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Best island getaway destinations in Oceania

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Bora Bora
Turquoise Lagoons, Overwater Dreams
8.4
Mount Otemanu, a jagged 727 metre volcanic peak, looms over a lagoon in shades of blue. Bungalows stand on stilts over the water. Snorkel with rays and small sharks. Then ride a boat to a private motu, a small sandbar island, for a long picnic.
Highlights:
  • 🚤 Take a private boat tour around Mount Otemanu
  • 🏝️ Stay overnight in a classic overwater bungalow
  • 🐠 Snorkel crystal-clear lagoon with rays and tropical fish
Whitsunday Islands
Paradise within Great Barrier Reef
9.0
Ten of the 74 islands off the Queensland coast have residents and the rest are uninhabited. Hamilton Island is the commercial centre with about 1,350 people. Captain Cook named the Whitsundays' Passage in 1770 while sailing north. The islands are also a popular base for trips to the Great Barrier Reef.
Highlights:
  • 🐠 Snorkel vibrant coral reefs at Hardy and Bait Reefs
  • 🏖️ Relax on the pristine white sands of Whitehaven Beach
  • ⛵ Sail the turquoise waters between the beautiful islands
Lord Howe Island
Secluded paradise with crystal reefs and cliffs
9.4
Only 400 visitors are allowed on the island at one time. The island is a UNESCO site with a lagoon, palm forests and twin peaks of volcanic rock. Ball's Pyramid, a spire rising 562 metres from the sea, stands nearby. Most people get around by bicycle.
Highlights:
  • 🗺️ Explore the historic lighthouse and maritime museum
  • 🏔️ Hike Mount Gower summit for sunrise panorama
  • 🤿 Snorkel at The Pinnacles reef, see diverse marine life
Cook Islands
Tropical paradise with year-round warmth
8.1
A road circles Rarotonga in 32 kilometres. Buses run clockwise and anticlockwise. Muri Lagoon has clear shallows and small islets for kayaking. A short flight reaches Aitutaki, where the lagoon glows turquoise. Evenings bring island nights with drumming and umu feasts cooked in earth ovens.
Highlights:
  • 🛵 Explore Rarotonga’s lush jungle trails by scooter
  • 🐠 Snorkel over coral gardens filled with tropical fish
  • 🌊 Swim in the turquoise lagoon of Aitutaki
Federated States of Micronesia
Scattered paradise with tropical diversity
7.5
Chuuk Lagoon holds dozens of Japanese ships and planes sunk in 1944, now covered in coral. On Pohnpei stand the stone ruins of Nan Madol, built on artificial islets on the reef around 1200 AD. Few visitors come here. Reefs and jungle stay quiet and untouched.
Highlights:
  • 💰 Explore the ancient stone money on Yap Island
  • 🪼 Swim among giant jellyfish in Palau’s Lake
  • 🏛️ Visit the UNESCO-listed Nan Madol ruins, the "Venice of the Pacific"
Fiji
Tropical paradise with diverse landscapes
8.2
Fiji has more than 330 islands. Many have white beaches within a short boat ride of each other. Hop through the Mamanuca and Yasawa groups. Villagers greet visitors with a loud bula. A kava ceremony, a shared drink of pounded root, follows. Snorkelling is easy.
Highlights:
  • 🐠 Explore the underwater coral gardens at Rainbow Reef
  • 🏖️ Relax on the pristine sands of Natadola Beach
  • 🌊 Snorkel in the crystal-clear waters of the Mamanuca Islands
French Polynesia
Paradise of Crystal Clear Lagoons
8.9
Five island groups are spread across an ocean area as large as Europe. Moorea has jagged green peaks and a short ferry ride from Tahiti. The Tuamotus have atolls with channels full of sharks and rays. The remote Marquesas have tall cliffs, ancient stone temples and wild horses.
Highlights:
  • 🐠 Snorkel the coral gardens of Moorea’s turquoise lagoon
  • 🤿 Dive with sharks and manta rays in Rangiroa
  • 🏝️ Stay in an overwater bungalow above the Bora Bora lagoon
Guam
Tropical Island with Rich Heritage
7.6
Chamorro people have lived on this island for around 4,000 years. Ancient latte stones still stand in parks. Tumon Bay has calm, warm water for swimming. Tide pools at Inarajan fill with small fish. A drive south passes villages with roadside barbecue and fiesta plates.
