo Polonio, Punta del Diablo, Valizas, Aguas Dulces, La Coronilla and Chuy.

Whether you prefer “Punta” and its sizzling summer season or the smaller towns and villages that silently receive the Atlantic Ocean waves with their white sand dunes for a more relaxing vacation, HomeForHome can help you find a perfect home exchange opportunity to discover them. Visit HomeForHome to find what we can offer for your next swap.

Image by lalala_ /Flickr.com

Viña del Mar is the capital for tourism and entertainment in Chile. Located north of Santiago de Chile, the real capital, this international destination is also known as “The Garden City” for its many gardens, parks and green areas. As the preferred destination of the local rich and famous, there are several luxurious residences, castles and palaces, and even a presidential vacation palace. Viña del Mar offers first class services under continuous development and a varied menu for nightlife entertainment: discos, bars, casinos, restaurants, coffee shops, etc. Everything has been developed around tourism in Viña.

In HomeForHome there are several users looking for an opportunity to exchange their homes in Chile, both in Viña del Mar and Valparaiso, but there are some other beach resorts, more quiet but with similar natural beauty like Arica, Concon, Quintero, Recaña and La Serena. If you are interested in a home exchange to visit Chile during the next Austral Summer, you know where to search: HomeForHome. The most appropriate time to visit “Viña” would be around New Year when Viña del Mar and Valparaiso collaborate to offer a  magnificent show involving fireworks, or February during the “Festival Internacional de la Canción” a music festival with live presentations from top international artists which assures a vivid atmosphere. Here are some of the beaches of , as a reference to contact our Chilean users: Caleta Abarca, Miramar, Casino, Acapulco, El Sol, Los Marineros, Las Salinas, Las Cañitas, El Encanto, Cochoa.

In our tour through the Southern areas of South America, this week we will take you to Chile and some of its beautiful Pacific Ocean pearls and afterwards we will see what the Uruguayan Atlantic coastline has to offer.

Chile occupies a long and narrow strip between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean. Its economical growth and stability has resulted in Chile being acknowledged as one of the most prosperous nations in South America. The touristic activity centres around Valparaiso and the Valparaiso Region coastline, where services are developed around the tourism industry and the government invests the most in programming activities and taking care of public spaces and services to receive people looking for comfort, security and relaxation.

Valparaiso at Night by Karora

Valparaiso stretches from the mountains to the sea where it blends with nearby Viña del Mar. There are two things that set Valparaiso apart from other destinations: its port with its rich history and its architecture that has determined the Historic Quarter of the Seaport City of Valparaiso to receive the World Heritage Site denomination. An interesting and unique way to admire the urban design and geography of Valparaiso is to use one of the fifteen elevators that take you up the steep hills passing between houses and gardens, providing a stunning view of how the populated foothills lean into the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Another point worth visiting is “La Sebastiana”, Pablo Neruda’s home in Valparaiso (learn more about Neruda’s home in Valparaiso visiting http://www.fundacionneruda.org/ing/historia_sebastiana_ingles.htm)

In HomeForHome there are several users looking for an opportunity to exchange their homes in Valparaiso. Their interests are varied so we would like to encourage you to check out their homes and contact them if you want to visit Chile for your next home exchange.

Brazil is mostly known for three things: its sandy beaches, its football players and its Carnival, specially in Rio de Janeiro where you find these three things in a single place. But since we already told you about Rio in a previous post we are now going to introduce you to another interesting city worth a visit: Florianopolis.

Image by Mario Roberto Duran Ortiz

Florianopolis is located in the state of Santa Catarina which has 450 kilometres of Atlantic Ocean coast. Florianopolis occupies an island also named Santa Catarina, and with its countless beaches it attracts thousands of tourists every summer. Facing the ocean waters from different angles, the island has a variety of different types of sandy beaches: quiet lagoon-like ones, small ones, long ones, others with strong waves perfect for surfing, deserted ones, some almost inaccessible, and even a beach protected by a naturism organisation. It is worth mentioning that each beach has its own appeal and public.

Here is a short list of beach names to help you in your web search to find your perfect beach in Florianopolis: Armacao, Barra da Lagoa, Campeche, Canasvieiras, Joaquina, Matadeiro, Mole, Morro das Pedras, Mocambique, Pantano do Sul Praia da Galheta, Praia dos Ingleses, Santinho.

Florianopolis is not only about lying in the beach and sun bathing, the city offers tourists a complete package: services, infrastructure, restaurants, attractions, outdoor activities, entertainment, nightlife, and even a small village sense in the Southern part of the island where most locals reside in contrast with the Northern and Central areas where most of the tourists stay.

