What is Oceania
Oceania is a term that covers a very large geographical area that comprises many islands in the Pacific Ocean, including the island continent - Australia. Some divide Oceania into 4 sub-regions - Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. Many of the islands have beautiful beaches and many would consider the region a beach lover paradise. It is thus no coincidence that the major economic activities of many of these islands is tourism.Australasia
Included in this sub-region are Australia, Christmas Island (Australia), Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Australia), New Zealand and Norfolk Island (Australia).Australia
Australia is a vast land mass, an island continent with regions having climate from tropical to desert. Tasmania, the southmost island of Australia have an extremely variable climate with high fluctuations in temperature and wind speed all within an average week. As far as Australian beaches are concerned, the most popular state is Queensland which boast of the longest reef in the world, the Great Barrier Reef.Whitsunday Islands
Photo of the WhitsundaysWhitsunday Islands are a collective of continental islands of various sizes off the coast of Queensland. Tropical Queensland offers warm waters and the stunning Great Barrier Reef, great place for scuba diving. Some call the Great Barrier Reef a divers Mecca (Mecca is a must go place for Muslime to perform the Haj or pilgrimage). The Whitsundays has companies offer dive courses for every skill level from novice dives to a full 5 day diving courses. Not only that, the beautiful coral and abundant marine life are not far from the coasts. You can get stunning snorkelling spots right on your doorstep as fringing reefs surround many of the islands.
It is also paradise for sailing in the sheltered, warm waters of the Whitsundays and it is considered as one of the worlds premier sailing destinations. You can hire a wide range of vessels ranging from multi-hulls to cruisers to luxury yachts. If you don't want to skipper the yatches yourself, you can hire a diverse fleet of crewed and skippered sailing craft from Whitsundays either as individuals or in groups for trips around the coast and islands for periods of 3 to 6 days. You may also get to enjoy views of the magnificent humpback whales frolic in the calm waters between July and September. The sand on the beach are 99% pure white sand and fine. It is said that the NASA used sand from the beaches of Whitsunday Islands to make lenses for their telescopes. However, don't try to take some home or you ma be fined $5000 or more.
Whitsunday Islands are grouped into collections of islands such as:
The Whitsunday Group
Islands included in the Whitsunday Group are Bird Island, Black Island, Border Island, Cid Island, Cowrie Island, Deloraine Island, Dent Island, Dumbell Island, Dungarra Island, Esk Island, Fitzalan Island, Hamilton Island, Harold Island, Haslewood Island, Hayman Island, Henning Island, Hook Island, Ireby Island, Langford Island, Long Island, Lupton Island, Nicolson Island, Perseverance Island, Plum Pudding Island, Teague Island, Titan Island, Whitsunday Island, Wirrainbela Island and Workington Island.Lindeman Group
The Lindeman Islands comprisses a group of islands off the coast of Queensland situated within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The islands in the Lindeman Group include Baynham Island, Cornston Island, Gaibirra Island, Triangle Island, Keyser Island, Lindeman Island, Little Lindeman Island, Maher Island, Mansell Island, Pentecost Island, Seaforth Island, Thomas Island and Volskow Island.The Molles
Islands in the Molles group include Daydream Island which was formerly referred to as West Molle Island, Denman Island, Goat Island, Mid Molle Island, North Molle Island, Planton Island and South Molle Island.Northern Group
Islands in the Northern Group include Armit Island, Double Cone Island, Eshelby Island, Gloucester Island, Grassy Island, Gumbrell Island, Olden Island, Rattray Island and Saddleback Island.If you plan to have your vacation on the Whitsundays Islands, it would be wise to book your accommodation before departure at online accommodation booking websites such as Whitsundays
Melanesia
Included in Melanesia are East Timor, Fiji, Indonesia (Oceanian part only), New Caledonia (France), Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.Fuji
Fiji (Republic of the Fiji Islands), is an archipelago of about 322 islands. Only 106 have permanent residents and there are 522 islets. Viti Levu and Vanua Levu are its two major islands, accounting for 87% of Fiji's population. The capital city of Fiji is Suva in which almost 75% of its population live. The international airport is located in the town of Nadi and Lautoka hosts the sea-port. Fiji has been blessed with much resources like forest, mineral, and fish resources, and thus is one of the more developed of the Pacific island . However, a significant portion of its population still live at subsistence level. Fiji is highly dependent on the tourism industries as sugar processing contributes only about 33% of its industrial activity.Fiji attractions
Fishing at FijiThere are lots to do here in Fiji, especially if it has anything to do with the sea. You can go parasailing, jet skies, enjoy banana boat rides and speedboats. Or hop on a schooner to go to Tivua Island, a beautiful uninhabited coral island with good snorkeling. Another small island to visit is Malamala Island, another small and beautiful uninhabited coral island where you can get glass bottom boat and enjoy beach barbeques by the crystal clear sea water. Or go fishing with a boat like the one you see in the photo.
Accommodations in Fiji
With such an isolated place like Fiji, if you plan to visit Fiji, I and I am sure you are not going to board the airplane minus booking ahead your accommodation before arrival. Previously it was almost impossible. Now with the Internet and online accommodation booking websites like Fiji Hotels, it will be a breeze, and you will get lots and lots of breezes when you arrival in Fiji.Vanuatu
The Republic of Vanuatu is an island nation, an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean near Australia and Fiji. So if you visit either Australia or Fiji, you might as well drop by Vanuatu. Vanuatu, the archipelago was previously a colony of the United Kingdom and France jointly. It achieved independence in 1980 and became the Republic of Vanuatu, a vary young nation.Vanuatu attractions
Photo of VanuatuIn Vanuatu, you can just relax and laze around on the beach or you can be very active. You can visit places like Hideaway Island, Mele Cascades or Mele. Want to do something very unique which very few people have a chance to do? Go send a postcard or postcards to those you left behind from the world's only underground post office in Hideaway Island. Or you can go snorkeling, kayaking, or just plain swim in the crystal clear water. Don't like water? Picnic on the beautiful beach. Or go get lots of healthy and invigorating negative ions in the waterfalls.
Accommodation in Vanuatu
Just like any places in the world, Vanuatu have hotels. But if you don't want to sleep on the beach, get your accommodation via online accommodation booking websites like Vanuatu Hotels before you even go out of your front door.Polynesia
Polynesia is generally considered as including Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands and French Polynesia. French Polynesia itself include many sub-groups such as the French territory of New Caledonia. And with New Caledonia is Noumea.Noumea
Nouméa is the capital city of the French territory of New Caledonia on Grande Terre island. It has a highly multi-racial population consisting of Polynesian which can be further divided into Wallisians, Futunians and Tahitians, European, Melanesian Ni-Vanuatu and Kanaks, Indonesian and Vietnamese, etc. Nouméa city has an international airport, the La Tontouta International Airport at Tontouta, about 50 kilometres from the Noumea city. Nouméa has a very pleasant climate with plenty of sunshine days plus some exquisite beaches near the city center.Noumea attractions
Windsurfing at NoumeaSee the photo? Wind surfing in Noumea. How about it? Don't like to wind surf or don't know how to, no worries. You can take a short boat trip Phare Amedee Island which small but pristine island which will take you only about half an hour to walk all over it. But don't miss the delicious local cuisine and make sure you go watch the Polynesian dancers perform while you enjoy your meals. It is also great for snorkeling, go sun bathing or just sit under the coconut trees and relax on this beautiful island. Active type? Go climb up to the top of the lighthouse for a sceanic view of the lagoon encircling Noumea. Nothing can beat that.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment