Oceania
Underwater photography of wrecked monoplane in Oceania region. Photo by Milos Prelevic
“If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world, and that his heart is no island cut off from other lands but a continent that joins to them.”
– Francis Bacon
The Oceania geographic region is surrounded by the Indian, Southern and Pacific Oceans and includes the Australian mainland, which occupies 86% of the region’s area. New Zealand, Tasmania, New Guinea and other smaller tropical islands that are scattered throughout the South Pacific also comprise the Oceania region, for a total of 14 independent countries and 11 dependent overseas territories.The countries that are included in the Oceania region are: Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru , New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa , Solomon Islands, Tonga , Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
The following overseas territories within Oceania are: American Samoa (USA), Cook Islands (New Zealand), French Polynesia (France), Guam (USA), New Caledonia (France), Niue (New Zealand), Norfolk Island (Australia) , Northern Mariana Islands (USA), Pitcairn Islands (UK), Tokelau (New Zealand), Wallis and Futuna (France).
Despite the small composition of the Oceania region there are hundreds of different tribal groups throughout that have shaped the cultural heritage of the various island nations and territories. For example, many present-day Oceania nations were populated by Polynesian, Melanesian and Micronesian peoples for thousands of years until European colonization. But on Papua New Guinea alone, there are over 700 different tribal groups within the population of 5 million residents.
Every inch of Australia is written in song. Songs track lines along the continent, with every jutting rock or bowing tree being represented by a line or a verse. The cadence, the rhythm, and the musical patterns that define the song are a mimicry of the feet of Australia’s ancestors, of the first feet to walk along the land.
Australia is home to some of the world's most stunning and diverse national parks, many of which remain hidden gems. Let's explore eight lesser-known national parks across this vast country, each offering unique beauty and intrigue.
But you know what makes Australia even more amazing? Unique traditions you won’t find anywhere else in the world. The media rarely portrays these cultural and unique Australian holiday traditions, so why not read about them?
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Here’s some food for thought. We’re now in an era in which human activity is the dominant influence on our climate and the environment. Scary, I know.
If I could describe it in one word, it would be breathtaking. Western Australia’s beaches are often voted among the best in the world with good reason — and there’s one spot that is particularly well-deserving of the attention it gets. Located around 19 kilometres from Perth’s coast, Rottnest Island is visited year-round by both tourists and locals
To outsiders, New Guinea is most often known as the home of bird of paradise species, whose unique feathers and elaborate mating dances feature in many nature documentaries. But the capital city of Port Moresby has an unfortunate reputation for crime and unrest, and strong travel advisories have restricted many areas of the country for years. Yet, the wild and rare beauty of PNG’s ecology tempt some - myself included - to make t
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I hate to admit it, but when we booked our trip, I didn’t even know where to find Papua New Guinea on the map. Our travel companions had selected the destination. But in the months leading up to our departure, I began to fall in love with a place that was extremely difficult to find accurate information on.
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Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city, is challenging its much larger sister Auckland for the crown of New Zealand’s best foodie destination. The people behind Wellington’s foodie credentials are a new generation of female chefs and artisan food producers making incredible local food.
New Zealand is a beautiful country with various unique sights you can visit during your vacation. If you prefer to be more comfortable on your road trip, try driving a motorhome instead of renting a car. If you haven’t experienced traveling cross-country in a such vehicle before, this post will discuss motorhomes and the benefits and advantages of renting and buying. Keep on reading to learn more. What Are Motorhomes Motorhomes are the most popular recreational vehicles in New Zealand that you can purchase or rent. You can choose from a few kinds that are built explicitly for cross-country road trips. You can purchase used motorhomes for sale, opt for a brand-new unit if it's within your budget, or rent from companies leasing out this vehicle. Motorhomes come in different classes that have varying gas mileage, fuel economy storage space, and other comfort features. They’re listed below. Class A Motorhomes [...]
Kaikoura is a town of 4,000 people located about 110 miles north of Christchurch, on New Zealand’s South Island. It is tucked away on a beautiful peninsula, backed by the snow-capped peaks of the Seaward Kaikoura Range.
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After a year of being confined to my home state of New South Wales, I’m desperate to experience another culture. It was this desperation that saw me eagerly scoop up a pamphlet for the Sikh Heritage Museum of Australia when I spotted it on display at the (locally) famed Big Banana Fun Park at Coffs Harbour the day before.
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Whales, it turns out, are a lot like us. They live in family groups whom they go to great lengths to protect and care for. They love to sing, and “chart-topping hits” spread quickly from group to group. They’ve even been known to stand up for other, weaker species — us — when danger threatens.