Well, if you want to visit Florianopolis you have the option to find your home exchange partner using HomeForHome. Registration and all our services are FREE!

Argentina is the second largest country in South America. Its territory hosts several attractive landscapes, including high mountains, vast plains, exuberant forests, mighty waterfalls and stunning glaciers. There is no doubt a great home exchange experience is waiting for you in this destination.

One of the main natural attractions lies in its endless Atlantic Ocean coastline, extending over 4,000 Km (2,500 miles), where there are many small quiet beach resorts and a city that stands up with its half a million inhabitants: Mar del Plata.

Mar del Plata is the most famous destination in the Argentinean coast and one of the favourite among local tourists during the hot summer months. Each year, Mar del Plata receives millions of tourists attracted by its beaches, its entertainment agenda, its sizzling nightlife, and its services and infrastructure both developed around the tourism industry. During the summer, even the theatre industry moves some of its activity from Buenos Aires to Mar del Plata to offer first class shows. Beaches, theatres, restaurants, night clubs, summer football tournaments are an irresistible combination and hard evidence that Mar del Plata has everything a great summer resort should have.

Among the other, less active, coastal cities are Pinamar, Carilo, San Clemente, Monte Hermoso, Miramar and Villa Gesell, where the small town feeling and the sound of the waves blend perfectly to ensure a relaxing vacation.

The season starts in December and last till March, with the high season comprising mostly January and February when most Argentineans travel to their coastal jewels to spend their summer vacations. For extra points: besides the classical Argentinean meat, in the coast you will find a varied offer of seafood dishes accompanied with a fine wine selection.

Do you need anything else? Get ready for your home swap to Argentina one click at a time with HomeForHome.

As the Northern Hemisphere sees the Summer of 2010 come to an end, the Southern Hemisphere is preparing to receive its Spring and in a few months, when the North becomes very similar to a walk-in freezer, the 2011 summer. There is no need to say that South America then becomes one of the warm places you can dream about on a cold windy afternoon (not to mention snowy or rainy). In anticipation, we will review some of the top spots to have a good time travelling to the Southern end of South America to transform your home exchange experience with a golden sun tan and a load of warm memories.

Image by Gabor Pozsgai /FreeDigitalPhotos.net

As a preview, let us say that if you travel to any of these places you will find a combination of beach, nature and entertainment, with a scale that goes from quiet to sizzling, town-size to big-city, small shows to renowned festivals, Atlantic Ocean waters to Pacific Ocean waters and Spanish to Portuguese

Argentina - its Atlantic Ocean coast beach resorts: Mar del Plata, Pinamar, Villa Gessel, Carilo, San Clemente, Monte Hermoso, Miramar…

Brazil - a treasure South of Rio: Florianopolis.

Chile - experience the Southern Pacific Ocean: Valparaiso, Viña del Mar, La Serena, Arica.

Uruguay - the Atlantic Coast resorts: Punta del Este, Cabo Polonio, La Paloma.

Where can you find a good home exchange offer to travel to any of these destinations? You know it: HomeForHome! If you worry about the costs, remember that HomeForHome offers FREE home exchange opportunities and adding its many benefits it becomes (by far!) the cheapest way to travel.

The final part of this week’s honeymoon exchange pack includes two suggestions to add adventure to your home exchange honeymoon. Most times when you travel you are embarking in an adventure, but these destinations will give you an extra dose of adrenaline. Enjoy!

Photograped by Mila Zinkova

French Polynesia - There are over 100 islands in the French Polynesia, but you probably heard of Tahiti and Bora Bora. This tropical paradise is located in the Pacific Ocean, halfway between Australia and South America. Water sports in clear lagoons created by the coral reefs holding the ocean waters are the best adventure attraction of these islands: snorkeling or scuba diving with sharks, dolphin23s and stingrays, parasailing, water skiing, kayaking while you see everything that is going on in the water below you, and even underwater walks.

Mauritius - This tropical island is part of the archipelago known as the Mascarene Islands. Beautiful, pristine beaches, unspoiled environment. The food is something to be tried as the local cuisine has been influenced from Creole, Chinese, Indian and even European cuisine, along with the local Rum. Regarding the adventure part, water sports are the best way to exploit the warm oceanic waters that surround the island, but there are many adventure sports that will allow a close encounter with the stunning natural beauty of the island. We recommend surfing (specially in renowned Tamarin Bay), sea diving, windsurfing, water-skiing, snorkeling in the coral reefs, mountain biking, rappelling, horse riding and trekking.

If you want to relax after the adventure is over, there are several spas in these destinations as their tourism industry is well developed and they offer fist class services. Just look for your special home exchange opportunity using HomeForHome.