Oceania Travel Guide

The ultimate guide to the best things to do and see in Oceania

A massive region of the world including Australia and New Zealand, Oceania is an extremely rich and diverse part of the world. Start here with my basic Oceania travel tips, or jump down below to read my latest Oceania travel blogs.

When to Visit

Oceania is a huge and diverse region of the world with many different climates. The most important thing to remember when planning a visit to any part of Oceania is that since it’s in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are opposite to the north hemisphere, therefor summer is from December to February and winter is from June to August.

Two Weeks in Oceania

Planning a dream trip to Oceania? There are so many ways to plan a trip, but the first step is choosing a starting point and an ending point—usually dictated by your flights. Once you know your starting city and final destination, you can connect the dots pretty easily. Here are few suggested two-week itineraries for Australia and New Zealand specifically.

Adelaide – Melbourne – Sydney – Brisbane – These four big cities in southeastern Australia are perfect to combine for a two week vacation to cover some of the coolest places in Australia. Start off in Adelaide, the festival capital of Australia and experience some of the unique cultural scene. From there, head to Melbourne, perhaps the most hipster of all Australian cities before stopping in Sydney, the country’s largest (and arguably gayest) city. Finally, head up the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane for sun, sea and surf.

Auckland – Matamata – Rotorua – Christchurch – Wanaka – For a bit of everything that beautiful New Zealand has to offer from big city to stunning landscapes, natural wonders and adventure sports, this itinerary from the far north to almost the southern tip of the Land of the Long White Cloud will give you a taste for just how amazing this country is.

Oceania Tours

Taking a tour is a great way to see various parts of Oceania, especially some of the more inaccessible areas. Take a look at this selection of Oceania tours.

LGBT – Gay Oceania Travel Guide

Oceania is now a great part of the world to visit for gay travelers, with both Australia and New Zealand now recognising marriage equality. There are of course tons of parties, clubs and events going on in these two countries for LGBT tourists, but here are the top three gay pride events in the region.

Mardi Gras, Sydney – Perhaps the most wild and hedonistic gay street party in the world(?), Sydney Mardi Gras taking place in late February is not to be missed! With a two week long itinerary, multiple smaller parties, outdoor activities, exhibitions, art shows and family friendly stuff too, there’s a lot going on!

Midsumma Festival, Melbourne – Also happening annually in February, this festival is so much more than just a gay pride. There are film screenings, art exhibitions, standup shows, discussion panels, performance art and even sporting events.

Auckland Pride – In early February, the largest gay pride event in New Zealand takes over the streets of Auckland. There’s a parade, parties and celebrity appearances.

More gay travel resources here.