By: McKenna Dahm
Australia
Great Barrier Reef- The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world. It is located off the coast of northeastern Australia and is 1430 miles. The Great Barrier Reef is home to 400 different types of coral.
Sydney Opera House- It cost $102 million dollars and 14 years to complete the Sydney Opera House. It hosts ballet, opera and orchestra performances and has about one million visitors each year.
Uluru- It is located in the Northern Territory of Australia in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. The Aboriginal people believe the rock formation is too sacred to climb and visitors are discouraged from taking rocks home. Visitors have returned rocks to park authorities because they had bad luck since their trip to the Uluru.
Great Barrier Reef- The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world. It is located off the coast of northeastern Australia and is 1430 miles. The Great Barrier Reef is home to 400 different types of coral.
Sydney Opera House- It cost $102 million dollars and 14 years to complete the Sydney Opera House. It hosts ballet, opera and orchestra performances and has about one million visitors each year.
Uluru- It is located in the Northern Territory of Australia in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. The Aboriginal people believe the rock formation is too sacred to climb and visitors are discouraged from taking rocks home. Visitors have returned rocks to park authorities because they had bad luck since their trip to the Uluru.
Papua New Guinea
Mount Wilhelm- Mount Wilhelm is the tallest mountain in Papua New Guinea and stands 14,000 feet above sea level. It is a part of the Bismarck Range. It is a difficult hike and is recommended for experienced hikers with guides.
Tavurur- Tavurur is Papua New Guinea's most active volcano. It's most devastating eruption was in 1994 and almost destroyed the neighboring town of Rabaul. The most recent eruption occurred in 2014.
Kokoda Trail- The Kokoda Trail is 60 miles long and is the site of a World War II battle. The Japanese fought the Australians on this trail. Their ultimate goal was to capture Australia. The trail would take ten days to hike and reaches an elevation of 7,000 feet.
New Zealand
Bay of Islands- More than 144 islands are located in the Bay of Islands. The famous rock formation, Hole in the Rock, is also located there. Bottlenose and common dolphins are often seen in the water and sightseeing tours are offered to get a closer look at them.
Tongariro National Park- The Tongariro National Park is one of the world's oldest national parks. It has hot springs, turquoise lakes and even some volcanoes. The park is also important to the Maori culture, who were the first inhabitants of New Zealand.
Franz Josef and Fox glaciers- These glaciers are the most accessible glaciers in the world and are located Westland Tai Poutini National Park. Fox glacier extends about 2,000 feet further down the valley than it did 1982. Seaplanes and helicopters allow for visitors to get an aerial view of the glaciers.
Fiji
Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park- The Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park is Fiji's first national park. The dunes range from 20 to 60 meters and developed over thousands of years. Bird watching is popular at this park and archaeological sites are located here.
Bouma National Heritage Park- The Bouma National Heritage Park is located on the island of Taveuni and was established in 1990. It occupies 150 kilometers of rain forest and has the Tavoro Waterfalls. It also has a crater lake and rare tropical plants.
Great Astrolabe Reef- The Great Astrolabe Reef is located off the coast of Kadavu, the fourth largest island of Fiji. It is the fourth largest barrier reef in the world. The reef contains many different types of fish and you can dive in the reef.
Tonga
Tofua Island- This circular shaped island is a part of the Tonga archipelago and features an active volcano and crater lake. The volcano formed a caldera, which is a large volcanic crater formed by a major eruption.
Anahulu Cave- The Anahulu Cave is made up of a many limestone caverns. It has a freshwater pool inside that you can swim in. The cave is located on the island of Tongatapu.
Mapu’a ‘a Vaea Blowholes- The blowholes are located on the south coast of Tonga's main island, Tongatapu. The Mapu'a Vaea Blowholes stretch about 5 kilometers along the coast. In the right conditions, the blowholes can expel water about 30 meters in the air.
Samoa
Piula Cave Pool- The Piula Cave Pool is 45 minutes from the capital of Samoa, Apia. It is located in the Piula Theological College and in the village of Lufilufi. The cave pool is freshwater and originated from lava tube.
Alofa'aga Blowholes- The Alofa'aga Blowholes are located in the village of Taga. The water is propelled hundreds of feet the air. The locals like to throw coconuts into the holes and watch the coconuts soar in the air.
Papase'ea Sliding Rocks- The Papase'ea Sliding Rocks are a 15 minute drive from Apia, the capital of Samoa. The rock slides are naturally formed from thousands of years of water running down the rocks. One of the slides is 5 meters long.
French Polynesia
Teahupo’o- This is the place with one of the most dangerous surf breaks in the world. It is located on the island of Tahiti and the best waves are in the months May to October. The waves crash onto a reef. Robbie Maddison tried to outrun the waves on a motorcycle with a paddle steamer-like back tire. He didn't win.
Tomb of Pomare V- Pomare V was the last king of Tahiti, the largest island of French Polynesia. He died in 1891 because consumed too much alcohol. The tomb he is placed in was originally designed for his mother. His ashes are held in an urn and there are four other graves of Tahiti kings nearby.
Point Venus- Point Venus is the spot where Captain James Cook recorded the planet of Venus passing across the sun in 1769. He arrived in the HMS Endeavour and anchored in Matavai Bay.
Micronesia
Nan Madol- Nan Madol is called the "Venice of the Pacific". It has a large assortment of old ruins and archaeological sites that date back to 500 A.D. It is located on the island of Pohnpei and was a ritual site for chiefs of the Saudeleur dynasty. The Saudeleur dynasty ruled from 1100 to 1628.
Blue Grotto of Saipan- The Blue Grotto of Saipan is a collapsed cave that is filled with seawater and has three openings that connect with the sea. The water is a bright blue color and is full of marine life such as sharks, turtles and barracudas.
Chuuk Lagoon- During World War II, the Japanese fleet docked in Chuuk Lagoon, which is also know as Truk Lagoon. The lagoon contains more than 60 airplanes and ships that have become an artifical reef with coral growing on the machines. The most famous relic is the 437 foot Fujikawa Maru. It is a Japanese aircraft carrier that sits 40 to 90 feet below the surface with a torpedo hole in its side.