After traveling through eight cities inside and outside “Down Under,” our dreams have been filled with noisy jungles of concrete and steel, and lots of people. Sweeping views revealed varied architecture, from the traditionally classic to utilitarian cutting-edge designs, helping connect us to the people of the past and the present in the South Pacific.
Thankfully, all our dreams in these three countries will not come from the urban jungles. Not even close. In the second half of this series, we’ll leave the city-hopping dreams behind and take some paths that have been less traveled. Since much of these three lands remains unspoiled by human use, taking in some of these dreams of natural beauty, grandeur and wonder both above and below sea level is certainly worth punching your ticket to see!
AUSTRALIA
Cairns
“Snorkling in the Great Barrier Reef (Australia 2011)” by paularps is licensed under CC BY 2.0
No visit to Australia would be complete without seeing the renowned Great Barrier Reef. The provincial city of Cairns, on the northeast coast, is one of the biggest departure sites for this aquatic adventure. A day cruise can turn into hours of diving or snorkeling among some of the most diverse underwater habitat on earth. If you’d rather view the reef and islands from above the water, a narrated flight by aircraft might be more interesting. (Don’t worry – you won’t need Dramamine on this 15-minute flight!) If you prefer to stay onshore, you’ll want to trek to the nearby beaches at Cape Tribulation and see the waterfalls in the Daintree Rainfest and Paronella Park.
Great Ocean Road, Melbourne to Peterborough
“Great Ocean Road” by mclcbooks is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Find a ride for a day, or a week, to experience the almost 150-mile length of the Great Ocean Road. Lighthouses, native wildlife (yes, including koalas), and seemingly endless scenic views lie around every bend. Though even a heavily condensed video won’t do the trek the degree of appreciation it deserves, a 43-minute experience, complete with stops that feature interviews with local residents, might suffice. If you prefer less talk and more scenery, this unnarrated trek is just what you are looking for.
Melbourne Zoo and Koala Sanctuary
If you don’t experience much of Australia’s wildlife on this trip, it’s not because there isn’t any to be seen! This virtual zoo stop through their website is filled with wildlife. Tour the Healesville Sanctuary (specifically for animals native to Australia), the main Melbourne Zoo itself, or the Werribee Open Range Zoo by safari or on their walking tour. To see some wildlife “live,” check out any or all of their six live webcams to watch penguins, koalas, and more. If koalas are more to your liking than dingos or kangaroos, check out the live video feed from the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary near Brisbane.
The Indian Pacific Train, Sydney-Perth
“2 Passenger trains in One” by Jarle D is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
One of the best ways to singlehandedly experience a large swath of Australia’s natural beauties is to hop aboard this 2,600-mile-long east-west train that runs through the country’s southern regions between the Pacific and Indian oceans. (A separate and shorter rail expedition is on The Ghan, which runs north-south and splits the country nearly in half between Adelaide, Alice Springs and Darwin.) Wind-swept coastal views turn into lush vegetation, then to the desert Outback, and back again in this fantastic trip, with several opportunities to stretch your legs and visit more of natural Australia.
Alice Springs and Ayers Rock (Uluru)
“Uluru/Ayers Rock” by Corey Leopold is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Whether you take The Ghan train, or just want to forego that idea since you were just on the Indian Atlantic, stopping in the heart of the Outback must be on our list. Tour the town and experience some of the indigenous cultures as well as some of the surrounding countryside. An up-close walk would allow us to experience some of the Aboriginal art depicted on the massive sandstone outcrop. But a scenic overview of Uluru and the surrounding area might be easiest if we hitch a ride on a drone – hang onto your seat!
On Your Feet Galore, Just About Anywhere
“spider walk, karijini np” by matthew.fuentes is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Exploring Australia on foot through the country’s national park system is an accessible option almost anywhere on the continent. (Interestingly, the system’s parks are almost entirely owned and managed by the territorial/state governments rather than at the national level.) The largest terrestrial park is Kakadu, covering about 12,000 square miles of the landscape in the Northern Territory, and is one of the country’s most diverse parks. In the western regions, the Tunnel Creek park allows visitors to explore expansive cave systems on foot. Karijini’s extensive trail system accesses an array of landscapes, from sharp mountaintop spires to secluded gorges and expansive plains. If you’d like to give your hiking boots a break, take a boat tour in and around Cape Range park, just off the west coast, which has the second-largest reef system around Australia. It’s common for visitors to witness humpback whales and manta rays on a boat tour.
NEW ZEALAND
“More New Zealand” by In Memoriam: VernsPics is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
There is a reason The Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed on location in New Zealand: a concentration of massive landscapes, complete with pristine valleys and towering mountain ranges. (If you want to learn more about the Rings locations, check out this recent post from “Finding the Universe”.) Thankfully, most of the sites are in national parks, considerably easing our virtual travel experience to some of the most stunningly beautiful places on earth.
Tongariro N.P.
“Tongariro Panorama EXPLORE” by Miss Basil85 is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
With over 20% of New Zealand being preserved in national parks, you have lots of options for what scenery you want to visit. As the oldest national park in the country, Tongariro will do quite nicely for this go-round, with plenty of views to take in. (Be mindful to not touch some of the geographic features, which are still considered sacred to the native Maori people.) The southern hemisphere is in the second half of winter, so snow and cold weather conditions are still considered normal. The balmier southern slopes of Mount Ruapehu are lushly green right now, but the rugged snow-draped peaks are strikingly photogenic from almost any angle. Alternate between the eleven – yes, eleven! – live webcams for a real-time virtual drop into the park. Another option is to join a nearly 12-mile hike on the Alpine Crossing between two of the active volcanos in the park. If your boots aren’t up to the journey, enjoy this shorter video of the still-gorgeous hike on the same route, complete with narrated guide. In either case, be glad you don’t have to get up at 4:30am or hike for 7-8 hours to join them through the tangible land of Mordor! Whew.
