Best photography destinations in Oceania
Best photography destinations in Oceania
Isolated coastal arches and volcanic crater viewpoints in Oceania
Dramatic fjord scenery in New Zealand combines with consistently changeable weather, while a vast desert formation in Australia changes colour through the day in ways that have made it one of the most photographed natural sites on earth.
The destinations on this list range from dramatic fjord and mountain landscapes that reward patience with frequently changing weather to vast desert formations best photographed at sunrise and sunset specifically. Coral reef systems add an entirely different, underwater dimension.
Building flexibility into the itinerary matters considerably for the fjord regions specifically, where the best photographic conditions can depend entirely on weather that shifts with little warning. Packing for sudden weather shifts also matters considerably given how quickly conditions change here. Most viewpoints are best reached on foot.
Lists by region
City in Australia
Sydney
Where urban life meets stunning beaches
The Opera House opened on 20 October 1973 and was designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon. Its roofs carry about 1,056,006 tiles in glossy white and matte cream. UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage Site in 2007. The building fills the whole of Bennelong Point near the Harbour Bridge.
Reef in Australia
Great Barrier Reef
World's largest living coral wonder
The reef stretches over 2,300 kilometres and can be seen from space. It holds more than 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands. UNESCO selected it as a World Heritage Site in 1981. Tourism concentrates around Cairns and the Whitsunday Islands because both are easy to reach.
Lake in New Zealand
Lake Tekapo
The Glacial Gem of the South Island
Glacial silt in Southern Alps meltwater gives the lake its turquoise colour. The Church of the Good Shepherd was built in 1935 and was the first church in the Mackenzie Basin. The Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve was designated in 2012 and covers 4,367 square kilometres.
Island in Australia
Whitsunday Islands
Paradise within Great Barrier Reef
Captain Cook sailed through the islands on June 3, 1770 and named the route Whitsundays' Passage. The group has 74 islands and islets. Whitehaven Beach lies on Whitsunday Island, which covers 109 square kilometres. Hill Inlet is north of the beach. Hamilton Island is the commercial centre.
National Park in New Zealand
Fiordland National Park
New Zealand’s Wildest Water World
The park covers 12,607 square kilometres and is the largest of New Zealand's 13 national parks. About 15 fiords cut the coast. Some reach 40 kilometres inland. Westerly winds bring more than seven metres of rain a year to many areas. UNESCO recognised the park as a World Heritage Site in 1986.
Fjord in New Zealand
Milford Sound
Breathtaking fiord of towering peaks
Rudyard Kipling called it the eighth Wonder of the World. Mitre Peak rises 1,692 metres above the water. Rain averages about 6,412 millimetres a year and creates many temporary waterfalls. Lady Bowen Falls and Stirling Falls flow permanently. The Underwater Observatory in Harrison's Cove shows marine life at 10 metres depth.
Island in French Polynesia
Bora Bora
Turquoise Lagoons, Overwater Dreams
Mount Otemanu rises 727 metres from the centre of the island. A necklace shaped barrier reef surrounds the lagoon and has one opening, the Teavanui Passage. The lagoon shifts from dark indigo in deep water to pastel blues and greens in the shallows. Many resorts stand on the small coral islets called motu.
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