In 1642, Dutch explorer Abel Tasman made significant discoveries while sailing for the Dutch East India Company, including the first European sighting of New Zealand and Tasmania, which he named Van Diemen's Land. His voyages expanded European knowledge of the Pacific region and opened the door for future exploration and colonization. Tasman's expeditions were pivotal in mapping the southern seas and contributed to the understanding of global geography during the Age of Exploration.

Extended European mapping of the Pacific inspired later Enlightenment and Romantic poetry on remote southern lands and exploration. Poets like William Wordsworth and Lord Byron drew on themes of discovery and the sublime in their works, reflecting the awe and wonder associated with the natural world.