Australia vs New Zealand: Which Should You Visit?
Reef and outback or mountains and fiords? A side-by-side comparison of Australia and New Zealand to help you choose, or plan a trip that combines both.
Oceania travel blog
Itineraries, island guides, budgets and practical planning advice for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.
The Best Honeymoon Destinations in Oceania
Overwater bungalows, private islands and alpine lodges: the best honeymoon spots in Oceania compared, with the best months to go and rough nightly costs.
New Caledonia Travel Guide 2026: Nouméa, the Isle of Pines and a UNESCO Lagoon
Baguettes and Kanak culture, a UNESCO-listed lagoon and the pine-fringed bays of the Isle of Pines: how to plan a trip to New Caledonia in 2026.
Tasmania Travel Guide: Hobart, MONA, Freycinet, Cradle Mountain and the Ultimate Road Trip
Hobart's food scene, MONA's provocative art, Wineglass Bay, Cradle Mountain's alpine trails and a 7-10 day road trip linking them all.
What to Pack for Oceania: Packing Lists, Reef-Safe Sunscreen and Biosecurity Rules
Lagoons, alpine passes and outback heat in one trip. Here is what to pack for Oceania, which sunscreens to avoid, and how to stay on the right side of strict Australia and NZ biosecurity rules.
Sydney for First-Timers: Neighborhoods, Ferries, Beaches and Day Trips
Where to stay, how to see the Opera House properly, the Bondi to Coogee walk, the best ferry rides and an easy Blue Mountains day trip.
Easter Island (Rapa Nui) Guide: Moai, Rano Raraku and Getting There
Rapa Nui is the remote eastern corner of the Polynesian Triangle. Here is how to get there, the 2026 park rules, the moai sites not to miss and how to plan your days.
Swimming With Humpback Whales in Tonga: Vava'u Season, Ethics and Rules
Each winter humpbacks come to Tonga to breed and calve. Here is when to go, how whale swim tours work in Vava'u, the rules that protect the whales and how to choose well.
7 to 10 Days on New Zealand's North Island: The Complete Itinerary
From Auckland's harbors to Wellington's waterfront via Bay of Islands, glowworm caves, Hobbiton, Rotorua and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
Combining Hawaii with Tahiti, Fiji or the Cook Islands
Honolulu is a natural gateway to the South Pacific. Here is how to pair Hawaii with Tahiti, Fiji or the Cook Islands, with direct routes and sample itineraries.
Visiting Mount Yasur on Tanna: A Vanuatu Guide with Efate and Espiritu Santo
Peer into an erupting volcano on Tanna, swim in Santo's blue holes and dive a giant wreck. How to plan Mount Yasur safely and combine it with Efate and Santo.
The Best Time to Visit Australia, Month by Month and Region by Region
Australia's seasons vary wildly by region. Here is when to visit the reef, Uluru, Sydney, Melbourne and Tasmania, month by month, with crowd and price tips.
Adding a Bali Stopover to Your Australia Trip
Bali is a short hop from Australia and an easy add-on to an Oceania trip. Here is how to handle flights, the 2026 entry rules, where to stay and how to use a few days well.
Samoa Travel Guide 2026: Upolu, Savai'i, To Sua and Beach Fales
Beach fales, the To Sua Ocean Trench, lava fields and blowholes: how to plan a trip across Samoa's two main islands, Upolu and Savai'i, including the ferry.
Getting Around Oceania: Island Flights, Ferries, Trains and Driving on the Left
Island flights that run once a week, ferries worth taking, scenic trains and tips for driving on the left: a practical guide to moving around Oceania.
How to Visit the Great Barrier Reef: Cairns, Port Douglas or the Whitsundays?
Cairns, Port Douglas or the Whitsundays? How healthy the reef really is in 2026, when stinger season runs, and how to pick the right boat trip.
The 12 Best Islands in the South Pacific, Ranked by Travel Style
From Bora Bora's lagoon to Tanna's volcano, these 12 South Pacific islands each do one thing better than anywhere else. Find the one that fits how you travel.
Cook Islands Travel Guide 2026: Rarotonga and Aitutaki
Rarotonga's easy island life and Aitutaki's jaw-dropping lagoon make the Cook Islands one of the simplest South Pacific trips. Here is how to plan both.
Staying Connected in Oceania: eSIMs, Local SIMs and Remote-Island Coverage
Fast 5G in Sydney, one bar on a Vanuatu beach. Here is how to pick an eSIM or local SIM for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific islands, and where coverage runs out.
The Ultimate New Zealand South Island Road Trip (10-14 Days)
A Christchurch loop through Lake Tekapo, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Queenstown, Milford Sound and the West Coast, with driving times, costs and practical road tips.
Bora Bora on a Budget: How to Do French Polynesia for Less in 2026
Bora Bora does not have to mean a $1,500-a-night overwater villa. Pensions, ferries, Air Tahiti passes and food trucks make French Polynesia far more affordable.
2 Weeks in Australia: Sydney, the Reef, Uluru and Melbourne
Sydney's harbor, the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru and Melbourne in 14 days: a realistic route with day-by-day plans, flight tips and rough costs.
Oceania Travel Budget 2026: What a Day Really Costs, Country by Country
From USD 40 a day in Samoa to USD 700+ in Bora Bora, here is what a day of travel really costs across Oceania, with budget, mid-range and luxury ranges by country.
Fiji Island Hopping Guide 2026: Mamanucas vs Yasawas, Ferries and Budgets
Mamanucas or Yasawas? How the Yasawa Flyer and Bula Pass work, which islands suit which traveler, and what a week of Fiji island hopping really costs.