Back to grid

Best traditional destinations in Oceania

Back to grid
American Samoa
Remote Island Beauty and Culture
7.7
The faʻamatai chief system runs from the family to the village and national matters. Over 90 percent of the land is held by extended families, not individuals. A matai heads each family and is chosen by agreement. Samoan is spoken at home by nearly 88 percent of people in this territory.
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
Rotorua
Geothermal Wonders and Māori Culture
8.2
Steam rises from about 500 pools and at least 65 geyser vents at Whakarewarewa. Māori have lived in this part of the city since a fortress was first occupied around 1325. Residents have long used the geothermal heat for warmth and cooking. Pōhutu Geyser erupts roughly every hour and can reach 30 metres.
Highlights:
  • 🛷 Experience thrilling rides at Skyline Luge tracks
  • 🚡 Ride the Skyline Gondola for panoramic views
  • 🌋 Explore the colorful thermal pools at Wai-O-Tapu
Tonga
Tropical paradise with volcanic islands
7.8
Spread across 171 islands in three main groups, this kingdom has people on 45 of them. It is the only surviving indigenous monarchy in the Pacific islands. Britain protected it from 1900 to 1970 but it never gave up its sovereignty. The constitution protects the Sabbath, so commerce and entertainment stop on Sundays.
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
Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
Sacred Red Rock and Majestic Domes
8.4
Since 1987 the park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its natural and cultural value. Tjukurpa is the Ancestral Law of the Anangu. Women perform inma ceremonies that carry its stories and designs. The Anangu are the traditional Aboriginal owners of the land.
Highlights:
  • 🌅 Experience Uluru’s mesmerizing sunset color changes
  • 🥾 Hike the Valley of the Winds trail at Kata Tjuta
  • 🪨 Walk the base trail around the sacred Uluru rock
Papua New Guinea
Last paradise of South Pacific
5.7
The Goroka Show began in 1956 as an idea from Australian patrol officers called Kiaps. It is a sing-sing, a gathering where groups show their music and dance. About 100 tribes attend. The 60th show in 2016 had more than 120 groups. This country has about 840 known languages, more than any other.
Highlights:
  • 🥾 Trek the historic Kokoda Track through dense rainforest
  • 🎭 Meet the colorful tribes at the Mount Hagen Festival
  • 🤿 Dive among WWII wrecks in Rabaul’s volcanic waters
Feedback