Australia The Pinnacles Desert (also just known as The Pinnacles) is a a region of Australia’s western desert region which features a veritable forest of limestone pillars. The remnants of ancient dunes, the immense fields of pinnacles are more or less unique in nature, and one of the distinctive landmarks of Australia’s West Coast. The fields of pinnacles are now protected … [Read more...]
DAINTREE FOREST
Australia The Daintree Rainforest is one of the oldest undisturbed forests in the world. Thanks to its isolated location, it has remained both continuous and reasonably unchanged for tens of millions of years (the exact length of time is unknown). A large part of the rainforest is located in the Daintree National Park, which is now part of the Wet Tropics, a UNESCO World … [Read more...]
PARADISE BAY
Antarctica Paradise Bay is a waterway located close to the extreme northern tip of Antarctica. Thanks to its relative proximity to South America, it is one of the major points of entry for those visiting Earth’s coldest continent. Antarctica was the last of Earth’s continents to be discovered, and one of the earliest places to be visited was Paradise Bay. It was a popular … [Read more...]
MILFORD SOUND
New Zealand Milford Sound is an immense waterway that dominates the southern end of New Zealand’s South Island. Technically a fjord, it is considered by many to be the most beautiful place in New Zealand (it was named the world’s top travel destination by Tripadvisor in 2008). Enclosed on almost everyside by steep mountains covered in lush greenery and waterfalls, Milford … [Read more...]
BAY OF ISLANDS
New Zealand The Bay of Islands is one of the most beautiful bays and one of the most popular recreational areas in New Zealand. Located at the extreme northern tip of the North Island, it is also the historic gateway to the most remote major land mass on Earth. It is not only popular with outdoors enthusiasts but also with New Zealand history buffs. The first Maori arrivals … [Read more...]
MOUNT TARANAKI
New Zealand (2,518 m) – Sacred Mountain of the Maori Mount Taranaki is arguably the most prominent and famous geological features of New Zealand’s North Island. An inactive stratavolcano, Taranaki is famous among geologists due to the fact that it has collapsed and reformed due to eruptions on at least five separate occasions, an extreme rarity. Its name is Maori and means … [Read more...]
MOUNT COOK
New Zealand (3,754 m) – Sacred Mountain of the Maori and Highest Peak in New Zealand Mount Cook, located close to the center of New Zealand’s south island, is the tallest peak of this nation as well as the South Pacific. It is also one of the most sacred places of the Maori tribesmen, and has been a place of religious pilgrimage since pre-European times. It is named in honor … [Read more...]
MOUNT ULURU
Australia (863 m) – Most Iconic Mountain in Australia Mount Uluru, an immense rock prominence jutting up from the very middle of the Australian continent, is better known by the name westerners have given it, Ayers Rock. Arguably Australia’s most famous natural site, Uluru is considered to be an island mountain, as it is essentially a large sandstone formation from which the … [Read more...]
MOUNT OSSA
Australia (1,545 m) – Highest Peak in Tasmania Mount Ossa is the highest and most iconic mountain on the island of Tasmania south of Australia. It is an extremely old rock formation, as are others located in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park. It is named for Mount Ossa in Greece. Ossa stands close to the heart of Tasmania, in one of the wildest and most … [Read more...]
MOUNT WILHELM
Papau New Guinea (4,509 m) – Tallest Mountain in Oceania (alternate) Mount Wilhelm is the highest peak in the nation of Papau New Guinea, which dominates the eastern half of the island of New Guinea. Puncak Jaya, which is higher, is located on the eastern half of the island, which is part of Indonesia. According to some, this technicality locates Puncak Jaya in Asia, making … [Read more...]
