8 must-see destinations in Australia and New Zealand to visit in 2025
The list of the best Oceania destinations for 2025 includes both renewed favorites and unexpected surprises, making exploring this fascinating region more exciting than ever.
Best Australia Tours & Holidays 2025/2026
Coral Bay, Australia
Home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Australia's western coast with its Ningaloo Coast and a reef teeming with marine life stretching for 260 kilometres, will stand out more than ever in 2025.
Thanks to the opening of the Queensland Electric Superhighway, one of the world's longest roads designed for electric vehicles, exploring the Reef zone in a sustainable way will be easier than ever. By the end of this year, the highway will have 79 charging stations, facilitating access to this remote natural paradise.
Melbourne, Australia
Unlike Sydney, Melbourne has built its reputation over time, away from superficial attractions like good weather and beaches. Its true charm lies in the vibrant cultural life of its bustling alleys, its innovative art galleries and its cosmopolitan cuisine.
The city will take center stage in December with the exclusive opening of Australia's largest Yayoi Kusama retrospective at the National Gallery of Victoria. The queue to see the famous hall of mirrors is expected to reach the door of the building, an exhibition that will be available until April 2025.
Murray River, Australia
Few slow travel experiences can compare to a tour of Australia's longest river aboard a paddle steamer, sailing through three states and passing beautiful beaches and majestic red gums.
In June 2025, PS Australian Star, the first five-star paddle steamer to cruise the Murray River, will take travelers to a new way to enjoy cruising around Australia. This imposing boat, powered by a 1907 wood-fired steam engine, will be the largest of its kind in the entire Southern Hemisphere and will offer an unrivaled experience on the river.
PS Australian Star will have 19 bright staterooms, including two suites with private terraces, perfect for spotting local wildlife such as black swans and pelicans. With relaxation spaces, a gourmet restaurant with daily changing menus, and an elevator to ensure accessibility for all passengers, the ship will provide entertainment during three, four or seven day tours.
The vast city of Perth, with its long coastline full of white sand beaches, has a hidden gem just 20 kilometers from Fremantle: the small island of Wadjemup, better known by its colonial name, Rottnest Island or Rotto, as locals call it. local. With about 11 kilometers from east to west and 4.5 from north to south, this island, although small, is home to 12 lakes, 20 bays and 63 beautiful beaches, offering snorkeling routes and surf areas, where bottlenose dolphins and whales Migrants also pass through its waters.
On Rottnest, private cars are not allowed on most of the island, so bicycles become the main means of transportation. With a network of cycle paths and safe hiking routes, travelers can explore the island's headlands.
Best Places to Visit in Australia in 2025
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Australia's Great Barrier Reef faces more serious threats than ever from climate change and storms, calling into question how much longer its splendor can be admired in person. However, exploring this World Heritage Site is just one of the many reasons to visit Queensland's north coast, where ancient forests meet aquamarine seas.
Cairns is proving to be much more than just a base to explore the famous reef. Its vibrant arts scene, which already includes the Cairns Art Gallery, Tanks Art Center and Bulbba-ja Space, is set to come into its own in 2025 thanks to the Cairns Gallery Precinct project. This initiative has connected three historic buildings in the city, and in August 2024 the Mulgrave Gallery opened, which will kick off a series of exhibitions dedicated to indigenous art.
Subantarctic Islands, Australia and New Zealand
The subantarctic islands of Australia and New Zealand, a small group of archipelagos scattered across the Southern Ocean, are a remote and exclusive destination accessible only by boat.
These windy islands, where albatrosses rarely venture, receive a very limited number of visits due to difficult access and strict wildlife protection initiatives during the breeding season. Travelers can only reach its shores for a brief window of three months a year, and must comply with a rigorous code of minimum environmental impact to preserve the integrity of its natural environment.
Best Places to Visit in New Zealand
Top End, Australia
From subtropical wetlands to vast red rock deserts, the northernmost region of northern Australia, known as the Top End, is a fascinating destination worth exploring.
This area includes iconic places such as Darwin, Australia's largest national park, Kakadu, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the remote Arnhem Land to the northeast, and the town of Katherine. Top End is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the culture of the First Nations that have left their mark on these stunning landscapes.
Taupō, New Zealand
Taupō, located in the geographic center of New Zealand's North Island, is known as the first homeland of the Ngāti Hotu, who settled on the shores of Lake Taupō in the 14th century. Today, the city attracts many travelers for its impressive Huka Falls, which are among the fastest-flowing waterfalls in the world.
However, the falls are not the only attraction in Taupō. The town has gained fame for its excellent trout fishing and, in recent years, has emerged as a leading dining destination. At the 2024/2025 Cuisine Good Food Awards, Embra, one of 17 award-winning Waikato region restaurants, was recognized as Regional Restaurant of the Year.
Exciting Places to Visit in Australia and New Zealand in 2025
Places to visit in New Zealand 2025
Places to visit and holiday destinations in Australia in 2025
Places to visit and holiday destinations in Australia in 2025
