When I visited Australia, I loved how all of the "background nature" was different. Sure, you still have pigeons and seagulls, but those green parrot things are pretty cool! And I randomly saw a pelican on top of a traffic light on the ride from the airport. A pelican!

I love the difference in plants as well. NZ felt a bit more like an alien planet in that respect, but Aus had plenty of fun trees and flowers that reminded me of where I was at all times.

Australia Zoo is brilliant, although when I visited, Steve Irwin had just died, so the mood was rather sombre. The animals were still themselves, though.