Oceania - Ωκεανία

THE Oceania is a vast, arbitrarily defined area of ​​the world where nations are connected by the Pacific Ocean - instead of land borders. Here are beautiful white beaches, coconut palms rocking in the wind, beautiful coral reefs and volcanic islands emerging from the blue ocean. Of the different nations of Oceania, some have some of the most international cities in the world, and some have some of the most remote villages.

Areas

THE Australia, the New Zealand and the Papua New Guinea are the largest countries on the continent with the first two being the most visited destinations. Oceania also includes the vast island nation Polynesia to the Far East, the Melanesia in the West and Micronesia North.

Cities

• Apia —A little outdated city, yet useful as a starting point for new travelers
• Auckland - multicultural noisy metropolis with very good quality of life
• Christchurch - known as the City of Gardens, is full of trees and old English buildings
• Melbourne - multicultural and full of sports, this city is full of cultural institutions
• Νουμεά - has beautiful beaches and colonial villas and is not (yet) a heavy tourist destination
• Παπεέτε - it is not a tropical paradise, but it has a market, food, drink and is nice for people who spend the night.
• Port Moresby Papua New Guinea is a sprawling capital, but it can be very dangerous
• Plaster - Fiji's major commercial and political center, capital of tourism
• Sidney - Australia's largest and most cosmopolitan city, with Opera House and Harbor Bridge

Other destinations

• Abel Tasman National Park - long hiking trails in forests, hills and beaches
• Αϊτουτάκι —The classic card with palm trees on a tropical island and turquoise waters
• Gulf of the Islands - a beautiful spot in New Zealand with historical significance
• Bora Bora - the most beautiful lagoon in French Polynesia, but incredibly expensive
• Coral Coast - amazing beaches with white sand and palm trees
• Large Coral Reef - the largest coral formation in the world, an ideal location for diving
• Mo'oraa - economical alternative to Bora Bora
• Ulourou-Kata Giuta National Park (Uluru-Kata Tjuta) - world famous sandstone monolith 348 meters high full of inscriptions made by ancient natives
• ΒαΒά'ου - group of Tonga islands, common destination for yachts

Understanding

European influence

THE Australia and the New Zealand are two former British colonies that developed into autonomous countries within the wider context of the British Empire. Papua New Guinea It was, at one time, under the auspices of the United Nations and was administered by Australia. Various islands were annexed by Britain, Spain, Portugal, Germany, France, Australia and the United States. aspects of culture. In many areas both the indigenous language and the language of the colonial power are spoken, often with interesting linguistic admixtures. There was also an impact on gastronomy and architecture.

Common cultural heritage

Ecology

From an ecological point of view, Oceania also includes its eastern parts Indonesia until the Lombok and Sulawesi.

Arrival

By air

See related country articles for detailed information on how Arrival.

The big countries Australia and New Zealand They offer connections to and from all continents, although there are a few direct flights from South America. There are also other companies that offer opportunities to get to Oceania, and engage in exciting tours.

Air France connects directly New Caledonia with Tokyo and Paris and has flights to and from Tahiti. It also has connections to Sydney and Auckland. Air Pacific connects Fiji with the Los Angeles and through Sidney, has a response to Auckland and Tahiti. Tahiti is connected to Los Angeles and you can fly directly to Cook Islands. Air New Zealand has routes to Tonga and Samoa from Los Angeles and Auckland. The Los Angeles route is subsidized by the New Zealand government as a form of aid to both countries.

THE Manila, the Guam and the Honolulu offer routes to many Micronesian countries, mainly with Continental Airlines. Smaller islands with less tourism have more difficult access. Many are completely abandoned and some have access restrictions.

By boat

South Pacific Cruise

Tour

By air

If there is no yacht or time, the only quick way to get around Oceania is by plane. The Sidney, the Brisbane, the Auckland and Los Angeles provide good connections to the whole area. It is usually possible to fly from the west coast of the USA via Sydney or Auckland to Hawaii, the Tahiti, the islands Fiji or even Cook Islands.

