Australia & the Pacific attractions

Whanganui (also spelled Wanganui) is a small city in the lower North Island of New Zealand. It’s set close to the mouth of the mighty Whanganui River, New Zealand’s longest navigable river. Whanganui offers a number of interesting cultural attractions, it’s close to some good outdoor adventure spots, and you can catch wonderful mountain views from high up in the city.

To'ata Square (Place To'ata) is the main hub for cultural events, performances, rock concerts, and festivals in Papeete, including the annual Heiva Festival, the largest annual cultural festival in Tahiti. Anchoring the square is a 5,000-seat pavilion with an outdoor stage. Onsite snack bars sell light bites and drinks in the evenings.

Whether you’re driving or taking a guided tour, passing through the Homer Tunnel—which pierces the Darran mountains—is the only way to reach Milford Sound by road. If you’re imagining a wide, brightly lit subterranean expressway, think again: The 0.75-mile (1.25-kilometer) tunnel is narrow, steep, and unlit—except by your car’s headlights.

New Zealand’s largest theater company was founded in 1971 and puts on about 19 productions each year, ranging from serious drama to light-hearted comedy. Following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the company relocated from the Arts Centre in the heart of the city to a former grain shed in the Christchurch suburb of Addington.

Several times a day, the spill gates from a dam on the Waikato River are opened and transform the otherwise calm waterway into a turbulent melee of white-water rapids. As it courses through the gorge, the raging power of the river is harnessed by a nearby power plant in order to produce hydroelectric power.

Every Saturday in central Queenstown, artists and artisans from all over the South Island display their wares at the Queenstown Market. If you’re looking for unique souvenirs or gifts to take home, you’re bound to find something amidst the handcrafted jewelry, knitwear, bone carvings, pottery, paintings, and so much more.

Internationally popular Surfers Paradise Beach has something for all beachgoers—surfable breaks, plenty of room to lay out a towel and sunbathe, and lots of people-watching, too. In the evening there’s a vibrant nightlife scene, so if you’d like to raise a glass after a day at the beach, this is your place.

A small community on the east coast of Bora Bora, Anau is known as a dive and snorkel site. Come here to spot majestic manta rays and revel in the quiet pace of life.

Learn about the history, culture, and environment of Northern Queensland at the Queensland Museum Tropics. A branch of the Queensland Museum Network, this government-run museum educates locals and visitors about this unique part of the country through permanent exhibits, temporary exhibits, talks, and tours.

Complete an open-air climb along the outside of the Q1 Resort & Spa, one of Australia's tallest skyscrapers, in the Gold Coast suburb of Surfers Paradise. As you hike, you’ll be treated to thrilling views of seemingly endless golden beach and the brilliant blue of the Pacific Ocean—885 feet (270 meters) below. During the experience, guides will share information about the surrounding buildings and sights.

Large Mercury Bay is on the eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula and contains some of its most popular attractions, including Cathedral Cove and the town of Whitianga. Along with enjoying the beautiful beaches, travelers come here to walk along coastal paths, cruise in Te Whanganui-o-Hei/Cathedral Cove Marine Reserve, and to game fish in the bay.

The young (and the young at heart) can interact with more than 200 exhibits divided between eight hands-on galleries and an outdoor Science Garden at Questacon. Learn how tsunamis form, feel the shake of an earthquake, gaze at the surface of a giant model of the moon, or catch a show in the on-site theater.

Arnhem Land, at the far north-east of Australia’s Northern Territory, is a huge wilderness area inhabited mostly by Yolngu Aboriginal people. Some of the most ancient rock art sites in the country can be found in Arnhem Land, as well as rainforest, woodlands, gorges, wetlands, escarpments, beaches, and rivers. Outsiders must usually visit on an approved guided tour, and have a permit to enter.

A science museum focused on getting kids interested in the way things work, Scitech is home to several exhibits and experiences that appeal to young children, those in school, and adults. Features include a planetarium, films, and hands-on activities.

Karekare Beach, a wild black-sand cove surrounded by cliffs, is typical of rural West Auckland and a popular getaway from Auckland city. Part of Waitākere Ranges Regional Park, it’s where people come to walk on the beach and to the impressive Karekare Falls, spot birds, admire the views, and surf or swim.

