As the year comes to an end, the Department of Statistics puts out some figures for the year. One surprising figure is that just over 2m New Zealanders went on an overseas trip during the year. This is surprising because our population is only 4.4m. Of course, if you leave New Zealand, that means you are going overseas. We are an island country.
Where do New Zealanders go? Well many go to Australia, especially to Queensland in the winter. Families go to Surfers Paradise in Queensland during school holidays. The beaches are beautiful and there are many family attractions like roller coaster rides. Families also go to Pacific Island countries like Fiji, especially in the winter. New Zealand migrant families with relatives back home travel to visit their relatives.
Retired people travel to many countries in Europe, North or South America, India or SE Asia. If they are fit and well, and have savings, this is the time in their life when they can enjoy visiting new places.
Vocabulary
statistics – data
put out – release information
figures – numbers
go overseas or go abroad. We say “overseas” but Europeans prefer “abroad”.
trip – a journey, travel
fit – energetic, in good health