I do seem to meet a disproportionately high number of young New Zealanders travelling in the UK, especially in Edinburgh. Talking to them, it seems that a long European tour is something that they plan for and look forward to as an important part of growing up in the same way that the "Grand Tour" was undertaken by young men of privilege in earlier times.

There's another regionalism for you - the trek you describe is referred to as "OE" - "I'm off on my OE", "she's gone to do her OE" Overseas Experience.