Best rainforest destinations in Oceania
Best rainforest destinations in Oceania
Tropical island canopy tracks and ancient fern wilderness zones in Oceania
One Australian rainforest is the oldest continuously surviving tropical rainforest on earth, predating the Amazon by millions of years, while New Zealand's smaller temperate rainforests on the South Island add a cooler, equally ancient alternative.
The destinations on this list range from ancient tropical rainforest with extraordinary, genuinely unique biodiversity to cooler temperate forest shaped by consistent rainfall rather than tropical heat. Both require respect for genuinely fragile ecosystems.
Sticking to marked boardwalks and trails matters considerably, given how easily this kind of ancient ecosystem can be damaged by foot traffic. Local guides trained in the specific ecology can point out species easy to miss without expert guidance. Packing insect repellent also matters considerably given the humidity and dense vegetation involved.
Lists by region
Outer Territory in United States
American Samoa
Remote Island Beauty and Culture
National Park of American Samoa protects rainforest on Tutuila, Ofu and Taʻū. It was created in 1988 and is the only American park service site south of the equator. Large fruit bats called flying foxes pollinate the trees. A trail on Tutuila climbs to Mount Alava at 490 metres.
National Park in New Zealand
Fiordland National Park
New Zealand’s Wildest Water World
The southwest corner of New Zealand's South Island gets over 7 metres of rain a year in many parts. Moss and liverworts cover the floor of its beech forests. Waterfalls spill down cliffs after storms. It is the largest of New Zealand's national parks. Boats reach both ends of the Milford Track.
Island in Australia
Tasmania
Wilderness, Wildlife and Wild Coasts
Some Huon pines in Tasmania's wet southwest are over 2,000 years old, older than the Colosseum in Rome. Their golden wood has natural oils that resist decay. A clonal stand on Mount Read is over 10,500 years old. Russell Falls in Mount Field National Park drops past tree ferns.
Town in New Zealand
Franz Josef
Gateway to the Majestic Glaciers
Set aside a full day for the Alex Knob hike, which takes about 8 hours. It climbs through forest to a 1,303 metre peak and views of the glacier. The ice ends about 300 metres above sea level, beside temperate rainforest. Its Māori name means the tears of Hine Hukatere.
Outer Territory in Australia
Christmas Island
Island Paradise of Red Crabs
Captain William Mynors named the island after sailing past on Christmas Day in 1643. A national park now covers 63 percent of it. Millions of red crabs walk from the forest to the sea each year to spawn. Abbott's booby and the Christmas Island frigatebird both nest only here.
Region in New Zealand
North Island
Geothermal Wonders and Māori Culture
Walkers scrub their boots at cleaning stations before entering Waipoua Forest. The step protects kauri trees from a disease called kauri dieback. Tāne Mahuta, a giant kauri, is 45 metres tall. It is named for Tāne, the Māori god of forests and birds. Its age is estimated at 1,250 to 2,500 years.
Forest in Australia
Daintree Rainforest
Lush canopy whispers ancient rainforest secrets
Dripping leaves and bird calls fill the air under a canopy about 180 million years old. That makes the forest nearly 100 million years older than the Amazon. Southern cassowaries, large flightless birds, still roam here. About 3,000 plant species and 430 bird species live in the area.
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