Oceania is sometimes described as a continent; however, it is a vast region where the waters of the Pacific Ocean rather than land borders separate nations. As its name indicates, this region is defined by large areas of ocean dotted with many small and large island nations. The climates range from tropical to desert to near arctic.
The countless small islands are known for their white sand with swaying palm trees, astounding coral reefs, and rugged volcanoes. Oceania also contains the deserts of Australia and the highland rainforests of Papua New Guinea. It is and is a region where one can find indigenous communities and modern metropolises side by side.
Colonialism by foreign powers has had a pervasive influence on the social landscape and culture of most of the region. British colonialism has made cricket part of the southern summer, and has also resulted in either one or both forms of rugby - and more recently the variant of rugby called Rugby Sevens that has become an integral part of the cultures of Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa. The British brought people from India to Fiji at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries to work on sugar plantations and this had led to some unrest on Fiji. Some of this unrest comes from the rapid growth of the populations and this caused tension with the already existing population.
Many indigenous languages are spoken throughout Oceania, and with the exception of most Australian Aboriginal languages and Papuan languages, most of these languages belong to the Austronesian language family which also includes other languages such as Malay, Indonesian and Tagalog.
Due to a history of British and American colonisation, English is the dominant language in Australia and New Zealand, and a common second language throughout much of the Pacific islands with the exception of French-ruled New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna and French Polynesia. In some areas, such as Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, English-based creoles are co-official with standard English, and may be hard to foreigners to understand, though educated locals are almost always able to switch to standard English if necessary. French is naturally the main language in New Caledonia and French Polynesia, while Hindi is also spoken by a significant minority in Fiji, primarily those of Indian descent.
Traditionally, the region has been considered to be the backyard of the United States, Australia and New Zealand, which have provided vital economic support for the mostly impoverished and isolated other countries of the region. However, China's influence in the region has grown substantially in the 21st century through its Belt and Road initiative, in which it has provided financing for large infrastructure projects that the poorer Pacific island nations could otherwise not afford. This has resulted in increased tensions between China the Anglophone Western nations, and conflicts within the respective Pacific island nations as to which sphere of influence they should lean to.
With the exception of Australia and New Zealand, which are rather secular, all countries in Oceania are strongly conservative Christian moral societies. As such, expect all businesses to be closed on Sundays, when virtually the entire country would be at church. If you happen to be there on a Sunday, going to church would generally be a good opportunity to mingle with the locals. Hinduism is followed by many ethnic Indians in Fiji.
Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea are by far the largest countries in this pseudo-continent, and the former two are the most visited by travellers. Oceania includes the vast island nation groupings of Polynesia (extending from New Zealand to the north and east), Melanesia (to the west, and south of the Equator), and Micronesia (almost wholly north of the Equator). Australasia is a more narrow region, consisting of Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, Melanesia and nearby islands. See image below for a map that displays where the regions are.
Australia is the largest and most populous country in Oceania, often considered a continent by itself. Frequent destinations include the state/territorial capitals of Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney, as well as the national capital, Canberra. It has a wide range of climates, from temperate to tropical, and a range of landscapes, from deserts to alpine regions and rainforests.
New Zealand is tiny in size compared to Australia, but still a major destination and widely regarded as one of the most pristine and beautiful countries on earth. The country has well-developed facilities for travellers. Geographically and to a significant degree culturally New Zealand is part of Polynesia: the indigenous Māori are Polynesian, and more Polynesians live in greater Auckland than in all the other cities of Polynesia put together.
Papa New Guinea is geographically part of Melanesia, the islands have tropical rainforests, great scenery, and diverse cultures. The main island of New Guinea is shared with Indonesia as well as the only country to have a land border in Oceania. Papua New Guinea is an adventurous, rarely visited travel destination where caution is advised.
The name of Polynesia causes images of paradise like this one. Stunning paradisaical islands sprawling for thousands of kilometres across the remote South Pacific.
Melanesia is closely related to the ethno-cultural make-up of the oft-included Papua New Guinea. Fiji is the most visited country in Melanesia although New Caledonia is also a massive tourist spot.
The tiny Micronesian islands fall on or north of the Equator, and see less tourist and business travel than the rest of the island groupings. Palau is arguably the most interesting destination among these islands.
