Timeless pearls of the Pacific

CRUISE into some palm-fringed hot spots which, Mike Smith writes, are set to become household names, providing you know how to pronounce them.

Life's a beach ... cruise-goers relax on Wala Island, Vanuatu

VARIETY is the spice of life on a cruise, which is why companies such as P&O Cruises seek out new and interesting ports of call.

The company's South Pacific program has been spiced up in recent years with fascinating palm-fringed spots to explore and roll out the beach towel.

Soon they will become household names, providing you know how to pronounce them.

Island traditions
FOR a tropical island that's so small and remote – and barely rates a mention in the guide books – Vanuatu's Wala (pronounced Wolla) is a revelation for passengers wanting to know more about Melanesian way of life – past and present.

Separated from a much larger Malekula Island (south of Espiritu Santo in the country's north) by a deep passage, Wala is a primitive spot, as if cocooned from 21st century ideals.

Here, the local chiefs show off traditional customs at a virtual open museum.

The island's charm is in its isolation, a far cry from the hammocks and cocktails at the South Pacific resorts. And electricity is restricted to about four hours a day.

Expect to learn plenty on a guided walk around the village. Traditional ceremonies are put on for the guests along with demonstrations on the art of hunting and cooking.

Set aside time for a swim or sail from the beach; it can be very steamy during the summer and a cool dip is often essential.

Blinding beaches
BEFORE leaving the ship for the tender transfer to the seahorse-shaped atoll of

Ouvea, in New Caledonia, make sure to bring along a good pair of sunglasses: the talcum-like sand can be blinding on a sun-drenched day.

Ouvea (pronounced Ova-a) is the smallest of three main islands in the Loyalty Group, north-east of New Caledonia's Grande Terre, but it has the finest and brightest sand. The focal point is a 10km stretch known as Mouli Beach.

The beach lies on the isle's narrow south-western tip, dominated by a whitewashed village church and a few palms.

The welcome from the French-speaking islanders – there are around 6800 on the island, primarily a Melanesian and Polynesian mix from 17 clans – is as warm as the tropical sun. Here the small beachside stalls display and sell handcrafted souvenirs as well as cans of local brew.

Stay a while, and the hosts will put on a cultural show, before or after a game of cricket with the colourfully-dressed local women.

The island might be French, but cricket is like a religion here – though it's only played by the women; the men play petanque, among other games.

It's fitting that such a beautiful island with a French Pacific address is shaped like a glistening large necklace.

Ouvea, a Wallisian word, translates to "the closest island to paradise". And after a few hours of swimming, sailing and sunbathing, swinging the cricket bat and swigging on coconut juice, there is no reason to think otherwise.

Natural art
NATURE'S carving has created a virtual art gallery off the northern coast of New Caledonia's Grande Terre, where rock formations shaped like a chicken and Egypt's Sphinx are the masterpieces.

The rocky limestone outcrops dot a bay off the town of Hienghene (pronounced Yen Gen) and are best viewed from a raised point on the mainland, with the cruise ship anchored between the pair.

Once again, passengers are transferred from the ship by tender to shop and visit the town's cultural centre. They can also book a tour that includes an everglade boating adventure past a number of impressive caves or grottoes.

It's a lushly forested area that's sparsely populated, with the rugged coastline made up of sharp rising limestone cliffs.

There are diving and snorkelling opportunities in the vast ocean lagoon, a short drive south of Hienghene.

The writer was a guest of P&O Cruises

The Sunday Telegraph