Oceania
Discover Oceania
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. Indeed the only land border here, on the island of New Guinea, does not separate two Oceanian countries but an Oceanian and an Asian one. 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, and is a region where one can find indigenous communities and modern metropolises side by side.
What to Experience in Oceania
Taste of Oceania...
Although staple foods from outside the region, such as rice and flour, now have a firm foothold, the traditional staples of roots and tubers remain very important. The cheapest is usually cassava, which also plays a food security role as it can be left in the ground for a long time. Sweet potato is a very important crop and is found in most parts of Oceania with the major producing area being the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Taro and yam are also widespread. The latter is the most valuable of the roots and tubers and there are many customs associated with its cultivation. In the Sepik area of Papua New Guinea, for example, sex between married couples is supposed to be forbidden while the yams are growing. On the other hand, in the Trobriand Islands the yam harvest is a period of sexual liberty. In Australia and New Zealand, the food culture is largely similar to Europe and Northern America. Nevertheless, there are still some unique dishes and ingredients to be found, some known by the native inhabitants before the arrival of the Europeans, and others invented later. Thanks to late 20th-century immigration, Asian dishes and restaurants are also widely available and popular. Kava is a drink produced from the roots of a plant related to the pepper plant and found mainly in Polynesia as well as Fiji and Vanuatu. It has a mildly narcotic effect. Other names include 'awa (Hawai'i), 'ava (Samoa), yaqona (Fiji), and sakau (Pohnpei).
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Oceania into what it is today.
Human history in this region goes back 60,000 years, when Oceania began to be settled by a succession of migrating peoples, including Indigenous Australians and Austronesians. European exploration and settlement began in the 16th century, and by the 18th century, Captain James Cook conducted three voyages across the Pacific. By the late 19th century, the entire region was controlled by Great Britain, France, Germany, and the United States. After 1918, Germany lost their colonial empire. In World War II, the Japanese occupied large swathes of Oceania, which became the venue of enormous naval battles and horriffic hand-to-hand combat as the allies recaptured islands from the Japanese. Afterwards, new nations transitioned from colonial rule to independence, although some colonial relics remain, such as American Samoa, the Pitcairn Islands, and French Polynesia. Most Oceanian countries use the 12-hour clock system except for things that need clarity such as flight times, computing, travel, etc. The only Oceanian countries that use the 24-hour clock system in everyday language are Francophone territories. The International Date Line goes through Oceania. Land to the west of it (ie. far east on most two-dimensional world maps!) are several hours ahead of UTC, whereas land to the east of it (west on two-dimensional world maps) are several hours behind UTC. Now, normally you will put your clock forward when travelling east from one time zone to another, and back when you travel west....
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsSee the country articles for detailed information on how to Get in. The major 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 (SYD), Melbourne (MEL), Auckland (AKL), Brisbane (BNE) and Perth (PER). 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....
Regions
Explore AreasAustralia, 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 g…...
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Without a yacht, and a lot of time, the only way for travellers to get around between the main destinations of Oceania is by plane. 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 (NAN) 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. However, 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.
Language & Talk
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.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
In terms of crime, almost all of Oceania is safe for visitors, with the exception of Papua New Guinea (PNG), 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 PNG 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. If there's no hospital nearby, apply some ice packs. 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.
Glimpses of Oceania
a city on the water
High drone shot over the island near Auckland, shot on a Mavic Pro
a rocky beach with a large body of water in the background
One of my own compass with an old map I bought at a vintage store of Australia and New Zealand.
A group of young people standing next to each other
a large building with a glass roof
a clock tower in a city
HANGING OUT
an aerial view of a beach and ocean
a dirt road surrounded by trees and grass
a city on the water
High drone shot over the island near Auckland, shot on a Mavic Pro
a rocky beach with a large body of water in the background