Highlights:
  • 🐠 Explore the underwater world at UnderWater World aquarium
  • 🌅 Visit Two Lovers Point for breathtaking cliff views
  • 🏖️ Relax and swim at the famous Tumon Beach
Marshall Islands
Remote atolls with pristine waters
7.5
Bikini Atoll is a UNESCO site where warships sunk during 1946 nuclear tests now lie in clear water. Divers reach them on liveaboard boats. Majuro and Arno have quiet lagoons and sandy villages. Outrigger canoes remain a common way to cross the water, as they have for centuries.
Highlights:
  • 🐠 Snorkel vibrant coral reefs teeming with tropical fish
  • 🏖️ Relax on the pristine beaches of Majuro Atoll
  • 🤿 Dive at Bikini Atoll to explore historic WWII shipwrecks
Palau
Pristine paradise with underwater wonders
8.3
The Rock Islands are a UNESCO site of limestone domes and hidden lagoons. Divers drift along Blue Corner, where sharks and fish gather in strong currents. Visitors sign the Palau Pledge, a promise stamped in their passport to protect the islands. Kayaks glide through sheltered channels.
Highlights:
  • 🛶 Paddle a kayak through Palau’s turquoise Rock Islands
  • 🤿 Dive into the stunning Blue Corner reef
  • 🌊 Swim among harmless jellyfish in Jellyfish Lake
Solomon Islands
Tropical paradise with pristine waters
7.6
Marovo Lagoon is one of the largest saltwater lagoons in the world, with hundreds of forested islets. Divers find World War II wrecks in the water off Guadalcanal. Carvers in villages make fine wood and shell crafts. Dugout canoes carry people between islands. Few other tourists come.
Highlights:
  • 🪖 Visit WWII relics at Vilu War Museum
  • 🌊 Explore the vast Marovo Lagoon, world's largest
  • 🤿 Dive the wrecks of Bonegi Beach and Marovo
Tuvalu
Remote tropical paradise with atolls
6.2
This country became independent from Britain in 1978 and is one of the smallest in the world. Its nine islands cover only about 26 square kilometres. The highest point is 4.6 metres above sea level. The Funafuti Conservation Area protects part of the lagoon and native forest.
Highlights:
  • 🌊 Visit the Funafuti Lagoon and swim in its turquoise shallows
  • 🤿 Snorkel the pristine coral reefs of Funafuti Marine Conservation Area
  • 🛩️ Walk the airstrip runway that doubles as the main street in Funafuti
Kangaroo Island
Wildlife, Wonders and Rugged Coast
8.6
Sea lions rest on the sand at Seal Bay. Visitors walk among them on a short guided tour. The island is Australia's third largest. At Flinders Chase National Park, granite boulders called Remarkable Rocks glow orange at sunset. Koalas and kangaroos graze in the open.
Highlights:
  • 🦭 Swim with playful sea lions at Seal Bay
  • 🪨 Marvel at the Remarkable Rocks and their surreal formations
  • 🦘 See wild kangaroos and koalas roaming freely at Flinders Chase
Bay of Islands
Sunlit coves echo with ancient legends
9.4
Dolphins often swim beside boats among the 144 islands of this bay. Paihia and Russell are small towns with waterfront cafes. Sail out to Hole in the Rock, a sea arch on Piercy Island. The Waitangi Treaty Grounds mark where Māori chiefs and the Crown signed a pact in 1840.
Highlights:
  • 🏰 Visit Waitangi Treaty Grounds, learn indigenous history
  • 🛶 Kayak through limestone caves at Te Puna Marae
  • ⛵ Sail to Russell, explore historic whaling village
American Samoa
Remote Island Beauty and Culture
7.7
Ofu Beach in the National Park of American Samoa has long white sand and a coral reef just offshore. The park spreads across three islands. Small planes hop from Tutuila to Ofu. Villages nearby stay quiet, with open air churches and fale, thatched beach huts.
Highlights:
  • ⚓ Visit Pago Pago Harbor and admire its volcanic scenery
  • ⛰️ Hike Mount Alava for panoramic island and ocean views
  • 🐠 Snorkel among coral reefs in the National Marine Sanctuary
Christmas Island
Island Paradise of Red Crabs
8.3
Every year millions of red crabs march from the forest to the sea to breed. The wet season sets them off. The migration usually peaks in October to December. Rainforest covers most of this Indian Ocean island. Divers find drop offs close to shore.
