Welcome to Virtual Oceania.

View over 1000 stunning images of cities, landscapes, nature, and people from Oceania. We also have maps, facts, stats, travel tips, cultural information, and news & weather. So start exploring Oceania now, by clicking on a region or country to the left. You could also try an area in the map below, or try a sampling of our images to the right. »

Oceania

Oceania has been traditionally divided into Micronesia, Melanesia, Polynesia, and Australasia. Australasia is made up of Australia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Cocos Islands, and Christmas Island and is by far the largest region in Oceania.

Australia is the largest country in Oceania. The country is famous for it's vast areas of scorching deserts or Outback as it is commonly known, but Australia also has lush rainforests, snowy mountains, rugged canyons, and spectacular beaches. In addition to this variety of terrain, you will also find one of the world's natural wonders, The Great Barrier Reef. Clearly visible from space, this reef extends for 2000 km along the Queensland coast which is about the same size as the east coast of the United States The Great Barrier Reef is world renown for diving and there are around 1000 tropical islands, some with resorts and others protected with National Park status. Australia is also one of the worlds great places for diverse and unique fauna. Kangaroos and koalas symbolise Australia, but there are many other species including a wide range of colourful birds that are just as unique. In addition to natural attractions, Australia also has some of the worlds most exciting cities. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and the Gold Coast each have a charm of their own, and are uniquely Australian.

The 2nd biggest country in Oceania and within the Australasian region is New Zealand. Although New Zealand lies in the South Pacific, it is further south and closer to the Antarctica than the tropical South Pacific Islands. So New Zealand has a cooler climate and has a superb variety of scenic landscapes. Rather than looking like a typical tropical paradise, although there are similarities, New Zealand is more akin to mountainous countries like Switzerland or Norway. The country consists of many islands but 2 main islands simply called the North Island and South Island. The more scenic South Island is a land of spectacular snow capped mountains and steep fiords while the warmer North Island is a land of volcanoes and varied thermal activity. New Zealand is also a haven for ancient beech and rain forests and both islands contain areas with beautiful beaches. New Zealand may be famous for it's natural landscapes, but it also has some great cities which are surprisingly vibrant with great night life. The cities themselves are also located on the coast and not usually far from mountainous landscapes and forest parks.

Near Australia and north of New Zealand, you will find the South Pacific Islands. These islands conjure up images of paradise and possess beautiful white sandy beaches, spectacular reefs, and lush tropical vegetation. The south pacific island nations are grouped into 3 main areas, called Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia. The more famous island groups within Micronesia include the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Nauru. Melanesia includes the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Fiji. In Polynesia you will find exotic places like Tahiti and Samoa.

Virtual Oceania gives you the chance to explore Oceania virtually. You will be able to view scenic images and learn about the countries and regions that make up this smallest but exotic continent.