Region info. + maps
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific (ethnologically divided into the subregions of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia) to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago.Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising New Zealand, Australia, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes (1756). He derived it from the Latin for "south of Asia" and differentiated the area from Polynesia (to the east) and the southeast Pacific (Magellanica). It is also distinct from Micronesia (to the northeast). Australasia sits on the Indo-Australian Plate, together with India.
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses:
the North Island
the South Island
and numerous smaller islands
Regions of the North Island
Regions of the South Island
Islands in harbours and open sea
Rurima Rocks, including Rurima Island
Islands in rivers and lakes
Dome Islands (in Lake Te Anau)
Inch Clutha (in the Clutha River delta)
Moutoa Island (in the Whanganui River)
Pig Island (in Lake Wakatipu)
Rakaia Island (in the Rakaia River delta)
Rangitata Island (in the Rangitata River delta)
Tree Island (in Lake Wakatipu)
Outlying islands
The New Zealand sub-antarctic islands are considered World Heritage Sites:
Main North Island cities and towns
Main South Island cities and towns
Blenheim
With a population of about 30,000 people, it is well known for its many wineries. The town enjoys one of New Zealand's sunniest climates, with hot dry summers. Attractions include the Omaka aerodrome - the setting for the biennial Classic Fighters Marlborough airshow, the annual 'Blues, Brews and BBQ's' festival and the nearby town of Picton
Cromwell
A small tourist town located in the heart of the Central Otago region. With a population of about 3,500 Cromwell attractions include Old Cromwell Town, Cromwell Gorge, the Bendigo Goldfields and a huge range of stone fruit orchards
Greymouth
The largest town on the West Coast of New Zealand. With a population of about 10,000 people it is located at the mouth of the Grey River. Local attractions include Lake Brunner and the nearby Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki. Local activities include fishing, hiking, boating and gold mining tours
Kaikoura
A popular holiday town nestled between the Kaikoura coast and the seaward Kaikoura range, it has a permanent population of about 2,000 and is famous for its crayfish, southern fur seals, albatrosses and other marine wildlife. There are a range of walking tracks and you can join a cruise and swim with dolphins and whale
Mount Cook Village
The village is nestled beneath Mt Cook, in the Canterbury region of New Zealand. While few people live here, it is a very popular tourist destination offering a range of river and glacial walks, mountaineering, and scenic flights
Wanaka
This resort town is nestled on the shores of Lake Wanaka. The town has a population of about 5,000 and is the gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park. Alongside the national park and beautiful Lake Wanaka, other attractions include Puzzling World and the biennial Warbirds over Wanaka airshow