The Pacific islands are a string of island nations with a tropical climate, clear water, fine scenery and quiet beaches. For an island getaway, few places match them.
The South Pacific islands fall into three groups: Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia. They do not include Australia or the archipelagos of Asia.
The hundreds of Pacific islands cover a huge area and vary greatly. Indigenous culture remains strong, and customs differ from country to country.
Though the islands can look alike, no two share the same landscape, wildlife, culture or marine life. Each has plenty to do, from diving and hiking to jet-boarding, along with remote resorts and fresh seafood. Here are eight of the best South Pacific islands to visit.
Fiji
Fiji is made up of around 300 islands and draws as many visitors as the rest of the South Pacific combined. Just four hours from Australia’s east coast, it is often called a paradise.
Fiji strikes a good balance of wild island life and comfort, with colourful reefs, upmarket resorts, thick jungle and famous surf breaks. It is also a fine place to take in the local history and culture. In the capital, Suva, you can join a traditional kava ceremony and visit the Fiji Museum, while Viti Levu, the Yasawa Islands and the Mamanucas offer beaches, coral gardens and rainforest.
Bora Bora
Bora Bora, in French Polynesia, is a fine place to reconnect with nature, and one of the best in the South Pacific to relax.
Small as it is, Bora Bora has striking scenery and white-sand beaches. It is known for its overwater bungalows, resorts and thatched villas, and for its turquoise lagoon and protected reef, popular with divers. The slopes and valleys of Mount Otemanu, bright with flowers, make for good hiking.
Tahiti
French Polynesia, of which Tahiti is the largest island, takes in 118 islands, Bora Bora among them. Tahiti has the amenities of a bigger place, along with waterfalls, beaches and high mountains.
Rather than a romantic escape like Bora Bora, other parts of French Polynesia offer a more off-beat experience. Miles of shoreline, good French cooking and plenty of resorts are among Tahiti’s draws, and you can dive with sharks in the Tuamotu atolls, quad-bike in Moorea or shop in Papeete.
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands are a volcanic archipelago of 15 islands, mixing Polynesian waters with New Zealand hospitality.
The islands have lagoons, bright reefs and sunny beaches, along with a range of places to stay, from island bungalows to beachfront villas and resorts. On the main island of Rarotonga you can enjoy a Polynesian feast, and at Aitutaki you can swim in its lagoons.
Samoa and American Samoa
Samoa and American Samoa make up the Samoan Islands. Samoa is independent, while American Samoa is a US territory, but both remain traditionally Polynesian.
Samoa, a volcanic archipelago, is often called the heart of Polynesia, ringed by green forest and golden beaches. American Samoa has plenty of attractions and heritage sites; whether on Pago Pago or Tutuila, there is much to do. The Samoan Islands have few organised excursions, but for independent travellers there is plenty of scope for cultural exchange, surfing and snorkelling.
Vanuatu
Vanuatu offers one of the more unusual experiences in the South Pacific, its modern resorts set against an old culture. Here dense rainforest meets quiet beaches, and traditional villages sit up in the hills.
In Vanuatu you can see active volcanoes, dive on shipwrecks, visit kava bars, trek into the jungle and snorkel over Second World War wrecks.
Solomon Islands
One of the wildest destinations in the South Pacific, the Solomon Islands suit eco-travellers. There are few conventional hotels, but plenty of untouched nature.
The islands have a Melanesian culture and an eventful Second World War history. You can surf uncrowded waves, explore the jungle and climb a dormant volcano, and come across relics such as abandoned tanks. The main draw, though, is the sunken wartime oil tankers, seaplanes and submarines in the surrounding waters, which divers come to see.
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a tropical territory with a French flavour, a multi-island French possession off the north-east coast of Australia. Its main island, Grande Terre, is the third-largest island in the Pacific and home to the second-longest double barrier reef in the world, along with its UNESCO-listed lagoons.
Along with diving, sailing in the lagoon and wind sports, New Caledonia blends Melanesian and French culture, with good food and a choice of places to stay, from resorts to beach bungalows.
The South Pacific islands make for a fine tropical trip. Whether you want to relax by calm water or dive over coral reefs, head to one of the islands and enjoy the quiet.
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