Oceania does not have many classic pilgrimage routes, but people still travel long distances here to walk, remember and reflect at places that mean a great deal to them.
Uluru in central Australia is sacred to the Anangu people, and walking the 10 kilometer path around its base, with stops at waterholes and rock art, is a quiet and respectful way to experience it. For many Australians, the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea is a kind of pilgrimage, a tough week in the jungle on the path where soldiers fought in World War II. In Sydney, Mary MacKillop Place honors Australia's first saint, and Catholic visitors come to see her tomb. In New Zealand, Cape Reinga is where Māori believe the spirits of the dead leave the land, and the view from the lighthouse is very moving.
The Kokoda Track needs good fitness and can only be walked with a licensed trek operator.
