Name: Oceania
Area: 8,970,000 sq km (3,463,000 sq mi)
Location: Eastern and Western Hemisphere, Southern and North Hemisphere, in south and southeast Pacific Ocean
Population: 41 million (2020)
Population density: 4.6/sq km (12/sq mi)
Languages: English, French, Maori
Time zones: UTC+8 to UTC+12
Number of countries: 14
Main countries: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa…
Largest cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth, Adelaide, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Port Moresby, Suva, Honolulu…
Oceania literally means the land surrounded by ocean, because it is located in the central and southern part of the Pacific Ocean, consisting of one landmass and numerous islands crossing both Southern and North Hemisphere and Eastern and Western Hemisphere. It lies between Asia and Antarctica and faces South America in the east. Its land area is only 8,970,000 sq km (3,463,000 /sq mi), about 6% of the earth’s total land area, making it the smallest continent in the world. It is also the world’s least populous continent after Antarctica.
Although most parts of Oceania lie in tropical zone and subtropical zone, it is not very hot thanks to the surrounding vast sea. The annual average temperature is mostly 25-28℃ (77-82℉). As a whole, it is suitable to pay a visit throughout the year. For Australia and New Zealand, spring from September to November and autumn from March to May with mild temperature are the best for sightseeing; summer from December to next February is the best for seawater activities; and winter from June to August is the best for skiing in New Zealand. Every year from May to September, it is the best time to watch whales in Australia. For tropical islands like Tahiti and Fiji, the dry season from May to October is the best.
Oceania is not very rich in historical and cultural remains, but picturesque natural wonders are everywhere, including high volcanoes, winding coastlines, lush rain forest and grassland, colorful underwater world, dry desert and various tropical islands. Besides, it is home to some rare animals like kangaroo, koala and world's smallest penguins.
Great Barrier Reef: Spanning 2,011 km (1,250 mi) along the northeast coast of Australia, it is the world's largest and longest coral reef groups, consisting of 2,900 coral reefs in various sizes and colors.
Sydney Opera House: It is the landmark of Sydney and even the whole Australia, shaping like several open shells.
Gold Coast: It is as long as 42 km (26 mi), located in east Australia. It is a paradise for surfing. Besides, there are many theme parks along it worth visiting.
Mount Eden: The mountain is actually the crater of an extinct volcano, located 5 km (3 mi) away from Auckland, New Zealand. Standing on top of it, visitors can get a panoramic view of the whole Auckland.
Sky Tower: It is a landmark of New Zealand, located in the center of Auckland. It is the highest building in the whole Southern Hemisphere, with a height of 328 meters (1,076 feet).
Lake Tekapo: Located southwest to Christchurch, New Zealand, it is famous for the mysterious color of blue and milky white. In winter, the surrounding snow mountains are great places for skiing.
Hobbiton Movie Set: The famous movies "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" were shoot here. There are 42 Hobbit holes there. It is about 2 hours' drive from Auckland.
Te Puia Maori Village: Maori are aborigines of New Zealand. This site is the best place to learn the customs and traditions of Maori people. Visitors can see their traditional houses, clothes, carvings and daily life here. Besides, there are geysers, mud pools and kiwi house nearby.
Various Islands: They are the best choices for a seaside vacation and water activities, like snorkeling, surfing and swimming. Some of the most famous ones include Fiji, Hawaii, Tahiti, and Vanuatu.
More things to see in Australia: Queensland Rainforest, Blue Mountains National Park, Twelve Apostles，Kangaroo Island, The Pinnacles, St. Paul's Cathedral…
More things to see in New Zealand: Queenstown, Milford Sound, Tongariro National Park, Waitomo Glowworm Caves, Church of the Good Shepherd…