Oceania: Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific islands
As far from Europe as you can go, with desert, coral reefs, fjords and atolls where the bungalow stands over the lagoon. How to choose between Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific islands.
French Polynesia
Photo: john ko / Unsplash
Oceania at a glance
Oceania brings together Australia, New Zealand and thousands of islands spread across the Pacific. It is the longest trip you can take from Europe, with at least one stop and a full day of travel. In return, the seasons are reversed: when it is dark and cold at home, it is summer in Sydney and Auckland.
Allow at least three weeks if you are visiting both Australia and New Zealand, and use a stopover in Asia or the Middle East to break the journey. See also our Asia travel guide.
Which country suits you?
Australia, for cities, reefs and desert
Sydney, Melbourne, the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru. The country is almost as big as Europe, so choose a few regions and fly between them. Read more in our Australia guide.
New Zealand, for nature and road trips
Fjords in Fiordland, mountains and adventure sports in Queenstown and hot springs in Rotorua. New Zealand is made for driving, by campervan or hire car.
Fiji, for island life at every price
More than 300 islands, from family resorts on the Mamanucas to private islands with a single hotel. Fiji is a natural stop between Australia and the US.
French Polynesia, for Bora Bora and Tahiti
The overwater bungalows of Bora Bora are the honeymoon icon. Moorea and Tahiti are greener and better value.
When to go
November to March: summer in Sydney, Melbourne and New Zealand. Wet season and stinger season in tropical northern Australia.
April to October: the best time for the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, Fiji and French Polynesia.
All our Oceania guides
Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and French Polynesia.
Frequently asked questions about Oceania
Which countries are in Oceania?
Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific island nations, among them Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu, plus French territories such as French Polynesia and New Caledonia.
How long is the flight to Australia from the UK?
Around 22 to 24 hours with one stop, often in Singapore, Doha or Dubai.
Can I combine Australia and New Zealand?
Yes. The flight between Sydney and Auckland takes about three hours. Three weeks is a good minimum for both.