Best natural wonder destinations in Oceania
Best natural wonder destinations in Oceania
Volcanic landscapes and unique geographic wonders across Oceania
Oceania's natural wonders reflect the region's extraordinary geological and biological diversity, shaped by volcanic activity, ancient erosion and the forces that have kept island ecosystems isolated and evolving independently for millions of years. The results are landscapes and natural phenomena that feel genuinely unlike anywhere else on earth, from active volcanic formations and ancient coral structures to vast cave systems and otherworldly coastal landscapes.
The marine environment is one of the region's greatest natural assets. Reef systems of extraordinary scale, underwater cave networks and open ocean phenomena add a dimension to natural wonder here that is largely absent in continental regions. Above the waterline, ancient geological formations, dramatic coastlines and landscapes shaped by millions of years of isolation produce scenery that rewards serious exploration.
Seasonality and access vary considerably across a region that spans an enormous area of ocean. Some sites are accessible year round with well-developed visitor infrastructure. Others are remote, weather-dependent and require careful planning. The distances involved in moving between destinations within the region are worth factoring into any itinerary from the outset.
Lists by region
National Park in New Zealand
Fiordland National Park
New Zealand’s Wildest Water World
Fourteen fjords cut into Fiordland's coastline, carved by glaciers over the last ice age. Rainforest clings to steep cliffs dropping directly into the dark water below. Waterfalls increase dramatically after rain, dropping in dozens of temporary cascades. Kiwi and other rare birds shelter in the park's dense, remote forest.
Town in New Zealand
Wanaka
Alpine Adventure, Lakeside Serenity
Lake Wanaka stretches beneath the Southern Alps, quieter than nearby Queenstown. A lone willow tree standing in the lake's shallow water has become widely photographed. Mount Aspiring rises behind the lake, its glaciers visible on clear days. Hiking trails climb steeply from the lakeshore towards alpine viewpoints.
Region in New Zealand
North Island
Geothermal Wonders and Māori Culture
Geothermal activity bubbles across Rotorua, with mud pools and geysers scattered around the city. Tongariro's volcanic peaks rise across the island's central plateau. Waitomo's glowworm caves light up dark cavern ceilings with thousands of tiny lights. Beaches line much of the island's coast, from black volcanic sand to white shell sand.
National Park in New Zealand
Mount Cook National Park
New Zealand’s alpine wonderland
Aoraki Mount Cook rises to 3,724 metres, New Zealand's tallest peak within its namesake park. Tasman Glacier feeds a lake dotted with floating icebergs below the mountain. Stargazing draws visitors to one of the world's largest dark sky reserves here. Alpine trails wind past glaciers towards views of the surrounding Southern Alps.
Region in Australia
Ningaloo Coast
Australia's Accessible Underwater Wonderland
Whale sharks gather along the Ningaloo Coast each year, reachable by swimming straight from the reef edge. Coral reefs sit close enough to shore to snorkel directly from the beach. Manta rays glide through the surrounding channels much of the year. Humpback whales pass along the coast during their seasonal migration.
Town in New Zealand
Queenstown
Adventure capital with alpine beauty
Lake Wakatipu stretches beneath Queenstown, framed by the jagged Remarkables mountain range. The Shotover River cuts through a canyon nearby, used for jet boat rides. Gondolas climb steeply above town, opening onto views over the lake and peaks. Bungee jumping began commercially on a bridge just outside Queenstown in the 1980s.
National Park in Australia
Kakadu National Park
Ancient Rock Art and Wild Wetlands
Sandstone escarpments rise above Kakadu's wetlands, home to ancient rock art thousands of years old. Saltwater crocodiles patrol rivers and billabongs across the park's floodplains. Waterfalls drop from the escarpment into plunge pools during the wet season. Aboriginal communities have lived in and managed this land for tens of thousands of years.
National Park in Australia
Blue Mountains National Park
Majestic Views and Untamed Nature
Eucalyptus oil in the air gives the Blue Mountains their distinctive blue-tinted haze. Three Sisters, a rock formation of sandstone pillars, rises above the Jamison Valley. Waterfalls drop through forested gorges across the park's sandstone plateau. A steep cable railway descends into the valley floor from the clifftop above.
Bay in New Zealand
Bay of Islands
Sunlit coves echo with ancient legends
More than 140 islands scatter across the Bay of Islands off New Zealand's north coast. Dolphins and orcas pass regularly through the bay's sheltered waters. The Hole in the Rock, a natural sea arch, lets small boats pass directly through. Cape Brett's lighthouse marks the bay's rugged eastern point.
