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Oceania

Islands, ocean and distant horizons

Oceania

Oceania extends far beyond Australia and New Zealand. Volcanic islands, coral reefs and strong Pacific cultures are scattered across an ocean that shapes both distance and daily life.

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Oceania requires a different sense of scale. Australia alone spans the tropical north, arid interior and lively coastal cities; New Zealand pairs mountains and fjords with relatively compact routes. Farther into the Pacific, each island group has its own languages, traditions and colonial history.

Flying is often unavoidable, but ferries, buses and rental cars offer a slower pace within islands. Seasons vary by latitude: tropical cyclones, winter mountain roads and extreme heat can all affect plans. Keep itineraries flexible and travel thoughtfully through fragile ecosystems and communities where land and sea carry deep cultural meaning.

From the magazine

Stories about Oceania

Editorial stories linked to Oceania and to the countries and places within this region.

New Hands in Oamaru’s Old Warehouses
Article

New Hands in Oamaru’s Old Warehouses

Oamaru’s Victorian Precinct grew beside a working port, not as a historical stage set. Grain and wool once filled its pale limestone warehouses; galleries, studios, a brewery and other small businesses now use their loading spaces and heavy floors.

J Hamba-redactieJoris
Where Wellington’s Native Birds Return
Article

Where Wellington’s Native Birds Return

A double gate separates suburban Wellington from a valley where kākā tear at bark, tīeke search the leaf litter and takahē graze beside old reservoirs. Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne has turned a former water catchment into a breeding ground for native wildlife, with birds now moving beyond its fence.

M Hamba-redactieMara
Ten responsible places to watch for whales from shore
Article

Ten responsible places to watch for whales from shore

These ten coasts put people on paths, platforms, dunes and cliff tops while whales follow their own routes offshore. Pick the right season, stay on land and accept the essential uncertainty: even in peak months, the sea may hold no whale in view.

M Hamba-redactieMara
From Hobart to Bruny Island: Farms, Small Towns and the Southern Ocean
Article

From Hobart to Bruny Island: Farms, Small Towns and the Southern Ocean

A short ferry crossing from Kettering leads to a very different scale of Tasmania: oyster lines in the channel, sheep paddocks on North Bruny, a sand neck between two islands, and dolerite cliffs above the Southern Ocean. The road also follows Nuenonne Country, a coastline shaped by palawa history, European shipping and generations of island work.

M Hamba-redactieMara
The 10 Cities Best Understood from the Water
Article

The 10 Cities Best Understood from the Water

A fine skyline is not enough. In these ten cities, a ferry or small boat reveals how trade, terrain, buildings and daily travel grew around a river, canal or bay.

T Hamba-redactieTomoko
Beyond the Twelve Apostles: west along the Shipwreck Coast
Article

Beyond the Twelve Apostles: west along the Shipwreck Coast

West of the Twelve Apostles, the Great Ocean Road follows limestone coves and scattered sea stacks through Port Campbell and Peterborough, then reaches the wider coast around Warrnambool and the working river harbour at Port Fairy.

D Hamba-redactieDaan

Choose your country

Countries in Oceania

Countries with a full guide come first. Below them you will find more countries to explore.

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