Highlights:
  • 🌿 Explore the rainforest trails of Christmas Island National Park
  • 🐠 Snorkel among coral gardens and reef fish at Flying Fish Cove
  • 🦀 Witness the spectacular annual red crab migration
Kiribati
Remote Pacific paradise with atolls
6.1
Kiritimati, one of the largest coral atolls in the world by land area, has shallow flats full of bonefish. Anglers wade in at low tide with a guide. Kiribati spans a huge stretch of the central Pacific. Visits feel remote, with few hotels and little traffic.
Highlights:
  • ⚓ Visit the WWII relics scattered across South Tarawa
  • 🐠 Snorkel among vibrant coral reefs in Tarawa Lagoon
  • 🌅 Watch the sunrise at the world’s earliest time zone
Norfolk Island
Untouched Paradise with Rich History
7.0
Norfolk pines line the roads. Cows have the right of way. Kingston is a UNESCO listed convict site with Georgian buildings facing the sea. Many locals descend from the Bounty mutineers. They speak Norfolk, a mix of English and Tahitian. Cliffs and quiet beaches ring the island.
Highlights:
  • 🏛️ Explore historic Kingston and Arthur’s Vale Historic Area
  • 🌅 Climb to Captain Cook Monument for panoramic ocean views
  • 🏊‍♂️ Swim and snorkel in crystal-clear waters at Emily Bay
Northern Mariana Islands
Tropical Paradise with Rich History
7.3
Saipan, Tinian and Rota are part of this chain, each with its own feel. The Grotto is a sea cave on Saipan with tunnels to the open ocean. Managaha Island has a small beach and clear water. Rota is quiet and green, with caves and forest.
Highlights:
  • 🎖️ Explore the historic American Memorial Park
  • 🏝️ Relax on the pristine sands of Managaha Island
  • 🤿 Dive into the crystal-clear waters at The Grotto
Samoa
Tropical paradise with volcanic mountains
7.8
To Sua Ocean Trench is a deep swimming hole with a ladder that leads to green water. At Lalomanu, guests sleep in fale, open sided beach huts, just steps from the sea. Robert Louis Stevenson spent his last years here. Villages keep custom and church close.
Highlights:
  • 🌳 Explore the lush jungle on the Canopy Walk
  • 💦 Slide down natural waterfalls at Papase’ea
  • 🌊 Swim in the stunning To Sua Ocean Trench
Tonga
Tropical paradise with volcanic islands
7.8
Vava'u, Ha'apai and Tongatapu are the three main island groups, spread over about 800 kilometres. Only 45 of the 171 islands in this kingdom have residents. That leaves many quiet beaches and small islands to explore. About 70 percent of Tongans live on the main island of Tongatapu.
Highlights:
  • 🌊 Discover blowholes at Mapu'a 'a Vaea coast
  • 🗿 Explore the ancient Ha'amonga 'a Maui Trilithon
  • 🐋 Swim with humpback whales in Ha'apai waters
Vanuatu
Tropical paradise with cultural diversity
7.6
Glowing lava shoots into the air at Mount Yasur on Tanna Island. About 83 volcanic islands make up this country and 65 of them are inhabited. Bislama, English and French are the official languages. More than 100 local languages are also spoken across the islands.
Highlights:
  • 💧 Swim in the magical blue holes near Espiritu Santo
  • 🤿 Snorkel the blue waters and coral reefs of Champagne Beach
  • 🌋 Hike to the rim of Mount Yasur, the world’s most accessible volcano
Tasmania
Wilderness, Wildlife and Wild Coasts
8.7
Wineglass Bay curves in a perfect white arc beneath granite peaks. Tasmania is Australia's largest island and has wild coasts and cool rainforests. Walk the Bay of Fires, where orange lichen paints the rocks. Hobart has the Museum of Old and New Art and a busy waterfront market.
Highlights:
  • 🏛️ Tour the convict ruins at Port Arthur Historic Site
  • ⛰️ Explore Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park trails
  • 🏖️ Hike to Wineglass Bay and marvel at its white sand
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