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Explore the diverse and beautiful islands of the South Pacific, from Fiji to French Polynesia, with this comprehensive guide. Find out the best time to visit, how to get there, what to do and where to stay in each destination.
This list of islands in the Pacific Ocean is organized by archipelago or political boundary. In order to keep this list of moderate size, the more complete lists for countries with large numbers of small or uninhabited islands have been hyperlinked.
- Donna Heiderstadt
- Polynesia. This easternmost South Pacific region, which includes Hawaii, counts idyllic Tahiti and mysterious Easter Island among its treasures. Its ocean-going settlers, originally from Southeast Asia, are renowned for their navigation, having survived arduous journeys in dugout canoes as early as 1500 B.C.
- French Polynesia (Tahiti) Comprised of 118 islands, the most celebrated of which is Bora Bora, Tahiti is an independent nation with ties to France. With well- developed tourism on a dozen islands, Tahiti has been luring travelers for five decades with overwater bungalows, French-influenced cuisine, and exotic culture.
- The Cook Islands. Lesser-known than neighboring Tahiti, these 15 islands, named for English explorer Captain James Cook and run as a self-governing nation with ties to New Zealand, are home to 19,000 people renowned for their drumming and dancing.
- Samoa. This group of nine islands was the first in the Pacific to gain independence from western occupation. Upolu is the main island and tourism hub, but life here is still governed by Fa'a Samoa (The Samoan Way), where family and elders are respected and its 362 villages are presided over by 18,000 matai (chiefs).
Pacific Islands, geographic region of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises three ethnogeographic groupings—Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia—but conventionally excludes Australia, the Indonesian, Philippine, and Japanese archipelagoes, and the Ryukyu, Bonin, Volcano, and Kuril island arcs beyond Japan.
- Bora Bora, French Polynesia. Cloaked in green and encircling an impossibly radiant turquoise lagoon, Bora Bora is the beauty queen of the South Pacific.
- Aitutaki, The Cook Islands. Presiding over another of the most beautiful lagoons in the South Pacific, Aitutaki is an underrated jewel. Closely linked to New Zealand, the Cook Islands lie between French Polynesia and Samoa.
- The Mamanuca Islands, Fiji. Dazzling beaches, serene blue seas, and plenty of sunshine make the Mamanucas among Fiji's best islands. Coral reefs shimmer in the clear waters around these 20 tropical beauties, and the famous Cloud Break, a world-class surf break, lies a short boat ride away.
- Samoa. Samoa is one of the South Pacific's best kept secrets. Unassuming, unsullied, and stunningly beautiful, it lies in the heart of Polynesia. If you look on a South Pacific islands map, you'll find this alluring archipelago of 10 tropical islands about halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii.
Aug 2, 2019 · Explore the diverse and exotic islands of the South Pacific, from Polynesia to Melanesia, with this first-time traveler's guide. Learn about the languages, cultures, activities and attractions of each island group and find out how to choose your ideal tropical getaway.
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Oct 10, 2023 · You may have to trek a bit to reach the thousands of islands that comprise the South Pacific, but the journey is well worth the effort. In this vast area, you'll discover unspoiled beaches,...
