Oceania is the term used to identify the numerous land formations in the Pacific Ocean and can sometimes be called the Pacific Islands if not including Australia. First used in 1831 by French explorer Dumont d'Urville, this name is used because it is the ocean and adjoining seas, rather than other groupings of lands, that link the lands together. This array of islands includes the most scenic vacation spots of the world. However, keep in mind that those below the equator have reverse seasons from those above it. For example, the best time to go to Australia is during the winter of California.
The country of Australia, in itself, offers both adventure and tranquil relaxation for tourists of all kinds. A visit to Manly Beach will provide tourists with a quick look at Australian culture; the outstanding surf, delicious restaurants, and many cafes and pubs. Also be sure to check out the Featherdale Wildlife Park where Wallabies, Koalas, and all sorts of kooky animals roam freely while visitors watch. Children will enjoy seeing the unusual animals and can also have a blast at the Sydney Aquarium, where the marine life of Australia is up and swimming. Music lovers can enjoy a night at the famous Sydney opera House and observe the amazing architecture while taking in a wonderful performance. Also, the Crown Casino is a favorite hot spot for high rollers who are looking for a good thrill. Australia also includes two of the top 100 wonders of the world. Ayers Rock is the world’s largest monolith and offers visitors the chance to climb its steep, 1.6k, walls to the top for an awesome view at the Australian. On the way, a guide can enlighten travelers with the history of the Uluru people. Also in Australia, the 2000km long Great Barrier Reef is home to an incredibly diverse population of animals and marine plants.
The island of Fiji is also a serene place to vacation. The kids will enjoy a visit to the Tavuni Hill Fort in Sigatoka and parents will enjoy the educational experience of learning about pre-colonial Fiji. The Tomb of Udre Udre, Fiji’s infamous cannibal, is a haunting ruin that exhibits the number of Udre’s victims with stones. The Kula Eco Park houses wildlife like iguanas, parrots, and fruit bats while a Koroyanitu National Heritage Park tour will place visitors right alongside nature. Here, travelers can swim in waterfalls, picnic in forests, and enjoy each other’s company. Watersports in Fiji are popular at the Denerau Beach. Some traditional dishes not to be missed are Kokoda, a popular dish with fresh fish marinated in lime juice, put in lolo, and presented in a coconut. Lolo is a sauce made from the cream of the coconut. Also try a palusami, meat that has been wrapped in taro leaves and cooked in lolo.
The island of Tahiti is world renowned for its glorious pearls and visitors can purchase some at the Tahiti Perles shop near the Musee de la Perle Robert Wan. An entertaining talk about the country’s history can be found at the Museum of Tahiti and Her Islands, where visitors will learn about culture and history of the land. Sample the local cuisine at the Municipal Market in Papeete, where fresh flowers, vegetables, spices, and an array of arts and crafts can be found. Also, the Marra Grotto gives tourists a fascinating look at an iridescent, black-water lake. Tahiti also has one of the worlds tallest water fountains, the Fautaua Waterfall. Vacationers can also relax at one of the many Tahitian spas which use herbs and spices ingenious to the
New Zealand is also considered part of Oceania and offers vacationers a one-of-a-kind experience. Lined with coffee houses and shops, the Cathedral Square is the perfect place to begin any trip to this beautiful country. Landmarks such as the National Antarctic Center allow visitors to get a feel for what the temperatures of Antarctica might feel like. Adults will enjoy the Canterbury House Vineyards as they relax with a glass of delicious wine. The Trents Estate Vineyard Restaurant offers a wonderful menu inside a 125 year old farm building converted into a restaurant. After a satisfying meal, a trip to the Orana Park national reserve is a good way to end your day. Children and romantics alike will enjoy the Alberton mansion mainly due to its enchanting quality.
Above all, no other place on earth offers the majestic air of Bora Bora. The only place in the world where vacationers can lodge in over-water huts, this paradise is perfect for honeymooners and romantics. The over-water huts feature glass tables which can be removed. From these openings, visitors can enjoy feeding the tropical fish that swim by, or diving off their own make-shift deck. The Coral Gardens in Bora Bora offer amazing snorkeling very inexpensively and the Leapard Rays Trench site allows visitors a chance to see Manta rays. Matira Beach is a great place to relax and enjoy the scenery. Also, the Tupitipiti Point dive site is the place to view purple coral, multicolored sponges, sharks, rays, groupers and large parrotfish. You can also visit the Bora Diving Center tour offers visitors the chance to see lemon sharks, moray eels, barracuda, dolphins, and turtles. Also, visitors can purchase exquisite black pearls from the Matira Pearls boutique. Another great souvenir shop is the Art du Pacific, where visitors can take home Polynesian Tapa paintings and Marquesan wood sculptures.
Although island life is simple, a diverse and complex arrangement of cultural and historical traditions runs the daily lives of locals. The countries of Oceania welcome vacationers from all over the world to immerse themselves in the stillness and vibrancy of their lives.