Oceania flights and travel guide

The small continent of Oceania contains some of the most diverse and fascinating areas on the planet. Its largest country, Australia, boasts spectacular landscapes, including the vast expanse of the Outback, stunning Ayres Rock and the ever-popular Great Barrier Reef. Its cities are vibrant. Most travellers who book flights to Oceania arrive in Sydney and many take a visit to cosmopolitan Melbourne. Neighboring New Zealand is popular with travellers looking for natural wonders. Flowing rivers, glacial mountains and primeval forests astonish both visitors and natives, who refer to it as “Godzone”.

Of these the other countries in Oceania, the most popular islands are Fiji and French Polynesia. The beautiful beaches, excellent diving and fascinating culture are especially popular with honeymooners, many of whom arrive from flights to Oceania every year to explore these islands. Of all the destinations in Oceania, the one that best epitomizes the South Pacific is Tahiti. Its tropical waters and sandy coves have attracted visitors for years. One traveller, artist Paul Gauguin, was so delighted by Tahiti that he left his family behind and moved there in search of inspiration.

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Oceania climate

One of the main appeals of Oceania is the excellent climate. Year-round sunshine and summers that coincide with our winters encourage travellers to book flights to Oceania throughout the years. Even the winters, however, are relatively mild.

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When to fly to Oceania

Peak season:

Australia and New Zealand see an influx of visitors between December and February when temperatures are hot in Oceania, but cold in North America and Europe.

The islands in the South Pacific including Fiji, French Polynesia and the Cook Islands can be visited year-round. The dry period, from May to October, is when the weather is especially mellow.

Offseason:

Winter is from June to August and fewer visitors arrive in the continent during these months.

On the islands, the rainy season runs from December to March, which is when there is the greatest risk of tropical cyclones.  

Papa New Guinea’s climate is monsoonal: wet from December to March and hot and humid between May and October. Guam, on the other hand, is wet throughout the year and typhoons tend to come round between the months of July and November.

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Getting around Oceania

Oceania is a small continent but its landmasses are widespread, so Oceania flights are often the best method of getting around. In Australia there are two main domestic carriers: Jetstar and Virgin Blue. In New Zealand the main regional airlines are Air New Zealand and Origin Pacific.

Buses are another option for long-distance travel in both countries. They’re comfortable, reliable and and extremely popular with younger travellers who spend weeks travelling by bus or coach.

The easiest way to travel between the islands is by plane and taking domestic Oceania flights is easy. A number of airlines operate in the islands: Air Fiji and Sun Air are the national air carriers for Fiji, in the Cook Islands it’s Air Rarotonga and in Papa New Guinea the main airline is Air Niugini. In American Samoa, domestic airline Inter-Island Airways flies between Pago Pago and the Manu'a Islands.

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Oceania insider information

• Most tourists visiting Oceania will start with its largest country, Australia. One place that most tourists won’t read about in their guide books is the Grampians region, a three hour drive from Melbourne. Rich in culture, the region has some of Victoria’s finest art galleries and fascinating Aboriginal rock art.  
• Australia and the islands are extremely popular with divers, but if you want to explore the deep without getting wet, head for Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World in Auckland, New Zealand. Here, you travel through a transparent acrylic tunnel on a conveyor belt and watch as the fish, sharks and stingrays, swim around you.
• The Musée Gauguin in Tahiti is a popular spot for art-lovers. The museum tells the story of the French artist who made Tahiti his home.
• Two Lovers Point, at the top of a 125m limestone cliff in Guam, is the site of an ancient Chamorro legend. Story tells that two lovers, who were forbidden from being together, leapt to their deaths from the top of the cliff.  A gilded statue of the lovers sitting on a pedestal, reminds visitors of their fate.

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Oceania airports

Some of the main airports in Oceania include:

Australia

Adelaide Airport (ADL)

Perth Airport (PER)

Sydney Airport (Kingsford Smith) (SYD)

Cook Islands

Rarotonga Airport (RAR)

Guam

Guam International Airport (GUM)

New Zealand

Auckland International Airport (AKL)

hristchurch International Airport (CHC)

Wellington International Airport (WLG)

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