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- The Atlas
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- Oceania
AN OCEAN OF ISLANDS
Where land meets light and culture flows with the tides.
Oceania is less a single landmass and more a constellation — thousands of islands scattered across the world’s largest ocean. From Australia’s red heart to New Zealand’s green peaks, from Polynesia’s coral atolls to Micronesia’s volcanic chains, this region embodies nature’s artistry and humanity’s adaptability.
Here, ocean and identity are inseparable. Generations of navigators charted by stars and currents, creating one of the world’s richest traditions of exploration. Today, Oceania continues to balance ancient wisdom with modern creativity — a region of extraordinary landscapes and luminous cultures.
Islands of Oceania
British commonwealth: island-continent of 6 states (including Tasmania island) + 2 territories; additional Pacific Ocean island territories: Coral Sea Islands, Norfolk Island; Indian Ocean island territories: Christmas Island, Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Cocos Islands, Heard Island and Macdonald Islands; Antarctic Territory
Polynesian islands of New Zealand realm Māori culture (North Island, South Islands, +700 small islands), Tokelau, Cook Islands, Niue, Ross Dependency of Antarctica
Largest island of Melanesia: eastern half is an independent country and British commonwealth (western half forms Indonesia province); Meganesia (or Sahul Shelf) is the continental landmass of Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea
Islands of New Guinea (aka Papua): Papua New Guinea (country in eastern half) and western half (Indonesia provinces); countries of Soloman Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu; New Caledonia (France territory), Norfolk Island (Australia territory)
Tropical marine climate, small islands: Palau, Micronesia (FSM), Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands (US territories)
Polynesian triangle: Hawaiian Islands (US), Easter Island (Chile), New Zealand at furthest points of Central and South Pacific; 3 countries of Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu; thousands of islands including Cook Islands (New Zealand associate), Niue (New Zealand associate), Tokelau (New Zealand territory), American Samoa (US territory), French Polynesia (France), Wallis and Futuna (France)