Does New Zealand Exist? Is Sydney the Capital of Australia? – What confuses visitors to Australia and New Zealand, according to Google…
As a firm specialising in shipping from London to New Zealand and Australia, we’re always interested in perceptions of different places, depending on where you are. Visitors to the nations we serve always appear somewhat confused about the laws, culture, weather, politics and (sometimes) the mere existence of the places they plan on seeing.
Researchers in 13 countries, including Malaysia, India, Germany and France collated the top autocomplete suggestions for queries about Australia and New Zealand, along with each country’s largest cities by population. The ‘searching’ countries were based on the countries from where most visitors to Australia and New Zealand come.
Each researcher typed “Does (place)…” into the search box and let Google’s autocomplete function work its magic.
See the full results for every country, city and place at the bottom of this article.
The most common searches for our major cities had little to do with culture or entertainment in Australia and New Zealand. They were almost exclusively focused on the availability of Uber and airport wifi.
Some nations are more interested in the ability to immigrate to our shores. India in particular is curious about the english language requirements of obtaining residency.
What do visitors want to know about New Zealand’s towns and places? Top autocomplete suggestions by country
Does New Zealand… celebrate Halloween? – USA
Does Auckland… have Uber? – South Africa
Does Wellington…get snow? – USA & South Korea
Does Christchurch…have Uber? – New Zealand, Australia, and South Korea
Does Hamilton?…have dialogue? – South Africa and the U.K.
Does Dunedin…hospital have wifi? – USA, New Zealand, Australia, and Hong Kong
Does Tauranga…have an airport? – Australia and South Africa
What do visitors want to know Australia’s towns and places? Top autocomplete suggestions by country
Does Australia… have the death penalty? – USA
Does Sydney… get snow? – Canada and Singapore
Does Melbourne… get snow? – Canada, South Africa, and India
Does Brisbane… airport have free wifi? – Australia, USA, South Africa, and China
Does Perth… have a beach? – South Africa and Singapore
Does Adelaide… have uber? – Japan, Singapore, and the U.K.
Does the Gold Coast…have shark nets? – USA, Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong
Does Ayers Rock…change color? – Australia and the U.K.
Does the Outback…where does the Australian Outback start? Hong Kong and South Korea
American are more interested in the culinary offerings of their down-under—themed steakhouse than the majesty of the Australian wilderness
the Weather in both New Zealand and Australia was a popular topic, as exemplified by this example from google Malaysia
The Chinese are worried they will arrive at Ayers rock after it’s closed. Looks open to us.
Regan McMillan, director of Kiwi Movers, believes the results reflect the different priorities of travellers around the world:
“As Kiwis located in London who come into contact with people from all over the world, it’s easy to assume everyone is clued up about life down under, but this research suggests otherwise.
“The fact that people need to check what currency Melbourne uses, whether we are part of Asia or if New Zealand is part of the EU shows that the life in Australia and New Zealand is not as well understood as we might have believed.”
Australia and New Zealand on each other
| Search | Place | Australia asks | New Zealand asks |
| Does | New Zealand | have daylight savings time? | have a constitution? |
| Does | Auckland | airport have free wifi? | zoo have polar bears? |
| Does | Wellington | get cold? | zoo have elephants? |
| Does | Christchurch | have uber? | have uber? |
| Does | Hamilton | island have a supermarket? | have an airport? |
| Does | Dunedin | hospital have wifi? | hospital have wifi? |
| Does | Tauranga | have an airport? | have fluoride in the water? |
| Does | Australia | have nukes? | have goods and service tax? |
| Does | Sydney | have fluoride in the water? | have uber? |
| Does | Melbourne | zoo have pandas | have snakes? |
| Does | Brisbane | airport have free wifi | have a beach? |
| Does | Perth | have uber? | have uber? |
| Does | Adelaide | have power yet | get snow? |
| Does | Gold Coast | have shark nets | have shark nets? |
| Does | Canberra | water have fluoride | have a beach? |
| Does | Ayers Rock | change colour | have an airport? |
| Does | the Outback | where is the outback marathon | how hot does the outback get? |
Other English-speaking nations on Australia and New Zealand
| Search | Place | the USA asks | Canada asks | South Africa asks | the UK asks |
| Does | New Zealand | celebrate halloween? | have poisonous animals? | exist? | have an NHS? |
| Does | Auckland | have uber? | have uber? | have uber? | get earthquakes? |
| Does | Wellington | get snow? | have a casino? | get cold? | have a casino? |
| Does | Christchurch | have fluoride in the water? | airport close at night? | what are things to do in Christchurch? | have a beach? |
| Does | Hamilton | what are things to do in Hamilton? | have a fire ban? | have spoken lines? | have dialogue |
| Does | Dunedin | hospital have wifi? | have an airport? | have an airport? | does it snow in Dunedin? |
| Does | Tauranga | celebrate auckland anniversary? | have uber? | have an airport? | have uber? |
| Does | Australia | have the death penalty? | celebrate thanksgiving? | have any borders? | have a queen? |
| Does | Sydney | airport have luggage storage? | get snow? | have a Walmart? | have spiders? |
