Oceania is vast and remote, with long flights between its main attractions. A good trip chooses a few highlights, groups them by region and leaves time to enjoy them. Here are four stops that justify the distance, followed by routes and some advice from experience.
Four highlights
The Great Barrier Reef, Australia. The world’s largest coral reef system stretches more than 2,000 km along the Queensland coast. Most visitors base themselves in Cairns or Port Douglas for outer-reef day trips and diving courses, or in the Whitsunday Islands for sailing and snorkeling around Hardy Reef and Whitehaven Beach. If you are not a diver, snorkeling from a boat is enough to see colorful coral and fish. Choose an operator that visits outer reef sites and follows reef-protection rules.
Milford and Doubtful Sound, New Zealand. These fjords in the south-west of the South Island have steep cliffs, waterfalls and rainforest dropping into dark water. Milford Sound is easier to reach, with a two-hour drive from Te Anau, and a cruise lasts about two hours. Doubtful Sound is larger, quieter and requires a boat and bus transfer, so the trip takes most of the day. If you want solitude, choose Doubtful. If time is short, choose Milford.
Sydney, Australia. The city is built around its harbor. See the Opera House (a guided tour of the interior is worthwhile), walk across the Harbour Bridge or climb it, and take the ferry to Manly for beaches and views back to the skyline. The Bondi to Coogee coastal walk takes about two hours and passes cliffs and ocean pools. Three days are enough for a first visit.
Rotorua, New Zealand. Geothermal parks such as Wai-O-Tapu and Te Puia have boiling mud, geysers and bright mineral pools. It is also a good place to learn about Māori culture through a guided village visit or a hāngī meal, which should be booked with a Māori-owned operator. Combine it with Auckland or Taupō.
Three routes
- Australia highlights (8–10 days): Sydney, Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef, then a few days in the Whitsundays. Fly between each, as Sydney to Cairns takes about 3 hours.
- New Zealand South Island (7–9 days): Queenstown, Te Anau and Milford Sound. Add Aoraki/Mount Cook if you can spare two more days.
- Pacific sampler (7–10 days): Fiji and Vanuatu. Pair a resort stay in the Mamanuca or Yasawa islands with village culture or volcano visits in Vanuatu.
How to plan
Keep the distances in mind. Sydney to Perth is about five hours by air, and Sydney to Auckland is about three. Choose one region per trip rather than adding more flights.
Mix cities with nature. After a day of sightseeing in Sydney, spend the next on a reef boat or on a beach. In New Zealand, follow a drive with a short walk.
Remember the reversed seasons. Summer in Australia and New Zealand runs from December to February. The tropical north of Australia has a wet season from about November to April, with higher risks of cyclones, while the reef is usually best from May to October. See our guide to the best time to visit Oceania.
Look beyond the postcard. Take the ferry to Manly in Sydney, or the early morning trip to Milford Sound before the tour coaches arrive.
Be respectful. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Māori peoples have strong connections to the land. Take guided experiences led by local people where possible, and follow local rules about sacred sites.
What to book first
Flights, the Milford cruise, reef trips and accommodation in the Whitsundays should be booked first, since they sell out in peak months. Leave a flexible day or two for weather, especially for boat trips and fjord roads.
Oceania rewards unhurried travel. Pick a region, accept that you will not see it all, and the trip will be much better for it.
Related reading: top destinations in Oceania and the Oceania travel guide.