South Pacific
Marshall islands
The Marshalls are made up of more than one thousand flat coral islands of white-sand beaches and turquoise lagoons. Like other Pacific paradises there’s spectacular diving, lush tropical greenery and beautiful beaches. The flipside is that many of the Marshallese still struggle with the after-effec ts of the 20th-centurey’s Atomic Age. Bikini Atoll is the […]
Palau
The Republic of Palau is becoming a byword for an underwater wonderland, showcasing Micronesia’s richest flora and fauna, both on land beneath the waves. lt’s a snorkeller’s paradise, with an incredible spectrum of coral, fish and sumo-sized giant clams. There’s a good chance this bounty will survive, as Palauans are active on environmental issues, particularly […]
Vanuatu
The ni-Vanuatu, as the peoples of Vanuatu are known today, are most the most welcoming people in the Pacific-despite colonialists who came for sandalwood and left with slaves. Vanuatu’s fractured terrain of volcanoes and lush forests has produced a kaleidoscope of cultures and more than 100 indigenous languages. After last century’s coups, Vanuatu now enjoys […]
Tonga
Since Captain Cook first landed here, Tonga has charmed travelers with its wild feasts, friendly people and awe-inspiring natural beauty. The modern world has crept into the kingdom with LA gangster wear more common than traditional waist mats on the streets of Tongatapu. Still the islands remain peaceful and visually spectacular with rainforest crater lakes […]
Nauru
Nauru was once the rich kid of the Pacific, wealthy through phosphates. But now the stocks of bird poop have been exhausted, mining has utterly destroyed the landscape, and the island survives on handouts from Australia in return for hosting a detention centre for asylum seekers. With fresh water, vegetables and power in short supply, […]
Papua new guinea
Kundus and garamut drums beat out dizzying rhythms in the sweet sticky heat. The sound of insects rings in the air, and frogs and geckos bark as night falls, silenced only bt a sudden deluge of tropical; rain. The vegetation surrounding you is on growth hormones-an overproductive superabundance of greenery. This is PNG, a raw, […]
Kiribati
Blessed with billions of stunning fish swarming over myriad coral reefs and plenty of WWll, Kiribati (pronounced Kiri-Bahs) is a hidden island paradise. The atolls are scattered either side of the equator so the weather is dependably warm. Modernity is slowly rearing its head, but locals still welcome travelers as rarely seen curios. There are […]
Cook islands
Wafer-thin cays and farflung atolls, blue lagoons and superb reef snorkeling, white-sand verdant volcanic mountains, a slow pace and friendly people-what’s not to like about the Cook lslands? Lascivious dancing and beer bashes in the bush have survived years of missionary zeal. Rarotonga, the gorgeous main island, has been a Maori hang-out at least 1500 […]
Fiji
Lapped by warm azure waters, fringed, with vibrant coral reefs and cloaked in the emerald green of the tropics, Fiji is a paradise-seeker’s dream came true. Lts sun-soaked, white-sand beaches and resorts are bliss, but only a slice of the country’s allure. Fiji is an interesting blend of Melanesian, Polynesian, Micronesian, lndian, Chinese and European […]
Australia
From endless sunbaked horizons to dense tropical rainforest and wild southern beaches, Australia’s biggest attraction is its natural beauty. Scattered along the coasts, its citied a European enthusiasm for art and food with a passionate love of sport and the outdoors. Visitors expecting to see an opera in Sydney one night and meet Crocodile Dundee […]