Castle Point Lighthouse and Seacoast
“Castle Point Lighthouse” by dave.fergy is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
As the tallest lighthouse on the North Island at nearly 160 feet above sea level, the grounds are open to visitors! Spectacular views abound on all sides, from the Pacific to the rugged southeast coast. Be sure to check out the live feed from the webcam. Though it’s hours to Wellington, the opportunity to take in all the views are worth it.
Glacier Hunting on the South Island
“Franz Josef Glacier” by edwin.11 is licensed under CC BY 2.0
You certainly wouldn’t expect to get up close and personal to glaciers on this trip. But with such lofty peaks, this combination is an irresistible attraction on this journey. The seven-mile-long Franz Josef Glacier has been hailed as one of the easiest glaciers to experience on the planet. Along with nearby Fox Glacier and one other, make up a rare glacier triad in the southern hemisphere. Check out the live webcams of Fox and Franz Josef glaciers, or hop aboard a helicopter to fly to both. You’ll even get to see waterfalls along the way. Very cool!
Road Tripping – All Over
If a scenic meandering drive is more your style, take as much time as you like on either North or South Island – or go all-out and do both – to fully engage with this beautiful land and its people. From shorter voyages between Christchurch and Queenstown, to multi-island excursions, you almost can’t go wrong with this indulgent option. Since you probably don’t have a month or more available (and don’t want to undergo exposure to the confines of lengthy international flights), enjoy this memorable 25-minute country-wide road trip. The unnarrated video speaks for itself.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Arawa, Bougainville Region
“Bougainville Boys” by Jeremy Weate is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Get in touch with some of PNG’s native roots by visiting the autonomous region of Bougainville. From jungle treks and tropical waterfalls to nearly uninhabited beaches near Arawa, the continuously lush forest and azure blue waters open up opportunities to connect with the native populations and their heritage. All while taking in some of this unspoiled country. Dive right in and let the five-minute visit wash over you.
Nature Parks and Coral Reefs
“Kimbe Bay Coral Reefs” by Wicker Paradise is licensed under CC BY 2.0
If you’re in or near the capital, meander over to the thirty-acre Port Moresby Nature Park, located inside the city limits, to experience a uniquely diverse blend of animal, cultural, and vegetative beauty. With over 550 native animals in the park’s environs, including the elusive bird-of-paradise, you’ll rarely have another opportunity to see them. This is definitely a must-do stop on your whirlwind tour.
From there, take a short flight to the province of West New Britain, which features the underwater paradise of Kimbe Bay. With several picturesque active volcanos in the area to also take in (from a safe distance), the snorkeling and diving opportunities in this more remote area of the South Pacific rival those available off Australia’s east and west coast. For a shorter narrated dive at Kimbe Bay, check out this video. If you’re interested in even more underwater experiences, fly over to the island of Rabaul for several dives. With both extensive reef aquaculture and over 500 wrecks of World War Two aircraft and ships, you could spend a LOT of time here.
Now that we have journeyed virtually to the South Pacific, we must return to wherever you are right now. But don’t let that stop you from experiencing even more. Start your adventure. And keep dreaming.
Recommended Reading
The Library has many items available that describe the history, people, and stories of these three countries. Some e-resources are also available to borrow and enjoy. You can search for these items and place a hold. For those with the contagious “hiking on the brain,” the magazine Wild: Australia’s Wilderness Adventure Magazine is available for online browsing through the RB Digital service and the Ebsco Science Reference Center online database. The publication has an insatiable amount of hiking and nature-based experiences throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World’s Strangest Parrot by Sy Montgomery
The last 91 kakapo parrots on earth live on Codfish Island, located off the southern coast of New Zealand. Journey there to read how scientists are working to rebuild this once numerous species.
A Madness of Sunshine by Nalini Singh
The fictional settlement of Golden Cove, on the west coast of New Zealand’s South Island, has little crime to worry about for its lone cop, Detective Will Gallagher. But when a resident doesn’t return from a run, a missing person’s search rapidly turns into a full-blown investigation after it appears connected to previous cases that are astonishingly similar. Is something bigger afoot in Golden Cove?
War at the End of the World: Douglas MacArthur and the Forgotten Fight for New Guinea, 1942-1945 by James P. Duffy
The years-long fight to control the strategic lynchpin of New Guinea is often overlooked in World War Two narratives. With troops living in and fighting through some of the most inhospitable conditions on the planet, the island witnessed over 1 million combined troops slogging through efforts to seize the geographic, strategic, and human advantage over their opponent. Yet, often, the island was more deadly than the enemy.
The Reef: A Passionate History by Iain McCalman
The Great Barrier Reef has a storied history, complete with explorers, tourists, and scientists. In this narrative, the lives of twenty people who encountered the Reef over the last two and a half centuries are woven together because of this geographical wonder. Yet each has a different perspective, a different experience to share, of their encounter with this fragile landmark.
A Long Way from Home by Peter Carey
The Redex Trial race around Australia, 10,000 miles in all, is unlike any other in the world. In this story, set in 1954, three individuals from vastly different backgrounds band together as a race team to hopefully win. And along the way, they learn a lot about themselves, the others they encounter along the way, and the land they live in.
Polar Explorer by Jade Hameister
At age 14, Jade became the youngest person ever to complete the Polar Hat Trick: crossing the North Pole, South Pole, and Greenland on separate expeditions. Read how she set this personal goal, how each journey was a feat in and of itself, and what the newfound accomplishment means for her life.
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