Travel to Oceania
The countries of Australia and New Zealand offer connections from all inhabited continents, including a few direct flights from South America and South Africa. The main air hubs in the region are at Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, Brisbane and Perth. There are other gateways offering opportunities to get in and interesting itineraries. Aircalin connects Nouméa and with Singapore and Tokyo, with its flights timed to connect with Air France's flights to and from Paris. Air Tahiti Nui flies from their hub in Papeete to Los Angeles, Tokyo, Seattle, Auckland and Paris, while Air France also flies from Paris to Papeete via Los Angeles. Onward connections to Sydney and Auckland are possible. Fiji Airways connects Nadi with Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, Vancouver, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Singapore, with onward connections through to Australia, New Zealand and the other Pacific island nations. Air New Zealand provides a service to Tonga and Samoa from Los Angeles and Auckland. Manila, Guam and Honolulu offer a gateway to many countries of Micronesia, mainly on United Airlines. Air Niugini also operates flights from Port Moresby to Hong Kong, Singapore and Manila. Qantas operates the only nonstop flight between Oceania and Europe, between London-Heathrow and Perth.
The smallest islands with less tourism present additional challenges to get to. Many are entirely deserted, and some have restrictions on access.
Several South Pacific cruises sails the vast ocean, but a few berths are available for the patient traveller on bulk freighters or container ships plying the trade routes. Round the world overland, General considerations and Hitchhiking boats - Pacific crossing have some discussion on how to travel on the Pacific. The distances are enormous, as the Pacific Ocean is larger than the entire land mass of the planet.
Traveling within Oceania
Without a yacht, and a lot of time, the only way for travellers to get around between the main destinations of Oceania is by airplane. Auckland, Brisbane and Sydney have good connectivity to the region. It is usually possible to fly from the west coast of the United States through to Sydney or Auckland via Hawaii, Tahiti, Fiji or even the Cook Islands. Nadi Airport in Fiji serves as the main air hub for the Pacific island nations, so flying to other Pacific island nations would likely require a plane change there.
Air routes tend to come and go depending on whether the airlines find them profitable or not. Much of English-speaking Polynesia receives regular flights from Air New Zealand. The countries in Melanesia are mainly served by their respective national carriers, as well as Qantas, Virgin Australia, and Jetstar. Fiji Airways also has a relatively good network of flights from their hub in Nadi to the other Pacific island nations. Don't expect daily flights. Patience is required.
Flying between Micronesia and the other two areas is problematic and may involve flying all the way to Honolulu or a complicated route through Manila, Sydney and Auckland.
There are some aditional options for boats: cruise ships, private yachts, adventure cruises, and even cargo ships.
Places to visit and when to go there
All island groups are fascinating and with time and money you can spend months travelling around. There are some stunningly beautiful islands (Samoa, Cook Islands, French Polynesia), some fascinating cultures and festivals, some wonderful diving and totally deserted beaches.
There is some unique wildlife to be discovered in the region. Australia and Papua New Guinea are the homes of marsupials, the species of mammals that include cute favourites like kangaroos, koalas, wombats and possums, and also the Tasmanian devil. Here you will also find the monotremes, in the species of platypus and echidnas, the only mammals in the world to lay eggs.
In New Zealand you can stumble upon (or more easily, see in human-made facilities) the shy and mostly nocturnal kiwi – a flightless bird that has given the people of the country their nickname. Other flightless birds include the takahe, thought extinct until 1949, and the Kākāpō (night parrot). Other evolutionary oddities include the ancient tuatara, bats that hunt on the ground, and frogs that don't croak. A quarter of the world's seabirds breed in the New Zealand region.
Marine life is abundant and diverse throughout and one of the main reasons for travellers to explore this part of the world. Tropical fish and colourful reefs are perfect matches for scuba divers and snorkellers, but much can also be seen from the deck of a boat. You have the opportunities to see larger animals such as manta rays, dolphins and even whales.
In southern Australia and in New Zealand, seals, sea lions and penguins can be seen in their natural habitat, with Kangaroo Island, Phillip Island, coastal Otago and Stewart Island being popular sites.
There are locations for diving throughout Oceania. For coral and tropical fish, explore the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, the Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia, Fiji has some reef around Nadi, and spectacular unspoilt, brightly coloured coral on the more remote islands. Samoa is favoured by scuba divers. Cook Islands has accessible reef just off the beach on the main islands. Vanuatu has accessible reef too, but the limited facilities make it more challenging to access than Fiji. There are diving opportunities in the temperate waters of Tasmania and New Zealand too.
There are good opportunities to dive to shipwrecks. The Rainbow Warrior off New Zealand's North Island is one of the more famous ones, and the oceans of Micronesia have many interesting relics from World War II. The Marshall Islands and Bikini atolls are known as quite a ship graveyard, offering some of the most interesting wrecks in the world, including submarines and the only aircraft carrier accessible to divers. Most of the wreck sites are not for beginners though.
