The continent was first known to Europeans as Terra Australis. The first European settlements were initiated by the Dutch East India Company in 1606. By 1868, Britain had sent more than 160,000 convicts to Australia and several of modern Australia's biggest cities around the coast grew from the penal settlements. Eventually, the British crown claimed the entire continent.

The colonisers unfortunately treated the Kooris, the indigenous population, with appalling brutality, which

Only worsened following the gold rush and the first wave of voluntary migration that spilled into the interior, where many Kooris had fled to.

The inaugural National Sorry Day was held in 1998 and has become an annual fixture on the Australian calendar. The day is a symbolic event that heralds modern Australia's willingness to face its inception. The didgeridoo and the boomerang have become modern Australian icons. Tourists flock to the breathtaking, epic monolith of Uluru (Ayers Rock) to watch the sun soak it in reds and oranges. This assimilation of Aboriginal culture has both negatives and positives, and the aim must be to harmonise rather than homogenise.

Many struggle to reconcile Aboriginal Dreamtime with the stereotype of carefree people in cork hats, swigging beer around a barbeque. But it is not difficult to 'take it easy' amidst miles of sun, sea and sand. You could even do the Aussie thing and ride some waves, with surfing schools on offer all over the country (website: www.surfingaustralia.com). Nevertheless, Australia may be an island, but it is also the world's largest one, and its size encompasses a range of stunning landscapes, from vast, barren deserts, where kangaroo and emu bound through the arid surroundings, to tropical rainforests and rugged mountains. Isolated from other continents, Australia has an abundance of unique plant and animal life.

Just as the surroundings surprise, so too may the people. Crocodile Dundee types have long been replaced by fashionistas browsing for bargains in Australia's world-renowned cities. Australia embraces its Pacific Rim location, with multicultural influence throughout, from Sydney's great harbour that welcomes worldwide visitors, to Melbourne's European ambience and lively Chinatown. Australia is a real hotchpotch of elements, catering for every kind of holidaymaker. This is the perfect time to discover the 'real' Australia, whatever you may find that to be.

Comprised of more than 300 volcanic and coral islands, the Fiji archipelago is at the crossroads of the South Pacific. In the days of sailing ships, it was known as The Cannibal Isles and carefully avoided by mariners because of its fierce warriors and treacherous waters.

More recently, Fiji's tropical climate and location on Pacific air routes have made it a prime spot for tourists. Fiji's population, which resides mostly on the two main islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, is divided almost equally between indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians, the descendants of indentured labourers brought from India.

Mixing between the two groups is minimal, and informal segregation runs deep at almost every level of society.

Despite the troubled past of the archipelago, Fijians are known as some of the friendliest people in the world. They are not judgmental of other people and will rarely express a negative opinion. Customs still prevail in the more traditional villages, especially those distant from towns and urban centres. And of course, Fiji is where the Cloud Breaker, the incredible six-metre wave was found offshore at Tavarua, a place which still draws surfers from around the world.

The first European arrival was Dutchman Abel Tasman in 1642, although it was not until the voyages of Captain James Cook, in 1769 and 1779, that the islands were charted and explored. The Treaty of Waitangi (1840) signed between representatives of the British Crown and Maori chiefs formed the basis of the British annexation of New Zealand. However, conflicting land claims gave rise to the 'New Zealand Wars', an issue which has remained controversial until today.

New Zealand was granted internal self-government in 1852.

New Zealand is spread over three relatively small islands with modern and efficient transport, quiet roads, plenty of flights and two stunningly scenic rail journeys.

Other pluses are friendly, English-speaking people, a low crime rate, and a trio of rich cultural influences – adventurous Polynesian navigators (Maori), pioneering European settlers who followed a thousand years later, and modern Pacific Rim immigrants.

The plant and animal life are also excellent offering opportunities to see the varied birdlife (including kiwis), seals, dolphins and whales.

Enjoy the chance to explore two of the richest New World wine regions on the planet, taste wonderful cuisine, stroll on moody beaches, tramp through the national parks or over alpine passes.

The country is also perfect for every kind of outdoor activity and not surprisingly, some of the world's most cutting-edge adventure activities originated in New Zealand. Try bungee jumping, caving or whitewater rafting.

If that is not your bag, immerse yourself in culture in the museums and galleries of New Zealand's main cities – Auckland, Christchurch and the capital Wellington.

New Zealand's time as an original, fully fledged tourist haven has come and the country's isolation, once a bane, is now a boon.

The vast, sparsely populated region of the Pacific Ocean, which covers one-quarter of the Earth's surface, has been the subject of growing interest in the last few years.

It is neither easy nor especially useful to make generalisations about the area and the myriad small islands peppered across it. All have unique features of geography, economy and, not least, political history.

Some are genuinely independent, some are internally self-governing with foreign and security policies controlled elsewhere, while a handful remain simple colonies. There are, nevertheless, global political and economic trends that are certain to create a substantial impact throughout the Pacific.

The tribal diversity of a country with over 700 languages cannot easily be summarised, although in Papua New Guinea it is the tribal life that is most fascinating to the visitor. Some of the excursions in Papua New Guinea are interestingly different from those offered elsewhere; for example, tourists can be taken to one of the many wrecks of World War II aircraft that lie in the jungle. Haus Tambarans ('Spirit Houses') are a feature of many towns and villages in the country, especially in the area of the Sepik River, so only a few of them can be given specific mention. Only initiated men of a tribe can enter (though in places this rule is relaxed for foreigners). They are built in a variety of styles, with massive carved wooden supports being a major feature. Other carvings and masks inside represent spirits. The orator's stools in these places are not used for sitting on; bunches of leaves are slapped down on the stools as the orator makes his points.

The Solomon Islands are a remote and unspoilt travel destination, with a slowly developing tourist industry. The superb marine life in the surrounding waters makes the islands a diver's paradise. Guadalcanal, Malaita, Choiseul, New Georgia, San Cristobal and Santa Isabel are the main islands. Honiara, the capital on Guadalcanal, has a museum, botanical gardens and Chinatown. Villages and scenic drives are within easy reach. Popular tours include the World War II battlefields and various carving villages on the islands of Rennell and Bellona.