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Best climbing destinations in Oceania

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Mount Cook National Park
New Zealand’s alpine wonderland
8.8
Tom Fyfe, Jack Clarke and George Graham reached the summit of Aoraki on Christmas Day 1894. It stands 12,218 feet high. Glaciers cover about 40 percent of the park. Sir Edmund Hillary trained here, starting with Mount Ollivier in 1939. Freda Du Faur became the first woman to summit in 1910.
Highlights:
  • 🛶 Kayak on Tasman Lake near the majestic Tasman Glacier
  • 🚁 Take a scenic helicopter ride above Mount Cook
  • 🥾 Hike the stunning Hooker Valley Track for glacier views
Blue Mountains National Park
Majestic Views and Untamed Nature
7.7
Cliffs near Blackheath carry rock faces hundreds of feet tall. The park lies about 50 miles west of Sydney and covers roughly 1,035 square miles. Rock climbing, abseiling and canyoning are offered, often with tour companies. Katoomba is the nearest city. UNESCO listed the wider Greater Blue Mountains Area in 2000.
Highlights:
  • 🥾 Hike the Wentworth Falls track for breathtaking views
  • 🚞 Ride the Scenic Railway through the stunning Jamison Valley
  • ⛰️ Admire the iconic Three Sisters rock formation at Echo Point
Tasmania
Wilderness, Wildlife and Wild Coasts
8.7
Frenchmans Cap offers trad climbing on generally sound quartzite. A Toi La Gloire runs 1,247 feet over 13 pitches on the southeast face. Tierry Le Fronde adds 492 feet over six pitches. Serious climbing began in the 1960s. Mount Ossa, the island's tallest peak, reaches 5,305 feet.
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
South Island
Majestic fjords and alpine peaks
9.3
The Southern Alps run about 310 miles northeast to southwest along much of the island. Aoraki Mount Cook reaches 12,218 feet. More than 3,000 glaciers larger than one hectare were recorded there. Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers descend on the West Coast. Glacier climbing is listed among its adventure activities.
Highlights:
  • 🚤 Explore Fiordland's Milford Sound sunset cruise
  • ⛵ Cruise Abel Tasman National Park
  • 🏞️ Hike Tongariro Alpine Crossing sunrise
Victoria
Diverse Landscapes and Cultural Richness
8.3
Grampians National Park, called Gariwerd, rises to Mount William at 3,829 feet. Its sandstone peaks formed in the Devonian period. Climbing routes were first established in the 1960s. Mount Arapiles near Horsham is another famed crag. Parks Victoria closed about 30 percent of climbing areas in March 2019 over cultural and ecological concerns.
Highlights:
  • 🛍️ Explore the vibrant Queen Victoria Market with local produce and crafts
  • 🚗 Drive along the spectacular Great Ocean Road to see the 12 Apostles
  • 🌺 Visit the Royal Botanic Gardens for lush landscapes and exotic plants
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