Oceania
From the outback to the reef: Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
Oceania is a long flight from almost everywhere, which is exactly why it rewards a longer stay. Australia and New Zealand are road-trip countries: campervans, working-holiday visas and hostel networks are the budget infrastructure, and distances are serious (Sydney to Cairns is farther than London to Athens).
Seasons are reversed for northern-hemisphere visitors. December to February is peak summer (and peak pricing) in the south; Australia’s tropical north around Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef is at its best in the dry season from May to October. New Zealand’s shoulder months (March to May, September to November) cut campervan rates dramatically while keeping the hiking trails open.
The guides below cover both countries: when to go, what a realistic week costs and the routes worth driving.