Are you wanting to take a trip to the South Pacific but not sure what country or Pacific island would be the best to visit? The South Pacific is a world away from other travel destinations, the locals retain an easy-going, friendly charm. They will invite you to their home to share a meal or pick you up from the side of the road if you need a lift.
Many islands have bypassed the whole ‘plastic waste era’ and hold more eco-friendly values than many developed nations. The people of the Pacific nations never really lost their connection to the rhythm of nature, like the people of developed nations have.
The South Pacific is not just paradise, because of the beaches and jungle scenery. It’s paradise, because it’s one of the few places on Earth that humanity exists in an unpolluted form. My soul feels refreshed every time I visit.
Visiting a country in the Pacific costs more than your average beach destination, but this is not your average beach destination.
Here is my rundown of the highlights of the Pacific Islands to help you decide which would be the best pacicfic island for you to visit.
Fiji
The transportation hub for the region. Many flights layover in Nadi on route to other islands. Fiji is to the Pacific what Bali is to Indonesia. You’ll get well developed resorts here and all your creature comforts. Most people stay on resort islands, because the beaches on the mainland are not the best. Backpackers can end up disappointed in Fiji, because it’s expensive to stay on the resort islands and their budget doesn’t stretch that far. You’ll get beautiful beaches and luxury resorts in Fiji, but the cultural experience will be a little watered down.
Who should go here: Luxury travellers, honeymooners, families and backpackers on a short layover.
Tip: About a 1 hour from drive from Nadi Airport is a beautiful beach attached to the Intercontinental Hotel. It’s perfect for a layover and you don’t need to stay at the hotel to use the beach. A taxi driver will charge for a return trip and wait while you swim, eat lunch or do yoga, whatever is your thing.
Vanuatu
Know as the happiest country in the world. Easily reachable from Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland or Nadi in Fiji. People come to Vanuatu for the beaches, but also the volcanos.
Vanuatu is spread out over various islands and each island has something unique about it. You can fly over, hike up or climb into a volcano here.
Tanna Island is amazing for an explosive cultural experience. You can stay with a family overlooking an active volcano and hike up it. This is the only place in the world where you can get this close to explosions of lava.
The beaches on the island of Santos are on my list of top 5 beaches in the world. A cruise ship docks on Santos a few times a week, apart from those few hours when the masses arrive you’ll have the place to yourself.
The cons of visiting Vanuatu is that you’ll have to fly between islands, decent accommodation is expensive and average. It’s not a resort island like Fiji. Food is also quite expensive.
The benefit is that it’s undeveloped, it’s easy to hitch hike and you can still find some cheap rustic huts to sleep in.
Who should go here: Backpackers and people that enjoy active holidays.
Tip: A hire car is highly recommended on Santos. Book before you arrive, because there is limited availability of cars. Although the food is expensive you can find some amazing restaurants in Vanuatu, especially in Port Vila. Check out Trip Advisor to help you select somewhere to eat.
Samoa
Samoa is a happy medium between Fiji and Vanuatu. There are some beautiful beaches and a few nice resorts. Come to Samoa if you want beautiful beaches, culture and waterfalls. Samoa has a lot of swimming holes, it’s a good idea to have a car to see them all. Samoa is also good for backpacker accommodation, because you can get a hut on the beach for about $10 a night.
Who should come here: Samoa has something for everyone.
Tip: Much of the backpacker accommodation is really hot. I stayed in a fan room one night and it was like sleeping in a Bikram yoga class. come in the Southern Hemisphere winter for less humidity and a more comfortable nights sleep.
Cook Islands
I don’t even want to write about this one because I don’t want anybody to visit! I’m selfish and want to keep it all to myself. The Cook Islands have world class beaches, decent accommodation for all budgets, good food and supermarkets, friendly people and culture. I love this place and after 73 counties (and counting) Cook Islands is my favourite beach destination.
Who should come here: Everyone, but keep it a secret.
Tip: If you want to drive here you’ll need to get a drivers license from the police station. It’s an easy bit of paperwork to complete and it will be a nice little souvenir to take home with you.
Niue
I love the South Pacific so much that I got married here, on the small island of Niue. Niue has a population of approximately 5,000 people and is the largest coral island in the world.
It is famous for swimmable rock pools, caves, dolphins, and at certain times of the year you can see whales swimming around while you drink your morning coffee. It’s another place I want to keep a secret and I can’t wait to return for a wedding anniversary trip.
Tip: All sightseeing in Niue is dictated by the tide. Certain rock pools can only be visited at certain times of day. There are no ATM’s on the island.
Who should come here: People wanting to get away from it all, swim in crystal clear water and watch pods of dolphins swim by as they sip their morning coffee. Stay at the Matavai Scenic Resort. I got married there!
New Caledonia
Somewhere I really want to visit, but haven’t yet, because it is one of the most expensive islands the in Pacific. The capital Noumea has some vibrant markets with French influence thrown into the mix. The food is supposed to be amazing here, but beaches to satisfy the beach snobs, like myself, require an extra flight and pricey accommodation.
Who should go here: People with some spare cash to get away from it all.
French Polynesia
This is the quintessential honeymoon destination. It’s paradise and I want to go here so bad! A holiday in Moorea or Bora Bora can set you back $12,000. You can visit the beaches in the capital Papeete, but I haven’t heard great things about them. If you can’t afford to take an internal flight to islands further afield and drop thousands of dollars on luxury accommodation, then go to the Cook Islands instead.
Who should go here: People with lots of money.
Palau
Famous for the stunning Rock Islands, amazing diving and expensive accommodation. Palau is beautiful and worth it for the Rock Islands alone, but there isn’t a huge amount else to do to fill an extended amount of time.
Who should go here: Divers and people wanting to see the Rock Islands.
Tip: Not sure how many days to spend in Palau? You can read about it here to help you decide.
Northern Mariana Island
This island is popular with Chinese, Japanese and Korean tourists. 95% of the people stay in 5% of the places. You can go with the crowds for the most part and then walk the other way and have a beach to yourself. The locals are super friendly and you can find some clear water to swim in. It’s a unique destination, and I really enjoyed my 4 day trip here.
Who should go here: Anybody that can brave some crowds in search of somewhere empty.
Tip: The Sheraton is a great place to stop for lunch on a pretty stretch of beach. Further up the coast, the Pacific Resort offers boat trips out to the lagoon. The water is so clear! Also, you can fly out to other islands to get away from the crowds and creature comforts.
Tonga
I’ve not been to Tonga, yet, but I do know that it has beautiful beaches and humpback whales (at certain times of the year). It’s on my travel radar.
Who should come here: Backpackers, honeymooners and adventure travelers.
Kiribati
I’ve not been yet, it’s a small paradise island with a tiny population. You can get away from it all in Kiribati at an eco lodge that looks rustic, basic and beautiful.
Who should come here: Adventure Travelers that have been everywhere else.
Guam
Still a US territory, you can find malls and a Taco Bell here. There are a couple of nice beaches, but you’ll have to stay in a big hotel to enjoy them. There isn’t much getting away from it all in Guam.
Who should come here: Anybody that finds a cheap flight here and wants a few days of warm weather in an unusual destination.
Solomon Islands
I haven’t been to Solomon Islands yet. It’s on my list. From what I know there is a lot of culture to be found here. It’s definitely not developed as a tourist destination and some areas haven been said to have safety issues, so I wouldn’t recommend it as a first time South Pacific destination. Visit a few other islands first to get comfortable in the region.
Who should come here: Adventure travellers and experienced travellers.
Truk
The things to do in Truk consist of diving, diving and diving. A popular place for divers. Truk Lagoon is a great for wreck diving.
Who should come here: Divers. Leave your non diving partner at home, because there is nothing else to do.
Marshal Islands
This is a divers island. One road runs up and down the length of the country. There is one beach. If you do not dive there is nothing much for you here. People come here for diving, because it is pristine. A famous location is called Bikini Atol, which was a nuclear bomb test sight in the 1940’s and 50’s. It can be reached by live-aboard.
Who should come here: Divers
Pohnpei
There is a pretty decent waterfall and some ruins. People tend to end up here on a layover to other islands in the region. It’s an off the beaten track country that is not set up for tourism. There is diving here, but you can’t just arrive and book a dive. Email ahead if you want to dive here, so you don’t end up disappointed.
Who should come here: People who want to say they have been to Pohnpei.
I hope this list has been useful in helping you put a pin in the map for your next island destination. If you’ve visited any of these islands and have a different opinion, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
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