From Wikitravel

Oceania is a vast, arbitrarily defined expanse of the world where the Pacific Ocean – rather than land borders – connects the nations. It is home to glistening white beaches, coconut palms swaying in the breeze, beautiful coral reefs, and rugged volcanic islands rising out of the blue ocean. Its diverse nations have some of the world's most international cities, and some of its most remote villages.

It incorporates the areas often known as Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia, as well as Australia, New Zealand, and surrounding islands.

[edit] Countries

• Australia- The largest and most populous country in Oceania.
• Cook Islands
• East Timor- One of the world newest nations, emerging from violent times and now accessible to travelers.
• Federated States of Micronesia
• Fiji- A major island tourist destination. Resorts, coral reefs and beaches.
• French Polynesia- Including the beautiful island of Tahiti.
• Kiribati
• Marshall Islands
• Nauru
• New Zealand- A major destination, second to Australia in size. Well developed facilities for travelers.
• New Caledonia- A piece of France, in the tropics.
• Niue
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea- An adventurous, but possible, travel destination.
• Samoa
• Solomon Islands
• Tonga
• Tuvalu- One of the smallest countries in the world.
• Vanuatu- Well developed island destination.

[edit] Other destinations

• American Samoa (United States)
• Easter Island (Chile)
• Guam (United States)
• Hawaii (United States)
• Midway Islands (United States)
• Northern Mariana Islands (United States)
• Pitcairn Islands
• Tokelau (New Zealand)
• Wallis and Futuna (France)

[edit] Uninhabited small islands

• Wake Island (United States)

[edit] Understand

[edit] European influence

Australia and New Zealand are both former British colonies. At one time it was envisaged that the two colonies would become a single country.

Papua New Guinea was, at one time, a United Nations trusteeship, administered by Australia.

Various islands have been annexed by the Britain, Portugal, Germany, France and the United States.

This has had an influence of aspects of culture. Many areas speak both an indigenous language, and the language of the colonial power, often mixing in interesting blends. There has also been an influence on the food and architecture.

[edit] Common cultural heritage

[edit] Ecology

Ecologically, Oceania also includes the eastern parts of Indonesia as far as Lombok and Sulawesi.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

See the country articles for detailed information on how to Get in.

The major countries of Australia and New Zealand offer extensive connections to all continents.

There are some other gateways offering other opportunities to get in to Oceania, and for interesting itineraries. Air France connects New Caledonia direct with Tokyo and Paris]. Onward connections to Sydney and Auckland are possible. Air PAcific connect Fiji with Los Angeles with connections through to Sydney, Auckland and Tahiti. Tahiti is connected to the Los Angeles, and you can fly to the Cook Islands direct from there.

Guam and Honolulu offer a gateway to many smaller Pacific Islands.

The smallest islands with less tourism present additional challenges to get to. Many are entirely deserted, and some have restictions on access.

[edit] By boat

A South Pacific cruise.

[edit] Get around

[edit] By plane

The most popular way for travelers to get around between the main destinations of Oceania is by plane. If travelling flying through the major centres this will usually present little problem with itinerary planning. Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, and Los Angeles have good connectivity to the region.

It is quite possible, but a little more challenging to fly from the west coast of the United States through to Sydney or Auckland via Hawaii, Tahiti, Fiji or even the Cook Islands.

It gets a little harder, and more expensive, to plot a route around Oceania, as the flights between the countries can be limited. Some options, amongst others, are:

• Guam has connections through to the United States, Japan, and a usually very expensive connection to Cairns in Far North Queensland

• Cook Islands has connections to Tahiti

• Fiji has connections to Tahiti, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

• Solomon Islands has connections through to Fiji and Vanuatu.

• Vanuatu has connections through to Fiji and New Caledonia.

[edit] By ship

There are some options for boats, cruise ships, private yachts, adventure cruises, and even cargo ships.

Consult the guide for the destination you are visiting.

[edit][add listing] See

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit] In the water

• Coral and Tropical Fish. 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 specular unspoilt brightly coloured coral on the more remote islands. Samoa is favoured by scubu divers. Cook Islands has accessible reef just off the beach on the main islands. Vanuatu has accessible some accessible reef too, but the facilities there make it more challenging to access than Fiji.

• Sail

• Sub-tropical diving - Diving and snorkelling opportunities still exist even without a tropical reef. Tasmania has some diving spots.

[edit] On land

Skiing and snow sports. New Zealand has reliable winter snowfalls, mostly on the South Island in winter. The Snowy Mountains in New South Wales have the largest ski resorts in the southern hemisphere.

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit] Stay safe

[edit] Stay healthy

Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea all have malaria risk in parts. Fiji, New Caledonia, the Cook Islands and Samoa are malaria free.

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