The Mary River Wetlands are located within the Mary River National Park, in Australia’s “top end”, or northern parts of the Northern Territory. During the rainy season, the plains flood and a variety of animals, birds, and reptiles gather here, including saltwater crocodiles, water buffalo, wallabies, and more.

The Great Sandy National Park encompasses both part of mainland Queensland and the UNESCO World Heritage site Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand island. The park is divided into two sections: the Cooloola section is situated on the coast between Noosa Heads and Rainbow Beach, and the Fraser Island section encompasses almost all of the island.

In 1846, the British government had strong concerns that Auckland was exposed to attack. To ensure the safety of New Zealand’s capital—before it was moved to Wellington—veteran soldiers of British wars were brought to defend the city. Although it was never attacked, the historic cottages and homes that were built still remain intact.

The Gap and Natural Bridge are two aptly-named natural rock formations on the coast of Torndirrup National Park in Western Australia. A raised walkway across the granite cliffs offers visitors a safe route across to two viewpoints, where you can take in incredible views of the Southern Ocean below.

The Clare Valley is a shock of green hills among South Australia’s dry, flat landscape, which stretches from Auburn to Clare. Small towns with heritage cottages, vineyards, and forests provide a backdrop for the Clare Valley’s main focus as one of the state’s oldest wine regions: eating and drinking.

This small park with a tranquil stream, benches, lush vegetation, and an enormous banyan tree providing shade to visitors was named after Louis Antoine de Bougainville, a French explorer who believed he had discovered Tahiti and claimed it for France, unaware that less than a year prior it had been discovered by Samuel Wallis.

The large, white expanse of Lincoln’s Rock is a great place from which to admire the views across the Blue Mountains National Park’s Jamison Valley. Although the park might be better known for its vertical sandstone turrets (such as the Three Sisters), the flat Lincoln’s Rock is another favorite spot with photographers, near Wentworth Falls.

Cairns Cruise Port is one of Australia’s busiest cruise ports, set along the Coral Sea coast in northern Queensland. Located in the heart of Cairns, the port offers easy access to the city center and the Northern Beaches, but it’s also the gateway to the tropical north and the Great Barrier Reef.

Carved into the cliffs above the Jamison Valley near Katoomba in the Blue Mountains National Park, the National Pass trail treats hikers to some of the most awe-inspiring scenery in this UNESCO-listed region. The 2.8-mile (4.5-kilometer) loop snakes through stunning ancient landscapes, lush flora, cliff-ledge paths, and hand-cut stairways to lookouts above crashing waterfalls and the spectacular valley.

The capital of the Northern Territory, Darwin is Australia’s northernmost city and a popular stop for intrepid travelers cruising the northern shores or arriving from Southeast Asia. Located in the heart of Darwin, Darwin Cruise Port offers easy access to the city center, and it’s a gateway to Australia’s impressive national parks.

Just one of Perth’s excellent beaches, Scarborough Beach is perhaps the most visited due to the many eateries and hotels that line this stretch of the city’s coast, providing more bustle than surrounding beaches. Locals and visitors gather here on sunny days to swim, surf, bodyboard, sunbathe, picnic, skate, play sports on the beach, and more.

Faanui Bay on Bora Bora island draws visitors from all over the world, who come to enjoy its unspoiled beauty, beautiful beach and historic church.

In the remote Canterbury region of New Zealand’s South Island lies Mt. Sunday—a skyline that fans of The Lord of the Rings trilogy will recognize as the site for the soaring city of Edoras. It’s arguably the most spectacular among dozens of filming locations used by the crew.

Aussie’s most memorable creatures and critters can be found at Hobart Zoo and Aquarium, along with exotic animals and rare and endangered species from around the globe. The small family-friendly park is popular among animal lovers and provides the opportunity to see Tasmanian devils, kangaroos, koalas, and emus, without leaving Hobart.

The first of its kind in Australia, O’Reilly’s Tree Top Walk allows you to experience the rain forest canopy. Located next to Lamington National Park, the 590-foot-long (180-meter-long) walkway, much of which stands at 52 feet (16 meters), features nine suspension bridges and two observation decks for spectacular views.