The Best Destinations in Oceania We Recommend to Visit for 2023

Do you know where Oceania is and which destination that are recommended to visit? Before discussing further tourist destinations in Oceania, you need to know where exactly the area is.

If you think Oceania is the name of a country, then you are wrong. Because Oceania is a geographical area that includes several in it, and it is also not a Continent name.

Oceania’s own coverage area includes Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Covering both the Eastern and Western hemispheres, Oceania has an estimated land area of 8,525,989 square kilometers and a population of over 41 million.

Which Countries Are Located in Oceania

There are at least 14 sovereign countries included in the Oceania region as listed below, we will sort them based on the largest population. Here they are:

Australia

Destination countries of Oceania - Australia
Image credit: wikipedia.org

Australia is most populous country in Oceania with the nation capital of Canberra. Since with an area of 7,686,850 square kilometers, this country has population of at least 25.7 million people.

Papua New Guinea

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Papua New Guinea is Oceania’s second most populous country, with a total population of 9.1 million. Then the national capital is Port Moresby and has an area of 462,840 square kilometers.

New Zealand

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New Zealand is Oceania’s third most populous country, with a total population of 4.8 million. Then it nation’s capital city is Wellington and has an area of 268,680 square kilometers.

Fiji

Destination countries of Oceania - Fiji
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The Republic of the Fiji Islands is the fourth most populous country in Oceania. Because they have a total population of 902,906 people, one level below New Zealand.

Despite only having an area of 18,270 square kilometers, Fiji is an island nation in the southern Pacific Ocean. And the capital city of the country is Suva.

Solomon Islands

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The Solomon Islands is the fifth most populous country in Oceania, with a total population of 703,996. It is an island nation in the southern Pacific Ocean located east of Papua New Guinea and is part of the Commonwealth.

Then the area of the country is around 28,450 square kilometers with the nation’s capital in Honiara.

Vanuatu

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The Republic of Vanuatu is the sixth most populous country in Oceania. Since with a total area of 12,200 square kilometers, they have population of 314,464 peoples.

Then the country is located in the territory of Melanesia, in the east of Australia with the nation’s capital at Port Vila.

Samoa

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Samoa is an archipelago in the southern Pacific Ocean consisting of 2 main islands and 7 smaller islands. Although the area is not that large, it is the seventh most populous country in Oceania, with a total population of 200,149.

However, Samoa is one of the countries with the smallest area in the world with an area of 2,944 square kilometers and its capital is Apia.

Kiribati

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The Republic of Kiribati is the next most populous country in Oceania with the capital city of South Tarawa. Despite only having an area of 811 square kilometers, the country has a total population of 115,847 people.

Federated States of Micronesia

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Federated States of Micronesia is the next populous country in Oceania with the capital city of Palikir. Despite only having an area of 702 square kilometers, this country has a population of 112,640 people.

Tonga

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Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga, is the next most populous country in Oceania with the capital city Nukuʻalofa. Despite the area is only 748 square kilometers, this country has a population of 106,760 people.

Marshall Island

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Then the next country is Republic of the Marshall Islands, this is Oceania’s next most populous country, with 59,610 people. This island nation is located in the western Pacific Ocean.

Then it capital city of the country is Majuro with an area of only 181 square kilometers.

Palau

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Next is the Republic of Palau, is the next country in Oceania, with 18,169 people. This archipelagic country is located in the Ocean, 500 km east of the Philippines

The capital city of the country is Ngerulmud with an area of only 458 square kilometers.

Tuvalu

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Tuvalu, formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is an island nation located between Hawaii and Australia in the Pacific Ocean. The country has a population of only about 11,931 people with an area of only 26 square kilometers and its capital is Funafuti.

Nauru

Destination countries of Oceania - Nauru
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Lastly, Nauru, formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island nation in Micronesia in the Central Pacific. Although the country area is the smallest of all with only 21 square kilometers, it has a population about 10,876 people.

Then the capital city of the country is Yaren.

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Best Famous Tourist Destinations in Oceania

This is definitely the part you’ve been waiting for the most, here are the best and interesting tourist destinations in Oceania:

First Oceania Best Destinations – Sydney Opera House

Best destinations in Oceania - Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House, Australia. Tyler Duston/Unsplash.com

Anyone of you will certainly recognize this Sydney Opera House, the best destination in the Oceania area. This iconic modern building is a World Heritage Site built around the world’s largest natural harbor, Sydney Harbor, Australia.

The Sydney Opera House is built on several concrete piers so that it looks like it is floating on water. The building was completed in 1973 and can accommodate more than 5,000 people.

Second Oceania Best Destinations – Queensland Great Barrier Reef

Queensland Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Yanguang Lan/Unsplash.com

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the largest coral reefs in the world located in Queensland, Australia. This natural wonder is so huge, it stretches for more than 2,300 km it can even be seen from outer space.

Tourist destinations in this Oceania country have been named a World Heritage site and in 1981. The tours offered are diving, snorkeling and some enjoy exploring the reef on a boat or cruise.

Third Oceania Best Destinations – Hobbiton

Best destinations in Oceania - Hobbiton movie set
Hobbiton Movie Set, New Zealand. Andreas Iga/Unsplash.com

New Zealand is home to the set of the “Lord of the Rings”, trilogy movies that you’re sure to know. Then, one of the biggest draws for fans of the film is Hobbiton, the hobbit territory depicted in the film.

Fourth Oceania Best Destinations – Lake Taupo

Best destinations in Oceania - Lake Taupo
Lake Taupo. New Zealand. Callum Parker/Unsplash.com

Lake Taupo is New Zealand’s largest freshwater lake with fantastic natural surroundings. You can explore all the aquatic activities while watching the Huka waterfalls. And you can also enjoy the rapids of Ariatiatia and visit the impressive Maori Rock Carvings in Mine Bay

Fifth Oceania Best Destinations – Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple

Best destinations in Oceania - Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple
Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple, Fiji. Image credit: tripadvisor.com

Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple is one of the largest Hindu temples in the Pacific with its stunning architecture. Found in Nadi, Fiji, this temple is characterized by fine carvings and colorful patterns.

Even though it is a place of worship, this destination in Oceania often holds various festivals so that visitors can participate in the celebrations.

Sixth Oceania Best Destinations – Tsunami Rock, Kingdom of Tonga

Best destinations in Oceania - Tsunami rock
Tsunami Rock, Kingdom of Tonga. Tom Rooney/Travelblog.org

The reef is 15m/50ft wide and now more than 100m/30ft from the coast of Tonga’s main island, Tongatapu. What makes it so extraordinary is not its size but its location which is quite far from the beach.

Researchers call it the Tsunami Rock because they believe that only giant waves can move the rock. Meanwhile, the most powerful tsunami wave in history was the result of the explosion of the Indonesian Krakatoa volcano, in 1883.

Seventh Oceania Best Destinations – To Sua Ocean Trench

Best destinations in Oceania - To Sua Ocean Trench
To Sua Ocean Trench, Samoa. Image credit: nationalgeographic.grid.id

The To Sua Sea Trench is a Pacific Gem located on Samoa’s main island, Upoha. This destination is very popular among tourists visiting Oceania.

The ocean trough is a fantastic saltwater swimming spot and an afternoon picnic spot. So this destination deserves the best position in Oceania.

Eighth Oceania Best Destinations – Sopoaga Waterfall

Sopoaga Waterfall, Samoa. Image credit: world-of-waterfalls.com

Sopoaga Falls is to the southeast of Samoa’s second largest and most populous island, Upolu. Even though it was hit by the tsunami in 2009, there are lots of luxurious and green views here.

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