See full version: The Best Outdoor Pursuits in South Pacific
All the islands have excellent scuba diving and snorkeling, and all but a few of the resorts either have their own dive operations or can make arrangements with a local company. Here are the best:
One would think that the South Pacific is a yachting paradise, and it certainly gets more than its share of cruising boats on holiday from Australia and New Zealand or heading around the world (the region is on the safest circumnavigation route). However, the reefs in most places make sailing a precarious undertaking, so yachting is not that widespread. It has only recently gained a toehold in Fiji. There are only two places where you can charter a yacht and sail it yourself: here
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
Intimate Voyage more
The crew to guest ratio is 1 to 1.5, so everyone is well taken care of throughout the journey. With a capacity of only 332 guests, there is plenty of room for spacious suites, an onboard watersports marina and a spa. Paul Gauguin aims to keep an intimate atmosphere and bring the rich culture of the area onboard. [links]
A voyage with Paul Gauguin is all-inclusive, meaning once you’re onboard you don’t have to worry about paying for every little thing throughout the trip. You can focus on taking in each and every experience instead of worrying about whether you have enough cash on you for your next meal.
Convenience more
You’ll find incredible desert treks in Australia, home to the famous Outback, with amazing sites like Uluru that you’ll definitely want to check off your bucket list. Additionally, you can explore the best hikes in Queensland to experience stunning waterfalls, epic views, beautiful beaches, and more. [links]
While the wonders of nature are Oceania’s biggest draws, there’s plenty of culture to take in in this part of the world as well. [links]
Additionally, SafetyWing is budget-friendly and offers $250,000 worth of coverage with just one low overall deductible of $250. here
Look into island hopper routes with airlines like United that operate between smaller island nations like Guam and the Federated States of Micronesia. Just know that you’ll probably spend a fair amount of time searching for flights and perfecting your route.
The Cook Islands are widely known as one of the least expensive Pacific islands for tourists. The country’s currency is the New Zealand Dollar and you can easily find inexpensive food and accommodation options. here
On Aitutaki, there are also some nice budget options with kitchens – we loved Rino’s Motel which was right on the water. For a little luxury, Tamanu Beach is incredible. We could literally see the ocean from our bed!
The Cook Islands has more budget options than French Polynesia and there are a couple of hostels on Rarotonga if you’re up for staying in a dorm. We found a few good options including Rino’s Motel on Aitutaki and Rarotonga Backpackers on Raro. These both had a kitchen which was great for cooking our own food.
Fiji is quite a good hub – you can fly from Fiji to Vanuatu and to Tonga, so it can make a good trio with those two destinations.
Taha’a doesn’t have an airport, so you have to fly into neighbouring Raiatea, and take a boat to Taha’a. The island is famous for two things: vanilla and black pearls. We visited farms producing both during our stay, and there are quite a few options across the island. There is excellent snorkelling on Taha’a too, in particular at Motu Tautau off the west coast. This can only be reached by boat, or by foot for guests staying at Le Taha’a Island Resort and Spa, which we were lucky enough to stay at, as I was reviewing the hotel for The Telegraph. here
Rarotonga is the international hub for the Cook Islands, with lots of accommodation – even hostels, and good restaurants and bars. I would say it’s the cheapest island we visited in the South Pacific (unless you’re only staying in beach fales – then Upolu/Savai’i probably wins). It has some beautiful white sand beaches and a couple of good hikes through the centre. here
Savai’i is much quieter and less populated than Upolu, but larger in size. It has stunning beaches and impressive lava fields along with blowholes and jungle. The ferry from Upolu takes 1 hour 15 minutes and it’s totally worth making the trip. Our favourite beach in the whole of Samoa was on this island at Falealupo. here