However, airlines tend to change frequently, depending on whether companies find them profitable or not. Much of Micronesia, under US administration, is operated by Continental Airlines. Much of English-speaking Polynesia receives regular flights from Air New Zealand. Melanesia is mainly served by national and Australian airlines. Do not expect daily flights. Patience is required.

Flights between Micronesia and the other two regions (Melanesia and Polynesia) are problematic and may involve flights to Honolulu or some complex route via Manila, Sydney and Auckland. Continental Airlines has (January 2011) a weekly flight from Guam to Nadi in Fiji.

Other flight options within Oceania include:

• The Guam has routes from USA and Japan and usually a very expensive route to Cairns of Far North Queensland and Fiji.
• The Cook Islands have itineraries to Tahiti.
• Tahiti has routes to Auckland.
• The Fiji have routes to Tahiti Solomon Islands, τη Samoa, Guam, the Tuvalu, the Kiribati and Vanuatu.
• Solomon Islands] has connections to Fiji and Vanuatu.
• Vanuatu is connected to Fiji and New Caledonia.
• New Caledonia has flights to Auckland.
• The triangle Tonga, Samoa and Fiji is interconnected by air, although there is currently only one flight a week between Samoa and Tonga.

See

All the island complexes are fascinating and if you have the time and money you can spend months traveling in the area. There are some beautiful islands (Samoa, Cook Islands, French Polynesia), some fascinating cultures and festivities, wonderful diving and completely deserted beaches. Check the corresponding sections in the individual entries for details.

Activities

In the water

• Corals and tropical fish. There are diving sites all over Oceania for coral and tropical fish. Explore it Large Coral Reef in Queensland and the Ningalos Reef in Western Australia. The Fiji they also have reefs around it Nadi and red coral on the more remote islands. THE Samoa is an international diving destination. The Cook Islands have accessible reef just off the beach on the main islands. The Vanuatu It also has some accessible reefs, but the facilities are not as good as in Fiji.

• Boat trip The Βαβά'ου in Tonga is a popular destination for boats crossing the Pacific. There is also the possibility of chartering yachts.

• Subtropical diving Diving and snorkeling in diving locations with or without tropical reef. THE Tasmania has several spots for diving.

On land

• Snow sports and skiing. THE New Zealand has a lot of snowfall during the winter, mostly in South Island. The Snowy Mountains (Snowy mountains) in New South Wales have the largest ski resorts in the southern hemisphere.

Gastronomy

Although imported food from outside the region, such as rice and flour, has stabilized in the domestic market, traditional roots and tubers remain a very important part of gastronomy. The cheapest species is usually cassava, as is the sweet potato, which remains a very important crop in most parts of Oceania, with the highest production in Papua New Guinea Highlands.

Tarot and yam are quite common. The latter is the most valuable of the roots and tubers and there are many customs associated with cultivation. In the area Sepik of Papua New Guinea, for example, sex in married couples is supposed to be banned during the growing period of yam. On the other hand, in Trombrain the yam harvest season is also a period of sexual freedom.

Drink

The cellar is a drink produced from the roots of a plant associated with the pepper plant and is found mainly in Polynesia, as well as the islands of Fiji and Vanuatu. It has a mild narcotic effect. It is also found under other names, among them 'aua (in Hawaii),' aba (in Samoa), yaqona (in Fiji) and saka (in Πονπέι).

It is traditionally prepared by chewing, grinding or threshing the roots of the wine plant. In Tonga, chewing is traditionally done by female virgins. The threshing floor becomes a large stone and a small collection container. The product is then added to cold water and consumed as soon as possible, always by a group of people sitting in a circle and sharing the cup. Check the laws before taking a wine cellar with you outside the country. In general, exporting or importing a wine cellar can be illegal.

Security

Common travel precautions: any socialization or involvement with the locals is always applied and receives special attention in remote areas and remote islands. Prepare carefully for trips to remote areas. Do your research, be prepared, understand that wildlife areas are a real desert.

Health

In the Vanuatu, τα Solomon Islands, the Papua New Guinea there is a local risk of malaria. In Fiji, the New Caledonia, τα Cook Islands, τη Samoa the risk of malaria has been completely eliminated.

The islands may be remote but sexually transmitted diseases know no borders. Usual precautions are necessary.