Australia & the Pacific attractions

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 hillside city of Dunedin is an important stop for cruise liners sailing around the South Island and the southernmost Dunedin Cruise Port serves as the gateway to this lively university town with Scottish roots. Use Dunedin Cruise Port as the jumping-off point for exploring the wider Otago Peninsula, a finger-like protrusion of land renowned for its marine wildlife, and more.

Established to breed seahorses for the Asian market to reduce overfishing in the wild, Seahorse World in Beauty Point, Tasmania, is now dedicated to a wide range of conservation and educational efforts. All 50-plus species of seahorses are classified as endangered, and Seahorse World attempts to support seahorses around the world while providing fun, informative guided tours for visitors.

With one of the largest collections of restored classic vehicles in existence, Bill Richardson Transport World is one of Invercargill’s most popular tourist attractions. Car enthusiasts ogle the retro Kombi vans, Model Ts, 1930s V8s, and vintage gas pumps, while kids enjoy the play area and wearable art displays.

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.

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.

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.

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.

With its colorful art, oversized mosaics, blooming flowers, and whimsical gardens, The Giants House is among Akaroa’s top attractions. In fact, the creative energies of horticulturalist and artist Josie Martin have turned this 1881 property into a kind of living art-piece, one that changes with every passing season.

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.

Overlooking the Bay of Islands and the Pacific Ocean, Cape Brett is a remote and remarkable part of New Zealand’s coastline. Trek 10 scenic miles (16 kilometers) to the tip of the peninsula, or take a day cruise or speedboat to the cape’s famous Hole in the Rock, a natural rock tunnel that comfortably fits the boats that sail there and back.

A pathway winds through the lunar-like landscape of this geothermal area, leading you past steaming vents and geysers, and gurgling mud pools. Previously dormant, the Craters of the Moon fizzed to life in the 1950s after underground water levels were altered by the activity of a nearby power station.

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.

Staglands Wildlife Reserve, a peaceful escape about an hour outside of Wellington’s hustle and bustle, is fun for children and big kids of all ages. Walk through a custom-designed nature park full of animals, from wild goats and guinea pigs to rainbow trout and endangered native birds, and feed and get to know these friendly critters.

In the heart of Hobart's waterfront area, Lark DIstillery's Cellar Door is a fantastic place to immerse yourself in the island's distilling scene. Here, you can sample a flight of specially curated whiskies from Lark's extensive collection or pick up a bottle or two to take home with you.

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.

The 17-mile (27-kilometer) Conway Circuit—formerly named the Whitsunday Great Walk—is a challenging 3-day hike through Queensland’s Conway National Park. The route can also be completed as a 4-hour mountain biking trail. The circuit provides an active, adventurous alternative—or addition—to more leisurely beach adventures in the nearby Whitsunday Islands.

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.

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.

Rippling for 113 miles (183 kilometers) from its headwaters in Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park, the River Derwent reaches Hobart as a wide, grey-green ribbon. It’s both a working waterfront and natural playground, where kayaks, sailboats, and sightseeing cruises ply the coast. Taking to the water gives you unmatched views of Hobart’s most famous landmarks, from the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) to the summit of Mt. Wellington (Kunanyi).

Flowing down from the Albert Edward Range at the south of the Kimberley region all the way to the Cambridge Gulf, the mighty Ord River is the lifeblood of the Kimberley and one of Australia’s most significant waterways. There are plenty of ways to explore the Ord River and its tributaries, which pass through two dams and two major lakes.

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.

Don’t expect to see any monkeys at Fiordland National Park’s Monkey Creek—though you might see alpine parrots. This glacier-fed spring beside the Te Anau Milford Highway (State Highway 94) is a popular place to stop and admire the views on the trip to Milford Sound, and the water’s so pure you can refill your bottle here.

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.

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 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.

Located on the Stuart Highway that cuts through the middle of the Northern Territory, Karlu Karlu is a collection of ancient granite boulders in the Outback's stark landscape. Formed over millions of years and strewn across a broad valley, the red-hued boulders are especially spectacular at sunrise and sunset.

Originally named Masterson Wines, after the gambler Sky Masterson from the musical “Guys and Dolls,” this mid-size South Australian vineyard was established in the late 1970s, eventually taking on the moniker of its winemaker, who has been credited with helping shape the Barossa winemaking industry. Since then, Peter Lehmann Wines' luscious reds and whites have been celebrated locally and internationally, and its family farm feel has welcomed visitors for generations.

Running from the slopes of Mt. Ruapehu north to Lake Taupo, the Tongariro River is an extremely popular trout-fishing spot. That’s not all that this scenic alpine waterway offers, though: hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, and white-water rafting are all available for visitors seeking adventure in the beautiful New Zealand wilderness.

Built in 1846 for Scottish settlers Patrick and Catherine Leslie, Newstead House is Brisbane's oldest colonial residence and remains one of its most renowned heritage properties. Set on the banks of the Brisbane River, the historic home is now a house museum, beautifully recreated in late Victorian style. Visitors can step back in time as they explore Newstead House, admiring the vast collection of period furnishings and marvelling over unique artefacts like a signal cannon, Sir Thomas Brisbane’s pipe and a model of the HMS Beagle ship sailed by Royal Navy captain John Wickham, a former resident. The house also hosts a number of special events and educational programs including the chance to experience Victorian-style cooking, washing and games.