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Best of the Pacific
Holiday guide

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.

To Sua Ocean Trench, Samoa’s iconic swimming hole on Upolu island.

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

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
10 lessons I learnt taking two small children to Fiji

10 lessons I learnt taking two small children to Fiji

I've been to Fiji before, but never with children. I've never seen what this country can really do for tired, stressed-out parents and their unceasingly energetic offspring.

  • by Ben Groundwater
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Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort: walk from your room to a deserted white-sand beach surrounded by turquoise.

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
Santa Isobel islands in the Solomon Islands.

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
A Tongan delicacy.

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
Castaway Island sits on one of 20 islands of the Mamanucas.

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
Beyond Fiji: 10 other islands you should try

Beyond Fiji: 10 other islands you should try

While 370,000 of us travel to Fiji every year, few go beyond. And islands such as Samoa, Tonga and Niue are a few mere hours away.

  • by Craig Tansley
This 12-person private island lets you disappear

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
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12 of the best places to stay in Fiji

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

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

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

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

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

Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/inspiration/best-of-the-pacific-20230314-p5cryw.html