Back to grid

Best rainforest destinations in Oceania

Back to grid
Tasmania
Wilderness, Wildlife and Wild Coasts
8.7
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.
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
Fiordland National Park
New Zealand’s Wildest Water World
8.7
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.
Highlights:
  • 🪶 Scenic fly over dramatic fjords and hidden alpine lakes
  • 🥾 Hike the world-famous Milford Track through lush rainforest
  • 🛥️ Cruise through majestic Milford Sound and spot playful dolphins
Franz Josef
Gateway to the Majestic Glaciers
8.2
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.
Highlights:
  • ♨️ Soak in the relaxing Glacier Hot Pools
  • 🚁 Take a scenic helicopter flight over the glacier
  • 🥾 Hike the Franz Josef Glacier Valley Walk
North Island
Geothermal Wonders and Māori Culture
8.6
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.
Highlights:
  • 🌃 Walk along Auckland’s Sky Tower observation deck
  • 🧙‍♂️ Visit Hobbiton and stroll through the Shire movie set
  • 🔥 Explore the geothermal wonders of Rotorua’s hot springs and geysers
Christmas Island
Island Paradise of Red Crabs
8.3
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.
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
American Samoa
Remote Island Beauty and Culture
7.7
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.
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
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.
Highlights:
  • 🌲 Visit Cape Tribulation, hike to ancient rainforest trails
  • 🚤 Sail a glass-bottom boat over crystal reefs
  • 🌿 Trek through Daintree canopy walk, spot cassowaries
Feedback