Destination overview

The Pacific Islands encompasses 20,000 to 30,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean. Lying south of the Tropic of Cancer, the Islands are traditionally grouped into the three divisions of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. While the beaches here are simply superb, there are also many National Parks and Heritage Listed areas, so there’s something for everyone – whether you just want to chill out and relax on a pristine white sandy beach or go and explore the mountains, you will marvel at the natural beauty of each individual island.

Melanesia means black islands, and these include New Guinea (the largest Pacific island) which is divided into the sovereign nation of Papua New Guinea and the Indonesian provinces of Maluku, Papua and West Papua), New Caledonia, Zenadh Kes (Torres Strait Islands), Vanuatu, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands.

Micronesia means small islands. These include the Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, and the Federated States of Micronesia. Most of these lie north of the Equator.

Polynesia means many islands. These include New Zealand, the Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, the Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, the Cook Islands, Wallis and Futuna, Tokelau, Niue, French Polynesia, and Easter Island. It is the largest of the three zones.

Tahiti

Tahiti has balmy year-round temperatures, luxurious bungalows suspended over coral reefs, jagged green mountains jutting up from crystal clear, multi-hued lagoons and enchanting white sand or black volcanic beaches. Tahiti is a common name for French Polynesia, a country comprised of the collective group of Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea and 115 other islands in the South Pacific. The country is sectioned into five main island groups - the Society Islands, the Tuamotus, the Marquesas, the Australs and the Gambier Archipelago.

French Polynesia’s largest island, Tahiti, is located in the Society Islands and is home to the country’s capital city, Papeete. You can spend your entire holiday on Tahiti Island or you can fly to Bora Bora, take a ferry to Moorea, or travel to one of the many other islands. There are a number of small planes and charter companies regularly flying from Tahiti to the rest of the Society Islands and beyond.

Adventures are plentiful in the Tahiti Islands, which are scattered over an area as big as Europe. You can cruise the alluring and mysterious Tuamotu Islands, where the breathtaking turquoise sea is home to flawless black pearls. You can travel to the ends of the earth, the Austral Islands, a place so remote that time slides by without anyone batting an eye. Or you can also visit the magnificent Gambier Archipelago.

Fiji

A holiday in Fiji is an escape to a tropical paradise with incredible sandy beaches, glorious weather and swaying coconut trees. Home to a wealth of natural beauty on land and underwater, Fiji is an ideal holiday destination to relax and unwind or to have the adventure of a lifetime.

What makes Fiji truly special is the genuine warmth and friendliness of Fijian people. Fijian hospitality and their infectious ‘Bula!’ greeting are famous around the world. “The friendliest people on earth” live their culture and invite you to share in it. Woven into the fabric of every Fiji holiday experience is the interaction with the Fijians and their culture.

The Fijian archipelago contains 333 islands, about a hundred of which are inhabited. Occasionally you will feel like you have a whole island to yourself which makes Fiji the ideal getaway. You can keep yourself busy with a host of activities such as river rafting and kayaking, open-water shark feeds, swimming with large manta rays, sport fishing, zip-lining, mountain biking and rainforest trekking or some less challenging activities like lying on the beach and soaking up the sun.

Cook Islands

Scattered over an expanse of ocean the size of Western Europe, the 15 Cook Islands are a castaway’s dream come true. The islands are largely unspoiled by tourism and offer a rare opportunity for people to experience a different type of holiday. The pace is in low gear and no resort is higher than the tallest palm tree. It’s here you’ll find a thousand years of Polynesian culture sitting side-by-side with some of the most spectacular natural scenery in the South Pacific. The Cook Islands are ideal for travellers seeking more than the usual clichés associated with the South Seas. Each island has its unique qualities and offers the visitor a special experience. You can visit the islands as a stand-alone destination or as a stop-over from New Zealand.

The Cook Islands are a great year-round holiday destination with only slight seasonal temperature variations. Rarotonga (Raro to the locals), the principal and largest island of the Southern group, is where most of the tourist industry is centred. And while there are pockets of tourism on other islands, Aitutaki, the smallest island, is the next most frequented for its picture-postcard lagoon.

Vanuatu

Everywhere you go in Vanuatu you’ll encounter chatty, inquisitive locals who welcome you with warm hospitality and genuine friendliness and are refreshingly not after the tourist dollar. That’s because tipping and bargaining are not practised here. No other South Pacific destination shows as many contrasts as Vanuatu. The cosmopolitan capital city of Port Vila, with chic resorts and gourmet restaurants, is a totally different world from the traditional villages that haven’t changed over the years. The outer islands of Tanna, Espiritu Santo, Erromango, Malekulam, Ambae, Ambryn and Pentecost are far removed from Vila and are as exotic as their names.

Efate, the main island of Vanuatu, is where the capital Port Vila, the hub of the islands, is situated and it is the focal point to a majority of commerce and tourism. Must-dos while visiting Vanuatu include climbing an active volcano on Tanna, watching a famous naghol or land diving on Pentecost and exploring great diving sites around Espiritu Santo, including the remains of the ocean liner SS President Coolidge, the world’s largest easily accessible shipwreck.

New Caledonia

New Caledonia offers the unique combination of undeniable natural beauty and old world European sophistication. Located in the south-west Pacific Ocean, approximately 750 miles east of Australia, New Caledonia is an overseas dependent of France. An emerald green lagoon surrounds the collection of islands, which offer a variety of breathtaking landscapes, including cascading waterfalls, white sandy beaches, lush rainforests and steep mountain ranges.

New Caledonia’s capital city of Noumea is located on the territory’s main island, Grand Terre. Noumea is a peaceful port city with a diverse population and colourful European architecture. The city’s beautiful waterfront is brimming with fine French restaurants, designer boutiques, nightclubs, and cafés. Whether you’re interested in shopping, fine food and wine or fashion, you can find it all on your New Caledonia holiday.

Whichever Pacific Island you choose for your getaway, whether it be one of the ones mentioned or Hawaii, New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, Easter Island….the list is just endless…..you will go home relaxed and refreshed and wanting to plan another visit. That’s a guarantee.