| Does | Melbourne | get cold in the winter? | get snow? | snow | when does summer start in Melbourne? |
| Does | Brisbane | airport have free wifi? | get snow? | airport have free wifi | have a beach |
| Does | Perth | airport have a curfew? | get snow? | have a beach | perthes disease qualify for disability |
| Does | Adelaide | airport have showers? | what does Adelaide look like? | how much does liposuction cost in Adelaide? | have uber? |
| Does | Gold Coast | have shark nets? | have daylight savings time? | have daylight savings time? | have daylight savings time? |
| Does | Canberra | have an airport? | have uber? | snow | have trains? |
| Does | Ayers Rock | have two names? | does it cost money to climb ayers rock? | what does ayers rock look like | change colour? |
| Does | the Outback | have a gluten free menu? | have a happy hour? | what does the outback look like | how long does the Australian outback spectacular go for? |
Asian countries on Australia and New Zealand
| Search | Place | Singapore asks | Japan asks | Malaysia asks | South Korea asks | Hong Kong asks | China asks | India asks |
| Does | New Zealand | is a visa required for New Zealand? | what time is it in New Zealand? | have snakes? | accept refugees? | allow dual citizenship? | have rabies? | require IELTS? |
| Does | Auckland | in which continent is auckland? | is auckland dangerous? | experience winter and why? | have earthquakes? | have earthquakes? | airport close? | airport close? |
| Does | Wellington | where is Wellington? | where is Wellington? | does it snow is Wellington? | get cold? | Is Wellington north or south of 40 degrees s line of latitude? | na | get snow? |
| Does | Christchurch | what time is it in Christchurch? | airport have lockers? | does it snow is Christchurch? | have uber? | get snow? | have an earthquake today? | have a beach? |
| Does | Hamilton | na | have talking? | does it snow is Hamilton? | na | does lewis hamilton have a new girlfriend? | na | na |
| Does | Dunedin | na | na | na | na | hospital have wifi? | na | na |
| Does | Tauranga | na | na | na | na | celebrate auckland anniversary? | na | na |
| Does | Australia | is Australia part of Asia? | have the death penalty? | have winter? | have mountains? | have more sheep than humans? | have a structural deficit problem? | accept TOEFL? |
| Does | Sydney | get snow? | have palm trees? | have Uber? | domestic airport have showers? | have a subway system? | have a Walmart? | have fireworks on Australia day? |
| Does | Melbourne | what must I do in Melbourne? | what currency does Melbourne use? | what is a must do in Melbourne? | have beaches? | and Sydney have the same time? | what currency does Melbourne use? | get snow? |
| Does | Brisbane | get snow? | have a beach? | airport have free wifi? | have daylight savings time? | have trams? | airport have free wifi? | have hard water? |
| Does | Perth | have a beach? | airport have a curfew? | airport have a curfew? | have daylight savings time? | airport have a curfew? | have toll roads? | get snow? |
| Does | Adelaide | have uber? | have uber? | what does Adelaide look like? | have daylight savings time? | what does Adelaide look like? | have an aquarium? | airport have showers? |
| Does | Gold Coast | have daylight savings time? | flood? | How long does it take to get to Australia zoo from gold coast? | is gold coast Australia expensive? | have shark nets? | airport have duty free? | what is there to do in the gold coast? |
| Does | Canberra | have a beach? | get snow? | Does it snow in Canberra? | have uber? | have a mayor? | have a beach? | have trains? |
| Does | Ayers Rock | is ayers rock a meteor? | what does ayers rock mean? | Things to do in Ayers rock | is it called Uluru or ayers rock? | na | what time does ayers rock open? | what does ayers rock look like? |
| Does | the Outback | what does the Australian outback look like? | what does the Australian outback mean? | how much of Australia does the outback cover? | where does the Australian outback start? | Where does the Australian outback start? | what does the Australian outback smell like? | does it snow in the Australian outback? |
France and Germany on Australia and New Zealand
| Search | Place | Germany asks | France asks |
| Does | New Zealand | is New Zealand in the EU? | why is the Kiwi the symbol of New Zealand? |
| Does | Auckland | is Auckland a town? | is Auckland a dangerous town? |
| Does | Wellington | is Wellington in Canada? | what is Beef Wellington? |
| Does | Christchurch | how many people does Christchurch have? | does Christchurch have earthquakes? |
| Does | Hamilton | is Hamilton a good watch brand? | does Hamilton have things to see? |
| Does | Dunedin | is Dunedin worth seeing? | na |
| Does | Tauranga | na | na |
| Does | Australia | is Australia an island? | does Water swirl the other way in Australia |
| Does | Sydney | is Sydney the capital of Australia? | is Sydney the capital city of Australia? |
| Does | Melbourne | is melbourne worth seeing | what is the Melbourne cup? |
| Does | Brisbane | is brisbane dangerous | where is Brisbane? |
| Does | Perth | is perth expensive | what is there to do in Perth? |
| Does | Adelaide | is adelaide worth seeing | what is the weather like in Adelaide? |
| Does | Gold Coast | what are gold coast attractions? | na |
| Does | Canberra | why is the canberra the capital of Australia and not sydney? | Canberra is in which country? |
| Does | Ayers Rock | is ayers rock a monolith? | what is ayers rock? |
| Does | the Outback | how big is the outback? | what is the Australian outback? |
