I would think their climate is rather harsh, yes. Iceland would have a harsh climate. Norway would have issues of icing and snow. To some degree, Denmark, on its west coast, made strategic harbours, and only a few harbours to serve fishing and other multi-purposes because of the harsh westerlies coming in from the Atlantic. I can't really speak for Australia. New Zealand, no, I don't think they have our kind of climate.
On June 5th, 2007. See this statement in context.