Best luxury destinations in Oceania
Best luxury destinations in Oceania
Private island resorts and exclusive coastal retreats in Oceania
Luxury travel in Oceania often comes down to exclusivity as much as comfort, with several of the region's top destinations limiting visitor numbers by design rather than accident.
The Whitsundays, off the Queensland coast, pair high end island resorts with direct access to the Great Barrier Reef and Whitehaven Beach, known for its brilliant white silica sand. Lord Howe Island takes exclusivity further still, capping visitor numbers at any one time to protect its UNESCO listed reef and forest, which keeps its handful of upscale lodges feeling properly remote. Across the Tasman, New Zealand's Bay of Islands offers a different style of luxury, built around sailing, game fishing and lodges tucked along a coastline dotted with more than a hundred small islands scattered across the bay.
The destinations on our list for Oceania reflect that same mix of reef side resorts and remote, tightly protected island escapes.
Lists by region
Country
Fiji
Tropical paradise with diverse landscapes
More than 300 islands are scattered across these waters and a few hold only one resort. Laucala Island was bought by Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz. A working farm on the island grows much of its food. Guests transfer from Nadi International Airport. The island also has a golf course.
Town in New Zealand
Queenstown
Adventure capital with alpine beauty
Gold found in the Shotover River in 1862 drew thousands of miners to the shores of Lake Wakatipu. Today the lakeshore has lodges such as Rosewood Matakauri, with views of The Remarkables. Helicopters fly from town to Milford Sound in under an hour. The lake is S shaped and about 50 miles long.
Island in French Polynesia
Bora Bora
Turquoise Lagoons, Overwater Dreams
American forces built a supply base here in 1942. The airstrip they built is still in use today. It is on a small islet, so every visitor crosses the lagoon by boat. Mount Otemanu, a volcanic peak of 727 metres, rises above the water. Overwater bungalows line the turquoise shallows.
Overseas Territory in France
French Polynesia
Paradise of Crystal Clear Lagoons
May to October is the dry season with highs near 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Humpback whales visit Moorea and Tahiti from July to October. The Heiva festival in July fills Papeete with dancing and outrigger canoe races. Black pearls come from lagoons in the Tuamotu islands. Resorts on Moorea and Tahiti have overwater villas.
Island in New Zealand
South Island
Majestic fjords and alpine peaks
Cold mountain air and the sound of waterfalls fill Milford Sound. Mitre Peak rises 1,692 metres straight from the water. Helicopters land on glaciers near Franz Josef and Fox. Aoraki Mount Cook, at 3,724 metres, is the highest peak in New Zealand. Wine regions such as Marlborough and Central Otago add tastings to lodge stays.
Country
Cook Islands
Tropical paradise with year-round warmth
Water in the Aitutaki lagoon shifts between pale turquoise and deep blue over white sand flats. Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort has overwater bungalows and barefoot beach dinners. The flight from Rarotonga to Aitutaki takes about 50 minutes. A tiny post office on One Foot Island stamps passports with a footprint.
Island in Australia
Whitsunday Islands
Paradise within Great Barrier Reef
Seventy four islands lie between the Queensland coast and the outer Great Barrier Reef. Whitehaven Beach is about 7 kilometres long and its sand is nearly pure silica. Heart Reef is protected and can be seen only on a scenic flight. Qualia on Hamilton Island is for guests aged 16 and over.
Bay in New Zealand
Bay of Islands
Sunlit coves echo with ancient legends
Rosewood Kauri Cliffs is a lodge with 22 suites on about 6,000 acres above Matauri Bay. Its clifftop golf course was designed by David Harman. Private chefs cook barbecues on three private beaches. A helicopter flight from Auckland takes about one hour. The wider bay has 144 islands to explore by boat.
Island in Australia
Lord Howe Island
Secluded paradise with crystal reefs and cliffs
Mount Gower rises 875 metres above the south end of the island. Guided hikes climb to a misty forest on top. Visitor numbers are capped at 400 at any one time. UNESCO listed the island in 1982. Its reef is the world's southernmost coral reef.
Bay in New Zealand
Hawke's Bay
Sunlit shores and vibrant marine life
The Farm at Cape Kidnappers covers about 6,000 acres, roughly seven times the size of Central Park. Its rooms look over farmland, the golf course and the Pacific. Tom Doak designed the golf course, which is 140 metres above the sea. Gannets can be seen on nearby cliffs from September to April.
Reef in Australia
Great Barrier Reef
World's largest living coral wonder
The Dingaal people are the traditional owners of Lizard Island, which they call Jiigurru. The island has one resort with about 40 rooms and 24 beaches. A one hour scenic flight from Cairns crosses the reef. Guests snorkel from the sand and have sunset dinners on private beaches.
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