Four stops at the far side of the world, between red desert, turquoise lagoons, dramatic fjords and Pacific islands.
Her Oceania notebook
From red earth to Pacific lagoons
In Oceania, Caroline changes scale once again. The continent becomes archipelago, desert, mountain and lagoon. Distances are immense, landscapes sharply contrasted and every stop has an instantly recognisable visual identity.
For this first selection, four destinations set the tone: Uluru in the heart of Australia, Bora Bora in French Polynesia, Milford Sound in New Zealand and Fiji's Mamanuca Islands.
4Oceania stops
4 worldsdesert, lagoon, fjord, islands
€29.90poster price
01
Australia · Northern Territory
Uluru — Australia's red heart
Uluru rises from the desert of Australia's Red Centre as an isolated sandstone mass visible for kilometres. The site is profoundly sacred to the Anangu, the Aboriginal traditional owners of this land. Its colour changes through the day, shifting from ochre to glowing red as the sun sets over the desert.
Did you know?Uluru extends far beyond the part we can see: a large share of its rock mass continues below ground level.
Bora Bora is dominated by Mount Otemanu, the spectacular remnant of an ancient volcano. Around the main island, the coral reef encloses a lagoon in almost unreal shades of blue, dotted with motu islets. This combination of volcanic relief and sheltered lagoon has made Bora Bora one of the most famous silhouettes in the South Pacific.
Did you know?Otemanu rises to around 727 metres, and its profile changes dramatically depending on where it is viewed from around the lagoon.
Milford Sound, or Piopiotahi, lies in Fiordland National Park in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. Glaciers carved deep valleys here that are now flooded by the sea. Mitre Peak rises directly above the dark water, while heavy rainfall feeds countless waterfalls down the steep cliffs.
Did you know?Despite the English name 'Sound', Milford Sound is geologically a fjord because it was carved by glaciers.
West of Viti Levu, the Mamanuca Islands form a chain of volcanic and coral islets surrounded by turquoise water. Pale beaches, reefs and small green-covered hills create one of Fiji's most iconic settings. Their proximity to Nadi also makes them one of the most accessible gateways to Fiji's island world.
Did you know?Several islands in the group are so small that you can sometimes walk around them in very little time.
