Oceania

Travel through Oceania by country:

Australia, Indonesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu

Travel through Oceania by popular city:

Auckland, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Wellington

Travel through Oceania by popular things to do:

Cook Islands, Sydney Opera House

Travel through Oceania with our writers:

In the Corner of the World, Work and Play in Queensland

Round the world tickets for two up for grabs

by Brenda Yun on


Who ever said free round the world tickets and 49 other great travel-related prizes weren’t easy to win? HostelBookers.com has organized a fantastically simple contest to spread the word that its website offers booking prices at 4.2% below its top competitors. That research was performed by EyeForTravel.com, and the results can be read HERE.

HostelBookers partnered with roundtheworldexperts.co.uk to offer one lucky traveler the chance to win round the world air travel and hostel accommodation for two people. If that’s not enough, you can win some other cool prizes like a Sony camcorder, iPhone, iPod, as well as backpacks full of travel goodies and travel hammocks.

All you have to do is visit this site and answer the simple question at the bottom of the page. (The answer is in the first paragraph of this post. I think you can figure it out.) You have until May 8 to enter, and winners will be notified by June 1.

Good luck!

Best job in the world candidates touch down

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Sixteen people from 15 countries set foot on Hamilton Island yesterday. They will be subjected to the final round of interviews for the “best job in the world” competition, with only one picking up the free digs and $150,000 salary for six months of absolute bliss.

Tourism Queensland‘s CEO, Anthony Hayes, is more than happy to sign a check for that amount. A good idea turned out to be amazing, and he’s recouped much more than that already. Hayes says, “We think we’ve just tipped over $100 million in international publicity with hopefully another $20 to $30 million coming this week.”

We’re waiting for a winner now, and it won’t take long. The cameras are rolling, and the candidates are ready for prime time.

Soon, we’ll have an answer. The countdown is currently at 34 hours.

For now, meet the finalists here. As you may have guessed, I’m hoping Mirjam wins.

May Day: Festivities around the world

by Brenda Yun on

May 1 is May day, and here in Hawaii it’s called Lei Day. Most of the islands’ schools are off today, and surfers will likely be in the water (as the first legitimate south swell of the summer season is here). You will find me and most of the Oahu’s daytime party goers celebrating Lei Day in Kapiolani Park, on the eastern end of Waikiki. There, between 9-5, will be a lei making contest, good old fashioned hula and musical performances, as well as plenty of food and locally made gifts.

Lei Day is all about giving and receiving aloha — and wearing leis that are one of eight colors, each representing one of Hawaii’s eight major islands. At Barack Obama’s (and my) alma mater, Punahou School, there is a grand Holoku pageant that features a royal court and lots of Hawaiian music and Polynesian dancing.

In other parts of the world, May Day means something rather different:

  • In England and other parts of Europe, a Queen of the May is crowned, and there is dancing around a maypole to celebrate the first day of summer.
  • My students tell me that only in Zurich (but not in other cities in Switzerland), there right-wing groups riot in the streets.
  • In other countries such as Greece and Australia, today is International Workers’ Day, kind of like the U.S.’s Labor Day (in early September)
  • Finally, in (post-)Communist countries like China and Russia, there are formal parades in the streets to celebrate the people’s earnest work.

However you celebrate today, I hope you receive a little “aloha.” Welcome to summer!

In the corner of the world: So, you want to go to New Zealand

by Grant Martin on

Inspired by Gadling’s recent dispatches from the South Pacific? It’s not as far away or as difficult a trip as you think. With a strong dollar, good competition on flights and a warm culture, there are plenty of reasons to grab the kids, skip church and head New Zealand right now. We’ll help you out with logistics right here:

When should I go? Since New Zealand is in the southern hemisphere, they’re just entering winter. Don’t let that stop you though, the currents in the South Pacific keep the island nation fairly warm, and even if you can’t swim with dolphins you can still enjoy 95% of what the islands have to offer. Most importantly, you should pick a time when the tickets are the cheapest.

Tell me about this ticket that you speak of. You don’t need a travel agent to book international airfares, your tools are right in front of you. Start by running a simple flexible fare search from your home airport to Auckland (AKL) and Christchurch (CHC) on Kayak.com. Most connections will be made in Los Angeles (LAX) or New York (NYC), so if you want a cheaper alternative, try searching independently from those points of departure then connecting on your own. Also consider flying into Sydney (SYD) and moving onward from there. There’s a spectacular fare war among some of the top carriers on the LAX-SYD route right now, so you might be able to cash in and fly in V Australia’s sweet new service for a dirt cheap price.
Do I need a visa? No prearranged visa is required for visits to New Zealand, but you’ll have to prove that you’re leaving or will able to leave within the bounds of your visa, so don’t forget your return trip information when you go to check in for your flight. If you’re laying over in Sydney on a separately booked ticket, you’ll need to arrange an ETA prior to departure, which you can do online.

How do I get around? New Zealand has a comprehensive bus network called Intercity that fits the budget of any frugal traveler trying to get from hot spot to hot spot across the country. One can see almost everything that the country has to offer with these coaches, and they’re also a great way to meet people.

Alternatively, most standard vehicle rental companies have offices at the airports, where you’ll be able to rent a host of miniature, very miniature and absurdly miniature vehicles. You can drive all over with your US driver’s license, but be forewarned that Kiwis drive on the left, so you’ll have to reverse your brain. Fortunately, many rentals have automatic transmissions, so you don’t have to worry about shifting as well.

Finally, many travelers rent or purchase camper vans as a means to inexpensively sleep across the countryside. Parks and campgrounds cover rural areas, so it’s simple to pull over, set up camp and spend the night, and sites like wickedcampers.co.au make rental a snap.

Do I need to bring travelers checks and money? This isn’t 1986. You can withdraw money out of the ATM machine right inside of Auckland International Airport, and save the hassle of paying fees or carrying around large sums of cash.

I’m afraid/I don’t have the time off of work/That’s a long flight/I’ve never traveled alone! Put down your white wine, stop worrying about this season of Lost and book your ticket. This is a once in a lifetime experience and you’re not going to make it if you warble around. You’ll love it. We promise.

Thanks for reading In the Corner of the World.

Eight Great Food Markets from Around the World

by Kraig Becker on

One of my favorite aspects of travel is visiting unique markets in foreign countries. These sometimes charming, sometimes chaotic, always fascinating and entertaining places offer up slices of local culture, unusual foods, and a variety of other goods, both common and unidentifiable.

It is in that spirit that BootsnAll gives us a list of eight of the world’s best food markets, offering up great places to shop for fresh food in all corners of the globe. Each of the markets on the list exhibit local influence and style, while providing a shopping experience that is sure to leave an impression on visitors long after they’ve gone home.

For instance, the list starts with Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington, a market that has been open for more than 100 years, and specializes in fresh fish and giant crab legs. There are more than 200 merchants in Pike Place, selling everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to handmade cheeses. The market is even the site of the original Starbucks.

For a completely different experience, head to the Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne, Australia. The article notes that Queen Victoria is the largest open air market in the southern hemisphere, offering up plenty of fresh food items, but also electronics, antiques and more. And during the summer months, the night market comes alive with a party atmosphere, with visitors from all walks of life strolling the market late into the evening.

Checkout the other six markets on the list as well, and if you’re traveling to any of these cities in the near future, be sure to drop by one of these markets and explore it for yourself. It is likely to be one of the most unique travel experiences of your life.