Tahiti
The destination of Tahiti is probably the most familiar to the UK market as far as the South Pacific is concerned. The islands were discovered by European explorers in the 18th century. They are part of French Polynesia and as a result have a strong French feel to them. Tahiti’s main tourist islands are Bora Bora, Huahine and Moorea.
New Caledonia
New Caledonia has been compared to the French Riviera because of its boutiques, duty-free shopping, fine dining and high numbers of Europeans. The place to go for action is Grand Terre, the island on which the capital Noumea is situated. Restaurants in the capital cater for every taste and range from traditional French to Moroccan, Italian, Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine. There are also two casinos and many private clubs.
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands stretch over a widespread area with a population of 17,000. Sun-soaked atolls and verdant volcanic islands make up the scenery for as far as the eye can see.
If visitors want to get to know the locals, who are direct descendents of the Maoris, they can expect a friendly welcome.
Western Samoa
One of Western Samoa’s most celebrated inhabitants was 19th-century Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson who spent his last two years here. It is known as The Heart of Polynesia and has retained its village lifestyle despite the arrival of tourism. Western Samoa is an independent state with its own government. It is made up of nine islands and is rich in natural beauty, attracting a strong ecotourist market.
Solomon Islands
It is the second largest island chain in the region with a population of 380,000 spread over an area of 17,831 miles.
Visitors will see an archipelago of mountainous islands and low-lying coral atolls where the delights of discovering a fascinating primitive culture can still be experienced.
Tonga
Tonga is one of the world’s few remaining constitutional monarchies and is sometimes called the Crown Jewel of the South Pacific. King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV rules over a nation whose traditions and religion still play a significant role in dailyactivities.
Some of the islands in the group have active volcanoes, one of which is submerged and erupts from time to time. Nature lovers will find many scenic areas to visit including the shoreline blowholes which regularly shoot 60ft geysers of water into the sky. Some 170 small islands make up Tonga, which has a population of 96,000.
Fiji
Fiji is made up of a chain of 300 islands and has a cosmopolitan feel.
Its people have been called the friendliest on earth and offer an exhilarating mix of culture, religion and race.
This is due to Fiji’s central location which has earned it the name ‘the crossroads of the South Pacific’.
There is a population of 750,000 spread over an area of 11,375 miles, which is mostly taken up by the major islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.