South Pacific holiday destinations

[Oakie]

It's our 25th anniversary next year and we've decided that to celebrate we'll find a nice sunny island to spend a week or so on. We want somewhere not too commerialised so we can just kick back and enjoy a fairly relaxing week or so in the sun.
Presently we're looking at Norfolk Island or Rarotonga. Not keen on Fiji.
Anyone like to share good or bad experiences, make recomendations and give advice. (No, we don't need someone to carry our bags)

[chris]

Rarotonga. We have a week booked there in June. Thatched cottage right on a private beach.

[Grumpy]

Mrs Grumpy and myself decided to get married offshore somewhere and were trying to come up with ideas. Someone suggested Western Samoa. I have to admit I wasn't too keen at first but we did some research and ended up heading there for 10 days. Not somwhere where you would think of for a South Pacfic holiday and that is probably what we loved about it. Not too "touristy". We would definately go back again.

[Oakie]

Yep, had a look at Samoa after I started this thread and it does sound quite good.

[Swoop]

Raro!
Get out to Atutaki if you want paradise.

[macca]

Raro is good, nothing much to do, but locals friendly and some good beaches. plus you can go round the whole island in 50 mins on a scooter:scooter: . $10 for a raro licence.
Wouldnt touch Fiji with a barge pole unless going to the outer islands.

[Lou Girardin]

Talu Beach Fale's at Talu beach on Savai'i (I think). Right on the beach beside the lagoon, shared ablutions, communal eating. Sounds horrible, but it isn't, we loved it. Book direct and it'll cost you half the travel agents quotes.
Samoan beer is cheaper than Coke. Take plenty of rum and have cocktails with fruit juice and fresh coconut milk.

[terbang]

Ha'pai and Vava'u in the kingdom of Tonga are just great (forget Nukualofa) and the Tongans are really nice people..

[Firefight]

what about Vanuatu ?


loved it, would go back again.

F/F

[Mad Cow]

Spent a week in Raro a while ago! Loved it. Went in August though and it really wasn't warm enough for me!
However anywhere with a bar and a beach is pretty ok!!!

[Jantar]

I've visited Western Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Niue and Norfolk Island. Western Samoa is the one that I found to be the best holiday destination.

Western Samoa has very friendly people and is not too touristy. There is plenty to do, plenty to see, and fabulous beaches. The first time my wife and I went there we stayed in Aggie Grey's. Absolutely fabulous accomadation and our next trip back there will again be at Aggies. Our second time there we did as Lou suggested and mixed more with the locals. It was a totally unique experience and one not to be missed. If your schedule allows it try both the luxury hotel and a village experience.

Norfolk Island would be my second choice, but for totally different reasons. Unless you are newly wed or nearly dead then on Norfolk you must make your own fun. But as long as you are prepared to spend time in the RSL with the locals and learn what's happening off the tourist beat, then there is plenty to do.

[2much]

Agree with jantar

Western Samoa rocks!

Stay at Aggies, hire some scooters and blat around the island, check out the sliding rocks, snorkel the reef, have some kava, try their McDonalds (best in the world), then go down the Garden bar and have a beer (Vialima, the local brew is great) with the locals(very friendly).

You won't regret it.

[Deviant Esq]

Went to Rarotonga end of November last year. Loved it. And as has been mentioned, if you can hop over to Aitutaki, well worth it I'm told. Didn't manage to go myself, was on a budget. Friggin bloody hot, but everyone's on a bike! :2thumbsup

Make sure you go snorkelling. It's the coolest thing. Tropical fish bloody everywhere if you do it in the marine reserve. Don't worry about sharks, you're inside the lagoon there. But if you're wading, you'll want a pair of reef shoes (Warehouse, about $8 a pair). Go near the coral at your peril, it will cut you to threads and infect you if you slip in it's vicinity.

Sunblock and insect repellant strong musts. Either burnt alive or eaten alive otherwise. Don't ask how I know that one... :lol:

[Lou Girardin]

While we were there they had White Sunday, very religious the Samoans, all the kids dress in white and toddle off to church. So, when in Rome etc.
Afterwards, we were invited to the village Chiefs meeting house for the Sunday lunch. It was quite an experience; you have to eat till you burst, you sit on mats and you mustn't point your feet at anyone. Which we did once or twice but nobody headbutted us, we were just dumb palagis.
The chief is a character, he owns the resort and tours the site in his Hilux every morning because he's too fat to walk and waves to his 'subjects' like royalty.
They even put on an extra entertainment evening for us because we would have missed the scheduled one.
Just don't expect them to wake up in the afternoon and open the shop just because you're out of beer.

[Firefight]

Make sure you go snorkelling. It's the coolest thing. Tropical fish bloody everywhere if you do it in the marine reserve. Don't worry about sharks, you're inside the lagoon there.


Most the islands the diving or snorkeling is cool.
watch out for the small striped sea snakes, very friendly but poisonous.

F/F

[busadayz]

You want layed back, Raro is the place. You can get busy if you want to, but thats probably not the idea.
If the budget will make it, yea get out to Aitutaki its another ball game all together.
I grew up in Raro, went to school there etc so am a bit biased.
My father has been there for 30 odd years and has a restaurant and bar there called The Tumunu in the district of Arorangi (its next door to the Edgewater resort).
if you make it call in for dinner and a few drinks, excuse his bawdy warped sense of humor. Tell him hi from Sean,(maybe not he may tell you to piss off).

[geoffm]

Raro rocks. not a place if you want an action packed Disney Holiday, but perfect to relax, and not ruined by cruise ships
Take your bike license and hire a scooter - you have to got to the local cop shop and get a local license. Just a form filling exercise if you have a kiwi license. Great fun on the 36km around the island.
Fiji was nice enough, but commercial. Raro is genuine, if you know what I mean.
Spend a little extra and go for somewhere more upmarket than Club Raro - it is pretty basic.
Geoff

[Holy Roller]

what about Vanuatu ?


loved it, would go back again.

F/F

If one likes the out of the way places Santo is great I took our family over there for 7 weeks, a guy I knew was a chief in a village on Malakula, no power or running water for a month, Santo was like a resort after that.
25 years well done
you deserve to have a great time, go with what the Mrs would enjoy but I guess you already know that.