Despite all their "good-natured" banter, and trying to claim everything of ours that becomes successful as their own, it is now a fact: Australians love New Zealand.
The Neilsen Company's BuzzMetric's service has just revealed the results of its social media monitoring, using pioneering software to measure and monitor comments made on internet forums and blogs, zeroing in on what our neighbours have been saying about our country as a tourism destination.
And despite a few gripes about insects and giggles at our "eccents", the reports were predominantly positive.
Queenstown was by far the most talked-about tourist destination by Australian bloggers, followed by Milford Sound and Fiordland, then Taupo and Rotorua.
Of the activities mentioned, skiing and snowboarding were the most popular, followed in order by surfing and windsurfing, hiking, visiting wineries and bungy jumping.
Tony Boyte, research director for Nielsen's New Zealand online division, said the reports were good news for New Zealand's tourism industry, which was increasingly targeting Australians.
"This goes to show that despite the traditional ribbing of New Zealand by Australians, they're coming around to what we have to offer as a destination.
"We seem to be winning in the all-important category of word-of-mouth advertising."
Destination Queenstown chief executive Stephen Pahl said the information gathered by Neilsen's was "really valuable".
"New Zealand has enjoyed for some time quite a high level of generic brand awareness in the Australian market.
"[But] the Australian market needs a much deeper level of detail about the types of experiences they can have.
"Some of those comments . . . are `surprising' comments - that's just the type of feedback that we really need to be [getting] here in New Zealand.
"It's all about the surprise and delight factor - when you're selling a destination package, you're primarily selling, initially, an intangible experience.
"To get people here, to have this kind of feedback where we are clearly offering that surprise and delight factor of an unexpected experience . . . that's really cool."
Mr Pahl said DQ would be running a strong campaign in Australia this summer and for that campaign, the results of the monitoring was incredible.
"From my own experience . . . they really know all about Queenstown and New Zealand, there is a very high level of awareness, but when it drills down to the detail, we've still got some work to do."
THEIR THOUGHTS
Since the Buzz Metrics service began in the region in 2008, it has tracked more than 25 million blogs and message-board comments from across New Zealand and Australia.
Globally, the service tracks more than 78 million blogs and 100,000 communities, and has more than three billion comments in its database.
Here are some of the things Australians had to say about New Zealand:
> "I just spent 2.5 weeks [in New Zealand], got back last week. I admit I was so surprised by how much I enjoyed it! Wellington is the only city I really liked... loved everything else, especially the South Island. My highlights were hiking the glacier at Franz Josef, Queenstown and [bungy] jumping Nevis. I didn't see nearly enough, really wanna go back!"
> "Wanaka and Queenstown were great and I wish I'd spent more time in both. I hiked Franz Josef Glacier, which was amazing, and did the Nevis [bungy] jump, which was absolutely terrifying but well worth it! And I'd never thought I'd say this but I think I have seen some natural scenery that rivals Australia's beauty! I still have to laugh at the `eccents' though, tee hee. So, anyone considering a trip there, do it!"
> "Our trip to New Zealand was fantastic. I think [Dear Husband] would move there in a heartbeat. We went snowboarding, whitewater rafting and [bungy] jumping. It's definitely a beautiful place. We would like to go back some day."
> "Kaikoura is the biggest spin-out ever!!! You're on a gorgeous beach and look behind you and there's snowy mountains! It's just unbelievable. I could go on and on and on and on about New Zealand. I'm completely and utterly in love with the country."
> "Well I am finally back from holidays! NZ was amazing. It's so beautiful! And not as cold as I expected."
> "Surfing in NZ is very great, as in Australia. It's so cool!"
> "Overall, an awesome trip and well worth the trip! Main highlight had to be the whitewater rafting, over a 7m fall, grade 5. Never had such a rush!"
