OCEANIA DESTINATIONS

OCEANIA TRAVEL GUIDE 

Oceania is a vast continent with a variety of scenery from the outback of Australia, the snow-capped mountains of New Zealand and the paradise beaches of the Pacific Islands. Made up of 14 countries, Oceania is an adventure waiting to be had. There’s so much to do here, it’s hard to know where to start.

Australia is a popular place for backpackers and working holiday makers, flocking to the East coast for sunshine, surf, the Great Barrier Reef and a relaxed way of life. Head over to the west coast of Australia and you can swim with whale sharks or hike in the expansive national parks. In the centre is the giant and sacred rock of Uluru. Getting there by car can take at least a couple of days but you will be sure to grab some amazing sunsets/ sunrises along the way.

New Zealand is an adrenaline junkies dream, with pretty much every extreme sport you can think of from bungy jumping, white water rafting, skydiving, rock climbing, and zip wiring. Its also a paradise for nature lovers with free hiking trails in just about every town. It boasts terrains from mountains to beach to meadows and forests.

The Pacific islands are perfect for beach holiday makers, looking for a quiet paradise. Think pristine white sand beaches, lined with palm trees, as well as a dramatic coastline, topped by some of the most welcoming local people. What more could you want?

Australia

Australia has opposite seasons to the Northern hemisphere- summer is from December to February and winter from June to August.

North: Up towards Darwin in the North it is hot all year round, particularly being wet and humid around October to March. April to September are the best times to visit the North.

South: The further south you go the cooler the weather generally is, however cities in the South such as Adelaide and Melbourne can get very hot heatwaves in the summer, as opposed to Brisbane on the East coast which is more consistently warm. Summer (December to February) will be very hot countrywide.

The best times are Spring (September to November) which is great for viewing animals and enjoying the fragrant flowers. Autumn (March to May) is also cooler in temperature but still warm enough to enjoy the outdoors.

Winter: Although it gets chilly in the mountain regions (even snow in some parts) and towards the south of Australia, it can still be pretty warm during the day, especially the more north you go. I love winter in Brisbane because it can still reach the mid 20’s during the day but the evenings are still really cool- for a British girl like me it’s a perfect mix.

New Zealand

This is a country that’s great any time of year, each season offering something different, so it entirely depends on what you’re looking for. Again, the seasons are the opposite of the Northern hemispheres.

Spring: Ski season is just coming an end but you can still see some snow-capped mountains in places, plus all the flowers come out and smell incredible along the hiking trails. Summer: Great weather for outdoor activities and hiking but it will be busy on the trails. Also, prices are higher for accommodation.

Autumn (Fall): Much quieter than summer and incredibly beautiful with the changes of colour in the scenery. Winter: June to October is peak skiing season, with snow falling in places, however roads remain open so if you are hiring a car this is defiantly still possible.

The Pacific Islands

Dry season: May to October has drier days and clear skies and is a peak time to travel.

Wet season: November to April the rains fall, resulting in wet and humid weather.

For humpback whale swimming:  Head out to Tonga in July to October for the best chance.