Best of the Pacific
Our blue backyard consists of 10,000 islands spread across the world’s largest ocean, so there’s no better place in the world to book a flop-and-drop and, if you choose, never leave it.
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25 incredible South Pacific experiences you won’t find anywhere else
We don’t have to go far to escape to destinations completely unlike our own, that offer unique experiences we can’t get on the other side of the equator.
- by Craig Tansley
The best accommodation for every type of budget
From honeymooners to families, romantic escapes to luxury lovers and budget travellers, we name the best places to stay across the South Pacific.
- by Craig Tansley
The ultimate Fiji holiday guide for families
Whether you’re a first-timer or return visitor, travelling with teens or enduring the terrible twos, Fiji has a family holiday experience everyone will love.
- by Shaney Hudson
Planning to use one of Fiji’s famous resort kids’ clubs? What you need to know
No one does a family holiday quite like Fiji. There are big resorts and small ones, but for children (and parents) the kids’ club is king.
- by Shaney Hudson
Close to Australia, but Pacific paradise still feels like a secret
Off- the-beaten-track places are harder to find than ever, particularly when you can fly straight there, but Espiritu Santo is one of them.
- by Craig Tansley
Best lagoon in the Pacific? We’ve found a winner
Better than Moorea, or Bora Bora, or Aitutaki. But you won’t believe this patch of French Polynesia is real until you’ve seen it for yourself.
- by Brian Johnston
A short(ish) flight away, this place is like stepping into a postcard
There’s plenty to do when visiting the Cook Islands, or you can choose to do nothing at all.
- by Tatyana Leonov
There’s more to this paradise than just overwater bungalows
All the tourists in French Polynesia head to Bora Bora, which means the other islands can feel like your own private escape.
- by Emily McAuliffe
Here’s what the ultimate island resort looks like
Nowhere does resorts better than the Asia-Pacific. From food to pools to wildlife, here are the best of the best.
- by Craig Tansley
In an age where we’ve discovered it all, this paradise shouldn’t exist
Papatura Retreat in the Solomon Islands isn’t for everyone. But for 82-year-old Pete Blanche and his wife Marg, it was love at first sight.
- by Craig Tansley
This is the best dish you’ll find in the Pacific, by far
You’ll find variations of ota ika across the Pacific but it’s a classic dish in Tonga.
- by Ben Groundwater
Fiji has 333 islands. Here’s how to find the perfect one
Many visitors won’t go beyond Viti Levu (the main island tourists fly into), but the perfect island for every kind of traveller awaits.
- by Craig Tansley
This 12-person private island lets you disappear
The only way to get to Wakaya Island is on board a 60-minute propeller plane transfer from Nadi Airport, which makes for a hell of an entrance.
- by Craig Tansley
12 of the best places to stay in Fiji
From hostels and bures on quiet beaches to private island retreats, Fiji has somewhere to stay for every traveller and every budget.
- by Craig Tansley
Ban on big ships makes paradise even better
Smaller cruise ships, fewer visitors, more places to stay. Tahiti and the magic of Bora Bora are back, with a new emphasis on sustainability.
- by Julie Miller
Six of the best French Polynesian Islands
It’s not just perfect beaches, with adventure tours taking you to lava tubes, rappelling down waterfalls and four-wheel driving.
- by Brian Johnston
How to choose the right South Pacific island for you
Sun, sea and sand calling? From family vacations to those with a zest for adventure, we reveal which country is the perfect destination for you.
- by Craig Tansley
A guide to 12 top restaurants and bars in Fiji
With nearly 40 per cent of its population made up of those of Indian heritage, Fiji has one of the most diverse of all South Pacific cuisines.
- by Craig Tansley
The new bucket list for the Pacific and Australasia
The nations of Oceania are a captivating blend of pristine nature, cultural heritage and vibrant cities that even the most hardworking traveller will never exhaust.
- by Julietta Jameson
Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/inspiration/best-of-the-pacific-20230314-p5cryw.html