Although not the first thing coming to mind, there are snow sports in the southern parts of Oceania. New Zealand has reliable winter snowfalls, and 10-12 ski areas, mostly in the South Island.
Places to sleep
Oceania offers a wide range of accommodation options to suit every traveller's preferences and budget. For a start you could check hotels.com and booking.com for hotels and hostelworld.com for hostels. If you want to rent a private home Airbnb.com is somewhere you could check out.
Guesthouses provide a cozy, local experience with personalized hospitality. Found in many Pacific Islands like Fiji and Samoa.
Resorts are ideal for a luxurious escape, especially in tropical destinations like Bora Bora, Fiji, and the Cook Islands.
Eco-Lodges are sustainable accommodations surrounded by nature, popular in places like New Zealand and Vanuatu.
Embrace the outdoors with traditional camping or glamorous camping options in Australia and New Zealand.
you can also stay in historic buildings or culturally significant locations, adding a unique touch to your trip.
Money and banking
Oceania uses a variety of currencies across its countries and territories. This part of the article contains only some of the main currencies. Australian Dollar (AUD) is used in Australia, Nauru, Kiribati, and Norfolk Island. New Zealand Dollar (NZD) is used in New Zealand, Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, and Pitcairn Islands. United States Dollar (USD) is used in American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, and Wake Island. CFP Franc (XPF) is used in French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and Wallis and Futuna. Fijian Dollar (FJD) is used in Fiji. Papua New Guinean Kina (PGK) is used in Papua New Guinea. Samoan Tala (WST) is used in Samoa. Solomon Islands Dollar (SBD) is used in Solomon Islands. Tongan Paʻanga (TOP) is used in Tonga and Vanuatu Vatu (VUV) is used in Vanuatu.
Vaccine and health
Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea all have areas where malaria is a risk. Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia, the Cook Islands, Samoa and the other islands are malaria-free.
Dengue fever, chikungunya and zika virus are increasingly present in tropical areas. Avoid mosquito bites night and day, especially during an outbreak.
The islands may be remote but sexual diseases know no boundaries. Usual precautions apply. Check pages for the specific country you are visiting for more detailed descriptions.
Visa
Visa conditions in Oceania vary widely depending on the country or territory you're visiting. For Australia travellers from countries like the UK, Canada, and EU nations can enter with an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) or eVisitor visa for short stays. For visiting New Zealand citizens from visa-waiver countries, including the USA, UK, and most EU nations, can stay for up to 90 days without a visa. Fiji offers visa-free entry for citizens of over 70 countries for up to 4 months. Samoa allows visa-free stays for up to 60 days for travellers from more than 50 nations. French Polynesia and New Caledonia are French territories, they follow French visa policies, allowing EU citizens to enter freely. Papua New Guinea requires a visa for most visitors, which can often be obtained online or upon arrival.
Visa exemptions and requirements are influenced by bilateral agreements and international relations, so it's always best to check the specific entry prerequisites for your destination before traveling
Crime
In terms of crime, almost all of Oceania is safe for visitors, with the exception of Papua New Guinea, which remains a travel destination only for the more adventurous. In particular, Port Moresby has one of the highest violent crime rates in the world. The uncontacted tribes elsewhere in in Papua New Guinea can also be an issue.
Be careful with the wildlife as it can be potentially quite dangerous (especially in the ocean, the tropics of Australia and New Guinea as well as the Australian outback), with crocodiles, snakes and jellyfish. Be aware that many species can poison you upon contact (often lethal after a few hours and sometimes even minutes); it is urgent to head to a hospital or another place offering treatment against the poison in those cases.
Oceania's cuisine and drink
Oceania's cuisine is as diverse as its landscapes, blending indigenous traditions with influences from European, Asian, and American cultures.
Being surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, seafood is a staple. Dishes often feature fish, squid, prawns, and shellfish. Root Vegetables like Taro, yams, sweet potatoes, and cassava are common starches, especially in the Pacific Islands. Coconut milk, oil, and flesh are widely used in tropical regions for both savory and sweet dishes.
Earth ovens is a traditional cooking method involves burying food with hot rocks, a practice still popular in Polynesia and Melanesia.
Iconic Dishes in Australia includes meat pies, salt-and-pepper calamari, and "bush tucker" like kangaroo and emu. Notable dishes in New Zealand includes Pavlova and hangi (a Maori earth oven feast). For the Pacific Islands Palusami (taro leaves with coconut cream) and poke (raw fish salad) are notable food options.
The cuisine reflects the region's natural bounty and cultural fusion, making it a unique culinary experience.