Country
Federated States of Micronesia
Scattered paradise with tropical diversity
Chuuk Lagoon holds dozens of sunken World War Two wrecks, now covered in coral. Divers explore the ships' hulls, home to schools of reef fish. Pohnpei's Nan Madol ruins sit built on a network of artificial islets. Volcanic peaks rise above dense jungle across several of the islands.
Country
Papua New Guinea
Last paradise of South Pacific
Dense rainforest covers much of Papua New Guinea's mountainous, largely roadless interior. Active volcanoes dot the country, including several still venting near populated coasts. Coral reefs off the coast rank among the most diverse on Earth. Birds of paradise, with their elaborate plumage, live in the country's remote forests.
Outer Territory in Australia
Christmas Island
Island Paradise of Red Crabs
Tens of millions of red crabs migrate across Christmas Island each year towards the sea. Roads close temporarily during the migration to let the crabs pass safely. Rainforest covers much of the island's volcanic interior. Whale sharks pass through surrounding waters, drawing divers each winter.
Island in Australia
Phillip Island
Penguins, Surf and Coastal Wonders
Little penguins waddle ashore at dusk on Phillip Island, watched nightly from a boardwalk. Seals gather on rocks at the Nobbies, visible from a coastal walking trail. Koalas rest in eucalyptus trees at a sanctuary near the island's centre. Surf breaks line the island's southern coast, exposed to open ocean swells.
Island in New Zealand
South Island
Majestic fjords and alpine peaks
Glaciers and fjords carve the Southern Alps along the length of South Island. Milford Sound cuts into the island's southwest coast, framed by sheer cliffs. Lake Tekapo's turquoise water reflects mountains beneath some of the darkest skies in the country. Wanaka and Queenstown sit among alpine lakes ringed by snow-capped peaks.
Town in New Zealand
Taupō
Volcanic Lake, Adventure and Hot Springs
Lake Taupo fills a massive volcanic caldera, formed by one of history's largest eruptions. Huka Falls channels the Waikato River through a narrow rock chute at high speed. Geothermal parks nearby bubble with mud pools and steaming vents. Maori rock carvings mark a cliff face reachable only by boat on the lake.
Country
Solomon Islands
Tropical paradise with pristine waters
Coral reefs and sunken World War Two wrecks surround the Solomon Islands' scattered volcanic terrain. Marovo Lagoon ranks among the largest saltwater lagoons in the world. Rainforest covers most of the islands, home to species found nowhere else. Active volcanoes rise on several islands, some still venting steam.
National Park in New Zealand
Tongariro National Park
Volcanic landscapes and epic hikes
Three active volcanoes rise across Tongariro, including Ngauruhoe's near-perfect cone. Emerald Lakes get their colour from minerals leaching out of the surrounding volcanic rock. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing ranks among New Zealand's most popular single-day hikes. Steam vents near the trail mark the park's continued volcanic activity.
Town in New Zealand
Franz Josef
Gateway to the Majestic Glaciers
Franz Josef Glacier descends from the Southern Alps almost to sea level, rare at this latitude. Helicopter tours land directly on the ice for guided glacier walks. Rainforest surrounds the glacier's lower reaches, an unusual pairing of ice and jungle. The glacier has retreated significantly over recent decades, reshaping the valley below.
Island in Australia
Tasmania
Wilderness, Wildlife and Wild Coasts
Cradle Mountain rises above glacial lakes in Tasmania's rugged central highlands. Ancient rainforest covers parts of the island, including trees over a thousand years old. The Southwest Wilderness remains largely untouched, among the world's last great temperate wildernesses. Coastal cliffs at Cape Raoul drop sharply into the Southern Ocean.
Island in Australia
Whitsunday Islands
Paradise within Great Barrier Reef
Whitehaven Beach's silica sand stays cool underfoot even under the harsh tropical sun. Swirling patterns of sand and turquoise water appear at Hill Inlet during low tide. Coral reefs surround the seventy-four islands, part of the Great Barrier Reef. Sailboats anchor in sheltered bays between the forested islands.
Region in New Zealand
Marlborough
Wine Country Meets Stunning Coastal Sounds
Marlborough Sounds' flooded valleys form a maze of inlets along New Zealand's northern coast. Dolphins and seals feed in the sheltered waters between forested peninsulas. Vineyards fill the nearby Wairau Valley, known for its distinctive white wine. Walking tracks trace the ridgelines above the sounds' winding waterways.
Island in Australia
Kangaroo Island
Wildlife, Wonders and Rugged Coast
Sea lions haul out on beaches at Seal Bay, part of a colony that draws close viewing. Remarkable Rocks, weathered granite boulders, balance dramatically above the sea nearby. Koalas and echidnas roam freely across the island's bushland. Flinders Chase National Park covers much of the island's rugged western coast.
