With Fiji looking unstable and under the control of a distinctly dodgy military regime, the South Pacific’s most popular destination suddenly doesn’t look quite so appealing. But that’s no reason to skip the region altogether – there are plenty of other tropical island options in the area that can make for a perfect paradise break.
The Cook Islands
In Fiji, there’s a nagging guilt factor that strikes every time you leave the resort and see visible signs of poverty across the rest of the country. This isn’t the case in the Cook Islands, which due to its small population and regular injections of money from New Zealand, has a rather more equitable feel to it.
The main island, Rarotonga, ticks most of the boxes. It has gorgeous lagoons to swim and kayak in, a mountainous interior that it’s possible to hike over, and just enough going on to make for a fun night out. Accommodation spans the range from affordable to utterly lavish.
It’s the second island – Aitutaki – that most people end up raving about, however. It’s essentially one giant lagoon with a few strips of land dangling to the side. It’s the sort of place where all photos are postcard shots and you want to book in for a cruise every day.
French Polynesia
If you like your Pacific experience to be at the luxury end of the scale, then French Polynesia is the place to head for. Those with lighter wallets are better off choosing elsewhere, however – this is a land of expensive restaurants, overwater bungalows and resorts occupying their own small islands.
The name Tahiti is frequently associated with the South Pacific paradise image, but in truth, French Polynesia’s biggest island isn’t as idyllic as the romanticised visions would suggest.
Bora Bora is the glitzy jewel in the crown – it’s dominated by its sensational lagoon, and attracts the A-listers for whom money is no object. Mo’orea is equally stunning in its own ways – think steeply climbing green mountains to complement the beaches.
There are plenty of other islands to explore, while there’s no shortage of activities either – diving, dolphin-watching, hiking, horse-riding and surfing are amongst the major draw cards.
Samoa
Samoa is arguably the Pacific’s greatest all-rounder – and has the advantage of feeling utterly genuine rather than a made-for-tourists showreel.
It only takes a drive around the main island of Upolu for this to become apparent. Village life can be peered into – most people live in open wooden houses called fales, and domestic pigs and dogs roam the roadsides. The markets in the capital, Apia, also offer a wonderfully ‘real’ experience – especially if you sit down with the guys on the wooden benches and join them drinking the increasingly potent ava out of coconut shells.
Upolu also has some stunning beaches. Some top quality resorts – such as Sinalei sit on the best of them – but others are lined with fales. These beachside huts are Samoa’s unique –and rather cool – take on budget accommodation.
It’s the neighbouring island of Savai’i that is the real showstopper, however. It is packed with awesome natural attractions, such as a series of giant blowholes in the south, volcanic craters full of flying foxes and giant lava fields. It’s possible to go walking over the latter, taking in ruined churches on the way and stopping off to swim with turtles at Salelologa.
Samoa is also highly affordable – food and drink usually comes at bargain prices, while transport and tour costs are surprisingly low.
Tonga
Tonga ticks all the right boxes when it comes to the natural beauty criteria – it has plenty of lagoons, jaw-dropping beaches, volcanoes and burgeoning fruit trees. It’s also one of the few places in the world where you can go swimming with humpback whales.
But once they eye candy is dealt with, Tonga’s real attraction is its culture. As with Samoa, tourism is in its infancy here, and not everything is set up to spoil pampered guests from overseas.
Tongans have a strong, unique cultural identity. The Royal Palaces and Tombs are unique in the Pacific, while the Tonga National Centre is the place to head for to see traditional arts such as basketry, carving and Polynesian dancing. It also hosts a dinner show, with food cooked in an umu, or earth oven.
Solomon Islands
And now for the real curveball… The Solomon Islands haven’t exactly been a byword for stability themselves in recent years, but things are getting back on track and pioneering travellers are beginning to go exploring.
It’s not a five star destination by any stretch of the imagination, but the surfing and diving are world class. Infrastructure is a little shaky, but those prepared to accept this can have enormous fun with traditional canoes, bizarre local customs and awesome island scenery.
History buffs will also find themselves plenty of World War II sites to explore.
This article was originally written for Ninemsn.
Copyright David Whitley
