OCEANIA
Fourteen countries. Thousands of islands. One rather ridiculous amount of beautiful scenery.
OCEANIA
Oceania is one of those parts of the world that seems almost unfairly beautiful.
We're talking tropical islands surrounded by ridiculously blue water, beaches that look like somebody has been a little enthusiastic with the photo editing, dramatic mountains, active volcanoes, ancient cultures, incredible wildlife and some of the best diving on the planet.
And then there's Australia, casually taking up an enormous chunk of the whole region.
Oceania is made up of 14 independent countries, stretching from Australia and New Zealand across thousands of islands scattered throughout the Pacific Ocean. Some are firmly established on the tourist trail while others receive so few visitors that mentioning you're going there may result in friends immediately reaching for Google Maps.
Whether you're dreaming of a luxury island escape, an epic road trip, a wildlife adventure or simply somewhere completely different, there is plenty to tempt you.
Australia
Australia isn't really a destination you can "do" in one holiday.
You can certainly try, but unless you've somehow negotiated three months of annual leave, you're probably going to have to make some choices.
Sydney is an obvious starting point, home to the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach. Melbourne brings cafés, shopping, sport and brilliant food while Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth each offer another completely different side of Australian life.
But the real problem with Australia is that every time you think you've decided where to go, you discover another place.
There's the Great Barrier Reef, the Great Ocean Road, Uluru, the Whitsundays, the Blue Mountains, Kakadu National Park and miles upon miles of coastline.
And, of course, the wildlife.
Kangaroos, koalas, wombats and wallabies are considerably more exciting than the pigeons we're used to encountering on a day out in Britain.
Australia works for almost every type of traveller. You can road trip, surf, dive, hike, explore cities, relax on beaches or head into the Outback.
Just don't expect to see all of it in a fortnight.
↑ BACK TO TOPFiji
If someone asked you to draw a tropical paradise, there's a good chance you'd accidentally draw Fiji.
Little boats bobbing about in water so clear you can see straight through it.
It's all here.
Fiji has more than 300 islands, which means you can choose between larger islands with plenty happening or disappear to a tiny resort island where deciding what to order for lunch becomes the most demanding part of your day.
Snorkelling and diving are fantastic thanks to the colourful reefs and marine life while kayaking, surfing and island-hopping will keep more active travellers occupied.
Fiji is particularly popular with honeymooners but don't write it off as somewhere exclusively for couples gazing lovingly at sunsets. There are plenty of family-friendly resorts too.
Although, to be fair, the sunsets are rather good.
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Kiribati
Kiribati is for travellers who hear the phrase "off the beaten track" and think, yes please.
Spread across a huge area of the Pacific, this collection of coral islands receives relatively few international visitors.
There aren't enormous resorts around every corner or queues of tourists waiting to photograph the same viewpoint. Instead, Kiribati offers fishing, diving, birdwatching, beautiful lagoons and the chance to experience traditional Pacific island life.
Getting here takes more effort than booking a week in Spain but that's really part of the attraction.
You'll certainly have a more interesting answer when somebody asks where you went on holiday.
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MARSHALL ISLANDS
The Marshall Islands look tiny on a map but they're scattered across an enormous stretch of the Pacific.
For visitors, the biggest attraction is undoubtedly the ocean.
Divers can explore colourful reefs, dramatic drop-offs and historic shipwrecks while snorkellers can enjoy wonderfully clear tropical water without needing to strap an enormous tank to their back.
Majuro is the main centre for visitors but heading beyond it gives you a glimpse of quieter island life.
There's also a fascinating history here, particularly surrounding the Second World War and the nuclear testing that later took place on some of the islands.
So while the beaches might initially grab your attention, there's considerably more to discover once you arrive.
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Federated States
of Micronesia
Micronesia feels like several destinations rolled into one.
The country consists of four states, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae, each offering something different.
Chuuk is legendary amongst divers thanks to Chuuk Lagoon, where numerous Second World War shipwrecks now lie beneath the water.
Pohnpei offers lush rainforest, waterfalls and the mysterious ruins of Nan Madol, an ancient city built across small artificial islands.
Yap is famous for its enormous traditional stone money while Kosrae offers rainforest, reefs and wonderfully quiet beaches.
If your idea of a good holiday involves adventure, history and occasionally wondering why more people haven't discovered somewhere yet, Micronesia deserves a closer look.
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NAURU
Nauru isn't going to appear in many glossy "Top 10 Beach Holidays" brochures.
And that's exactly what makes it interesting.
One of the smallest countries in the world, Nauru receives very few tourists and isn't set up as a conventional holiday destination.
You can explore its coastline, discover remnants from the Second World War and see the dramatic impact phosphate mining has had on the island's landscape.
You won't find endless organised excursions or enormous luxury resorts.
But if you're the sort of traveller who gets strangely excited about visiting countries most people couldn't point to on a map, Nauru may be right up your street.
Or tiny Pacific island.
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New Zealand
If Australia is enormous and slightly overwhelming, New Zealand feels almost as though somebody deliberately designed it for road trips.
You can drive for a few hours and suddenly find yourself somewhere completely different.
The North Island offers Auckland, Wellington, beautiful beaches and the steaming geothermal landscapes around Rotorua where bubbling mud pools and geysers provide a gentle reminder that the planet is very much alive underneath your feet.
Then there's the South Island.
Basically, prepare to stop the car every twenty minutes because you've spotted another view that needs photographing.
Queenstown is the adventure capital where you can ski, jet boat, hike or voluntarily throw yourself from a perfectly good platform attached to a bungee cord.
Milford Sound is spectacular while Mount Cook provides some of the country's most dramatic mountain scenery.
And yes, Lord of the Rings fans can visit Hobbiton.
