Oceania

Clear blue sky, tropical islands, green mountains, hula dances – sounds lush, doesn’t it? Oceania includes Australia and New Zealand, plus thousands of isolated islands including Hawaii and Fiji. Aloha!

The Big Islands

Australia

Home to Aborigines who hold the red sandstone Uluru as sacred, this country has a low population and wonderful creatures like kangaroo, koala and platypus. Queensland contains the Great Barrier Reef (the only natural wonder visible from space), which is home to coral, humpback whales, sea turtles and dugongs.

New Zealand

This is a good 1000 miles or so away from Australia. With two islands (North and South), find mountains, volcanoes, hot springs, geysers and fjords. The flightless kiwi bird is a funny little fellow with nostrils on the end of his beak. Other endemic species include the beak-headed reptile Tuatara and the world’s smallest ‘Hector’ dolphin.

The Small Islands

American Samoa

Between New Zealand and Hawaii, this has one of the best-protected harbours in the South Pacific. The rainforests are home to seabirds and many local animals. And people are so happy, they sing on the bus!

Christmas Island

This little island is nearly all rainforest. About 2000 miles from Australia, it is simply a dot on the map. It is surrounded by coral reef and you have probably seen this island on TV wildlife programs – it’s here where the native red crabs make their migration down to the coast, to bread and release their eggs into the sea.

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

 

A colourful island, brimming with dolphins, turtles and seabirds who come to explore. Its close neighbour is Christmas Island (above).

 

Cook Islands

These 15 islands are spread out over an area the size of India, but with a population of just over 10,000. With their own language and government, no new building can be taller than a palm tree! The sand is white, the lagoons are blue, the pace is slow – even the daily greeting ‘kia orana’ means ’may you live long’.

Coral Sea Islands

 

This small group of islands northeast of Australia’s Queensland is very remote. Hardly anyone lives here – just research staff monitoring the local birds and turtles.

 

Fiji

We’ve all heard of this friendly group of over 300 islands. Famed for coconut trees, hot springs, orchids, sandy beaches and its friendly, softly-spoken people. Local wildlife includes iguanas and lots of beautiful colourful birds. Fijian is a nice language. Say hello ‘bula’, yes ‘io’ or coconut ‘niu!‘

French Polynesia

These 100 islands cover more than 2 million square miles (as large as Europe), and include the island of Tahiti. Famed for friendly people and its native dance and music, some say that Bora Bora may be the most beautiful island on earth. The Tahitian alphabet only contain 13 letters, so say hello ‘ ‘ia orana!‘

Guam

A relaxing island in the western Pacific, it’s easy to find a white sandy beach with no footprints. The cool breezes and scented flowers make this paradise. Fruits include papaya, guava, limes and mountain apples. Trees include banyan and flaming trees. Jungles are home to deer and water buffalo. Birds include Rose-Crowned Fruit Dove.

Hawaii

Famed for its hula dance, floral garlands and some of the best coffee, there’s nowhere on earth like Hawaii – a group of 6 islands, active volcanoes and the world’s tallest sea mountain. On the coast find humpback whales, coral reefs, sea turtles and Hawaiian monk seals.

Kiribati

Located around 4000km from Hawaii, this group of over 30 coral islands are shaped in ring-shaped lagoons. The island is a little sanctuary for sea birds like the Phoenix Petrel and the White-Throated Storm Petrel.

Marshall Islands

These 5 islands cover a huge expanse of around one million square miles. The sea is deep blue and the corals are pink. It‘s one of the most amazing places on earth, with incredible underwater sea life.

Nauru

In the deep blue Pacific Ocean waters lies this tiny island is a ’coral atoll’. It is one of the tiniest nations on earth with just 10,000 people. The local wildlife like it that way, and native sea birds stop to visit. Also here are beautiful frangipani flowers, banana trees and coconut palms.

New Caledonia

Ecologically and biologically important, as this is not a volcanic island, but part of the old super continent Gondwana. This is a swanky island, called ‘Paris of the Pacific’, as it contains French boutiques.

Niue

This island sounds idyllic! As well as beautiful coasts with whales and dolphins, butterflies flock to undisturbed rainforests and frangipani perfume hangs in the air. Everything shuts at 4pm and there are no translations for ‘hurry’ or ‘rush’.

Norfolk Island

 

This beautiful island ticks all the boxes: sandy beaches and lush trees. There are no roads, ports or trains, and cows still have right of way!

 

Northern Mariana Islands

These island contains black sand and smoking volcanoes, and is home to plumeria and ‘red flaming’ trees, along with bananas, papaya and coconut fruits. Local wildlife includes collared kingfishers, manta rays and turtles – plus astounding coral reef.

Palau

One of the world’s most beautiful tropical paradises, here you can find amazing marine life and coral and lakes. Hundreds of islands teem with forests, waterfalls and ancient caves. Heaven!

Papua New Guinea

As we return in the west to looking at local currencies to support small shops, it’s good to know that the people here have been trading ‘bead money’ all along, with great success. North of Australia, this island is home to more than 850 tribes and as many languages, and is famed for its butterflies, moths and 300 types of orchids.

Pitcairn Islands

Only one of these islands is inhabited, and some say it is the most remote place on earth to live! Most are descendents of the Bounty Mutineers and Tahitians who accompanied them. Crystal clear waters, native birds and Christian’s Cave.

Samoa

These 10 islands are halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii. Covered in rainforest and volcanic peaks, banyan trees and tropical blooms are everywhere, and waterfalls cascade into local rivers. Relax on the white sandy beach and sip coconut water, whilst watching the graceful Siva Dance. When are we going?

Soloman Islands

 

A Polynesian paradise of 992 islands, although only around a tenth are inhabited. It’s mainly deep mountain forests, with beautiful coral beaches.

 

Tonga

The first country in the world to greet the new day, this is a happy and religious country, where everything shuts down on Sunday. Elders are given huge respect, everyone sings (including the whales) and church bells ring.

Tuvalu

Nine islands make up the fourth smallest country in the world. Its name means ‘8 standing together’ – the 9th island has only been lived on since the 50s. Coconut palms cover most of the land, with large lagoons and a coral reef to complete.

Vanuatu

Another island with over 100 languages, these 80 plus islands include some of the world’s most beautiful rainforests and underwater volcanoes. Local to this island is the ‘flowerpot snake’.

Wallis and Futuna

These two little countries are a few hundred kilometres from each other, and are very different. Wallis Island is semi-desert enclosed by a lagoon, whilst Futuna is the beach destination, with a volcano at its centre.