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Apr 11, 2024 · 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.
- Polynesia
Polynesian culture, the beliefs and practices of the...
- Colonial Rule
Pacific Islands - Colonialism, Exploitation, Resistance:...
- Early Period
Pacific Islands - Exploration, Colonization, Trade: The...
- Independence Movements
Pacific Islands - Independence Movements: For strategic and...
- Wake Island
Wake Island, atoll in the central Pacific Ocean, about 2,300...
- Polynesia
Depending on the context, the term Pacific Islands may refer to one of several different concepts: (1) those countries and islands with common Austronesian origins, (2) the islands once (or currently) colonized, or (3) the geographical region of Oceania. This list of islands in the Pacific Ocean is organized by archipelago or political boundary ...
- Fiji Islands (880,000) Fiji is the number one hot spot in the South Pacific and received over 800,000 tourists a year pre Covid-19, but this is not even a tenth of what Hawaii receives!
- French Polynesia (220,000) French Polynesia is one of the best known destinations of the South Pacific, partly because of the alluring tale of Mutiny of the Bounty and the exotic paintings of Paul Gauguin.
- The Cook Islands (170,000) The scattered Cook Islands have a small population, but you’ll be assured of a great welcome even at the international airport where a serenader welcomes each plane load of tourists and your hosts wait outside with a flower lei.
- Samoa (140,000) Robert Louis Stevenson, the author of Treasure Island, was a man who knew a lot about beautiful Pacific Islands – and it was Samoa that Stevenson chose to retire to.
- Polynesia
- French Polynesia
- The Cook Islands
- Samoa
- American Samoa
- Tonga
- Easter Island
- Melanesia
- Fiji
- Vanuatu
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.
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.
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. Tourists generally visit the main island of Rarotonga and small lagoon-caressed Aitutaki.
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).
Marketed as "Where America's sunsets," this U.S. territory, with its singsong capital Pago Pago (on main island Tutuila), consists of five volcanic islands totaling just 76 square miles and a population of 65,000. Its tropical rainforests and marine sanctuaries are superb.
This island kingdom straddles the western side of the International Dateline (Tongans are first to greet the new day) and consists of 176 islands, 52 inhabited. The present king, His Majesty King George Tupou V, has ruled his nation's 102,000 people since 2006, residing in the capital, Nuku'alofa, on the main island Tongatapu.
Settled by the Polynesians about 1,500 years ago and discovered by the Dutch (on Easter Sunday in 1722, hence the name), this remote 63-square-mile island is home to about 5,000 people and 800 moai, giant stone statues. Owned by Chile, the island offers rugged beauty and a blend of cultures.
These islands, located west of Polynesia and south of Micronesia - among them Fiji and Papua New Guinea - are known for their many ceremonial rituals and customs, elaborate body tattoos and wood-carving techniques.
Consisting of 333 islands, this welcoming nation of about 85,000 people - all of whom love to shout their exuberant greeting, "Bula!" every chance they get - is known for its luxurious private-island resorts and superb diving. The main island, Viti Levu, home to the international airport at Nadi, is the hub from which tourists fan out to Vanua Levu...
This republic of about 221,000 people is three hours by air from Australia. Its 83 islands are mostly mountainous and are home to several active volcanoes. Vanuatans speak 113 languages, but all celebrate life with a series of rituals and events, making it a fascinating spot to visit. The capital is Port Vila on Efate island.
- Donna Heiderstadt
- Rarotonga & the Cook Islands. Best for beaches and hospitality. Languages: English (official), Cook Islands Maori (Rarotongan) The Cook Islands mix Polynesian blue water and hospitality with New Zealand (who administer the islands) savoir faire.
- Fiji. Best for: friendly vibes and backpacker adventures. Languages: English, iTaukei, Fiji Hindi. Fiji receives nearly the same amount of visitors (about 630,000 annually) as the rest of the South Pacific combined but it still feels wild and exotic.
- Tahiti & French Polynesia. Best for: luxury resorts and surfing. Languages: French, Polynesian. With over 115 islands spanning five archipelagos, French Polynesia has it all from the legendary, luxe Bora Bora and its over-the-water-bungalows to uncountable forgotten islands perfect for Crusoe-wannabes looking for a basic beach bungalow.
- Vanuatu. Best for: volcanoes and hiking. Languages: (more than 100) Bislama (creole), English, French, others. If you want rumbling volcanoes, kava bars, shipwrecks to dive on and wild jungles to trek but still want your roads paved and your cheese French, Vanuatu is the place for you.
Feb 7, 2023 · From some of the best islands in Fiji to eco-tourism destinations in Australia, find the top places to visit for an idyllic holiday with our list of the best islands in the South Pacific. On This Page: 1. Bora Bora, French Polynesia. 2. Aitutaki, The Cook Islands. 3. The Mamanuca Islands, Fiji. 4.
South Pacific ( Wild Pacific in the US) is a British nature documentary series from the BBC Natural History Unit, which began airing on BBC Two on 10 May 2009. The six-part series surveys the natural history of the islands of the South Pacific region, including many of the coral atolls and New Zealand. It was filmed entirely in high-definition.