Just try not to spend the entire trip shouting, "One does not simply walk into Mordor."
Your travelling companions will eventually abandon you.
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Palau
Palau is what happens when nature decides to show off.
Hundreds of lush green islands rise from brilliant blue lagoons while beneath the surface you'll find coral reefs packed with tropical fish, turtles, manta rays and sharks.
The Rock Islands are Palau's signature landscape and exploring them by kayak or boat is one of those experiences that genuinely looks as good in real life as it does in photographs.
But diving is where Palau really shines.
It's regularly regarded as one of the world's great diving destinations and attracts underwater enthusiasts from across the globe.
Admittedly, it isn't the easiest or cheapest place to reach.
But paradise rarely seems to come with a direct budget flight from Manchester.
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Papua
New Guinea
Papua New Guinea isn't somewhere you visit because you fancy lying beside the hotel pool for seven days.
The country has incredible cultural diversity alongside rainforests, mountains, remote villages, extraordinary wildlife and some superb diving.
One of its best-known challenges is the Kokoda Track, a demanding trek through mountainous jungle following a route with significant Second World War history.
Papua New Guinea is also famous for colourful cultural festivals where communities gather in traditional dress for dancing, music and ceremonies.
It requires more planning than most destinations in Oceania and travellers need to research where they're visiting carefully.
But for adventurous travellers looking for culture and experiences far removed from mainstream tourism, it can be extraordinary.
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Samoa
Samoa is exactly the sort of place that makes returning to normal life feel deeply unreasonable.
You'll find waterfalls hidden amongst tropical forests, volcanic landscapes, beautiful beaches and natural swimming pools.
One of the country's most famous spots is To Sua Ocean Trench, a spectacular natural swimming hole surrounded by lush vegetation.
Samoan culture is also a huge part of the experience.
Known as Fa'a Samoa, or "the Samoan way", traditional customs remain central to everyday life and visitors can experience local food, villages and cultural traditions alongside all that beautiful scenery.
It's a brilliant option if you want your tropical island holiday to involve more than moving between the beach and the buffet.
Although there is absolutely nothing wrong with occasionally doing that too.
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Solomon
Islands
If you like the idea of Fiji but would happily swap some of the resort polish for something more adventurous, take a look at the Solomon Islands.
Tourism remains relatively undeveloped, meaning beaches and islands can feel wonderfully untouched.
The diving is exceptional with coral reefs, marine life and numerous Second World War wrecks waiting beneath the surface.
History enthusiasts will also recognise Guadalcanal, the site of one of the Pacific's most significant campaigns during the Second World War.
Add tropical rainforest, waterfalls and traditional villages and you've got a destination offering much more than simply somewhere pretty to lie in the sunshine.
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TONGA
Tonga might suddenly have your attention.
Every year humpback whales migrate through Tongan waters and regulated swimming experiences give visitors the extraordinary opportunity to enter the water alongside them.
Which rather puts swimming with dolphins at the local marine park into perspective.
Away from the whales, Tonga offers beaches, coral reefs, caves, kayaking and traditional Polynesian culture.
With more than 170 islands, there's plenty of room to find somewhere peaceful too.
Tonga hasn't experienced tourism development on the same scale as some Pacific destinations and that's a large part of its charm.
↑ BACK TO TOPTuvalu
Tuvalu is one of those places that makes you realise just how enormous the Pacific Ocean actually is.
It's one of the world's smallest countries and one of its least visited.
Made up of nine low-lying islands and atolls, Tuvalu doesn't have a long list of famous attractions.
Come here for peaceful lagoons, snorkelling, birdlife and the chance to experience everyday life in a tiny Pacific nation.
The Funafuti Conservation Area protects reefs, lagoons and small islands and is one of the best places to experience Tuvalu's natural environment.
You'll also earn considerable travel bragging rights.
Mention you've been to Paris and everyone nods politely.
Mention you've been to Tuvalu and suddenly people have questions.
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Vanuatu
Vanuatu has clearly decided that simply being a gorgeous tropical island destination wasn't quite enough.
Mount Yasur on Tanna Island is one of the country's biggest attractions and visitors can get remarkably close to this active volcano.
Watching glowing lava erupt against a dark sky is slightly more exciting than your standard evening entertainment at the hotel.
Vanuatu also has gorgeous beaches, coral reefs, waterfalls and spectacular blue holes where impossibly clear freshwater creates natural swimming pools.
You can dive, snorkel, kayak, explore traditional villages or spend an afternoon doing absolutely nothing on a beach.
And that's what makes Vanuatu particularly appealing.
You can have the tropical island escape when you want it and then go and stand beside an active volcano when you've had enough relaxing.
As you do.
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SO, WHERE IN OCEANIA
SHOULD YOU GO?
This is where things get difficult because there really isn't one obvious answer.
If you want a big adventure with cities, beaches, wildlife and road trips, Australia gives you almost endless possibilities.
For dramatic landscapes and outdoor adventures, I'd be looking very seriously at New Zealand.
If your holiday daydream involves palm trees, turquoise water and cocktails appearing at suspiciously convenient intervals, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu should all be firmly on your list.
Divers have an almost ridiculous amount of choice with Palau, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands offering some extraordinary underwater experiences.
Travellers looking for somewhere less conventional might be tempted by Kiribati, Nauru or Tuvalu, while Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands offer culture, history and genuine adventure.
The wonderful thing about Oceania is just how different these countries are.
You could be standing beside Sydney Harbour, driving through New Zealand's mountains, snorkelling over a coral reef in Fiji, swimming alongside a humpback whale in Tonga or watching an active volcano erupt in Vanuatu.
And somewhere between researching all of those options and looking at photographs of ridiculously beautiful beaches, you'll probably encounter the biggest problem with planning a trip to Oceania.