Country
Samoa
Tropical paradise with volcanic mountains
To Sua Ocean Trench drops into a collapsed lava tube filled with swimmable turquoise water. Rainforest covers much of Samoa's volcanic interior, feeding waterfalls across both main islands. Lava fields near Saleaula preserve the path of an eruption from the early 1900s. Coral reefs ring much of the coastline, sheltering calm lagoons.
National Park in Australia
Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
Sacred Red Rock and Majestic Domes
Uluru rises from the desert as a single massive sandstone monolith, sacred to the local Anangu people. Its surface shifts colour through shades of red and orange at sunrise and sunset. Kata Tjuta's domed rock formations rise nearby, carved by millions of years of erosion. Waterholes near Uluru's base support pockets of desert wildlife.
Overseas Territory in France
French Polynesia
Paradise of Crystal Clear Lagoons
Coral atolls and volcanic peaks scatter across French Polynesia's more than 100 islands. Bora Bora's lagoon shifts between shades of turquoise depending on the depth below. Manta rays and blacktip reef sharks glide through the shallow water near Moorea. Overwater bungalows sit built directly above the coral lagoons.
Country
Palau
Pristine paradise with underwater wonders
Jellyfish Lake holds millions of stingless jellyfish, safe to swim among in its marine lake. Rock Islands dot Palau's lagoon, mushroom-shaped by erosion at the waterline. Coral reefs surrounding the islands rank among the most biodiverse in the Pacific. World War Two wrecks rest on the seafloor near several dive sites.
Town in Australia
Esperance
Australia's Whitest Beaches and Turquoise Waters
Lucky Bay's sand stays so white it squeaks underfoot near Esperance's coastline. Kangaroos regularly rest directly on the beach within view of the turquoise water. The Great Ocean Drive loops past cliffs, bays and pink-tinted Lake Hillier's edge nearby. Granite outcrops rise along the coast between stretches of empty beach.
City in Australia
Cairns
Gateway to Reef and Rainforest Wonders
The Great Barrier Reef lies just offshore from Cairns, reachable by boat within a couple hours. Daintree Rainforest meets the coast nearby, among the oldest rainforests on Earth. Cable cars cross above the canopy en route to nearby Kuranda village. Reef and rainforest sit within easy reach of each other around the city.
National Park in Australia
Twelve Apostles Marine National Park
Iconic Cliffs and Wild Ocean Wonders
Limestone stacks rise from the Southern Ocean along Victoria's Great Ocean Road coastline. Waves continue eroding the cliffs, occasionally collapsing sections of the formations entirely. Sunset lights the stacks in deep orange against the darkening sea. Helicopter flights offer views over the full stretch of coastline from above.
Lake in New Zealand
Lake Tekapo
The Glacial Gem of the South Island
Lake Tekapo's turquoise water comes from fine glacial rock flour suspended in the lake. The Church of the Good Shepherd sits on the lakeshore beneath the Southern Alps. Dark skies over the lake make it part of a designated International Dark Sky Reserve. Lupins bloom in bright colours along the shoreline each summer.
Country
Tonga
Tropical paradise with volcanic islands
Humpback whales gather in Tonga's warm waters each year to breed and calve. Swimmers can enter the water alongside whales under strict guided tours. Limestone caves and blowholes line the coast of Tongatapu. Coral reefs ring the outer islands, drawing divers into clear, calm water.
Landmark in Australia
Uluru
Majestic sandstone monolith under endless skies
Uluru stands 348 metres tall, one massive slab of sandstone rising from flat desert. Ancient rock art marks caves and overhangs around its base, tied to Anangu stories. A walking path circles the rock's nine-kilometre base past waterholes and native plants. Sunset tours gather nearby to watch the rock's colour deepen as light fades.
City in Australia
Gold Coast
Sun, Surf and Adventure
Surfers Paradise stretches along the Gold Coast's coastline, backed by rainforest-covered hinterland. Waterfalls drop through the Lamington and Springbrook ranges just inland from the beaches. Whales migrate close to shore each winter, visible from clifftop lookouts. Long, consistent swells make the coast a favourite among surfers.
Fjord in New Zealand
Milford Sound
Breathtaking fiord of towering peaks
Mitre Peak rises straight from Milford Sound's water, among New Zealand's most photographed views. Waterfalls cascade down cliffs on both sides, some permanent and others appearing after rain. Rainfall here ranks among the highest of any inhabited place in the country. Seals rest on rocks near the sound's entrance to the Tasman Sea.
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