9 Most Beautiful Islands in the South Pacific

1 Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Shrouded in greenery and surrounding an impossibly glowing turquoise lagoon, Bora Bora is the beauty queen of the South Pacific. Glinking from afar, the lush peaks of Mount Otemanu and Mount Pahia rise from the sea, arms outstretched as if welcoming you into their seductive embrace. Adventures here span both land and sea. You can explore the lagoon and its small islands or motus on cruises, which often include the opportunity to snorkel with sharks and rays, and you can walk a web of trails through hilly slopes to see all the beauty. Top it off with mouthwatering French-inspired cuisine and romantic resorts, and you have the ultimate honeymoon escape.

Bora Bora’s sister island, Moorea deserves a special mention and also features a beautiful lagoon, white sandy beaches and emerald green peaks.

Hotels in Bora Bora, French Polynesia

2 Editors’ Choice Aitutaki, The Cook Islands

 

With one of the most beautiful lagoons in the South Pacific, Aitutaki is an underrated gem. Closely linked to New Zealand, the Cook Islands lie between French Polynesia and Samoa. Aitutaki is the second most visited island in the chain and is approximately a 45-minute flight from Rarotonga, the most popular island and the location of the international airport. At its northernmost end, Aitutaki Island hooks around the lagoon, where uninhabited motus (islets) mark the clear waters within kayaking distance of some of the resorts. You can paddle with a picnic and pretend you’re Robinson Crusoe for the day. A string of plush resorts stretch along its gleaming shores, including Pacific Resort Aitutaki and Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa, yet the island still manages to maintain a relaxed and traditional feel.

Hotels in the Cook Islands

3 The Mamanuca Islands, Fiji

 

Stunning beaches, serene blue seas and plenty of sunshine make the Mamanucas Fiji’s most popular island group. Coral reefs sparkle in the clear waters surrounding these 20 tropical beauties and the famous Cloud Break, a world-class surfing holiday, is a short boat ride away. If you loved the scenery on Cast Away and Survivor Fiji, both of which were filmed on islands in this chain, then this is your place. Moreover, you can enjoy the warm hospitality of the local people, for which Fiji is famous. There are plenty of resorts to choose from, including luxury options like Likuliku Lagoon Resort and Tokoriki Island Resort. Surfers head to Tavarua Island Resort and backpackers can enjoy the more affordable Beachcomber Island Resort. Most of these islands are less than an hour away by boat from Denarau Island Marina on the main island of Viti Levu. Just north of the Mamanuca Islands, the less developed Yasawa Islands comes in second in the beauty spots.

Hotels in Fiji

4 Samoan

 

Samoa is one of the South Pacific’s best kept secrets. Humble, unspoiled and stunningly beautiful, it lies in the heart of Polynesia, about halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii. This topographically beautiful archipelago of ten tropical islands was born in a dramatic volcanic uprising, boasting pointed, peaked peaks and rugged rock islands. Lush jungles camouflage the slopes, waterfalls dump steep cliffs and coral reefs surround their shores. Adding to all this natural beauty is the warm hospitality of the local people, who still fiercely adhere to their traditional values ​​and customs, called “Fa’a Samoa.” Savai’i and Upolu are the two main islands. Most visitors stay on Upolu, where Apia, the capital, houses the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum. But Savai’i offers its own sleepy South Seas charm.

The best underwater adventures in Samoa include snorkeling and diving on the edge of coral reefs, fishing, swimming and kayaking. Surfing is also fantastic, but best left to more experienced board riders because of the treacherous coral reefs. On land, you can swim at Lalomanu Beach , hike the rainforest trails, take a 4×4 or bike ride and photograph some of the Pacific’s most beautiful waterfalls. Don’t miss taking a dip in the Naar Sua trench , about 1.5 hours drive from Apia. Surrounded by beautiful gardens, this 30-meter-deep crater is filled with seawater stars featured on Samoa postcards and tourist brochures. Samoa’s accommodations range from rustic huts on the beach to five-star resorts like Sinalei Reef Resort & Spa.

Hotels in Samoa

5 Palau

 

Palau is one of the world’s best diving destinations and for good reason. From the air, Palau’s 500-plus islands are a study in topographical beauty, jutting out of the sea like a maze of jungly blobs, but beneath their clear blue waters lies a fish-rich wonderland. The multi-hued hard and soft corals are populated by an astonishing diversity of marine life, including turtles, sharks, sea snakes, giant clams and rays. Palau is also known for its World War II wreck diving and the Wall of Ngemelis, or Great Drop-off, said to be one of the best wall dives in the world. Although the underwater landscape is the star attraction, the islands offer plenty of land adventures. More than three-quarters of the country is covered in native forest and mangroves and you can hike to waterfalls and Polynesian stone monuments. Palau’s main trading city, Koror, is also home to a few museums and WWII monuments. One of the top things to do in Palau is take a boat trip to the Rock Islands , where you can snorkel in crystal-clear waters, paddle around them in sea kayaks, and bask on their stretches of white-sand beach.

Hotels in Palau

6 Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu

Vanuatu’s largest island, Espiritu Santo (“Santo” as it is affectionately known), is one of the most beautiful islands in the South Pacific and a top destination for adventure seekers. Wrecks, reefs and stunning beaches are the top attractions here, and jungle adventures are also high on the list. Champagne Beach is a must-visit with its powdery sand and crystal clear waters, and you can snorkel and dive in fertile coral reefs and famous wrecks such as the World War II SS President Coolidge . Landlubbers will also have plenty of adventures. One of the island’s top adventures is a visit to Millennium Cave, which involves a jungle trek, crossing bamboo bridges, descending deep into a cave, and a swim through a pond and a series of jungly rapids. The island is also known for its beautiful blue holes, where crystal clear water from freshwater springs bubbles up through layers of limestone in brilliant blue hues. You can also ride horses along empty beaches and climb some of the country’s highest peaks in the southwest of the island. The lush inland countryside is dotted with small villages that have changed little over the years.

The easiest way to reach Santo Espiritu is to fly from Vanuatu’s capital, Port Vila. Direct flights also run from Brisbane and Sydney in Australia.

Hotels in Vanuatu

7 Lord Howe Island, Australia

 

The peaceful and unspoilt World Heritage-listed Lord Howe Island limits the number of guests allowed to disembark onto its pristine shores, and that’s just one of its many charms. About 400 miles off the northern coast of New South Wales, Australia, this ring of rising sea cliffs and small islands was once part of a volcano. Today, almost two-thirds of the island is protected, making it a nirvana for nature lovers, who come here to sunbathe on the beautiful white-sand beaches, snorkel, swim and feed the colorful fish at Ned’s Beach, walking in the pandanus and palm-covered forests, and ticking off an astonishing variety of species from their bird lists. On land, one of the most popular things to do is hike 875 meters of Mt. Gower for spectacular views, or scale down the slopes to Malabar Hill or Kim’s Lookout. In the sea you can dive and snorkel Elizabeth Reef , the world’s southernmost coral reef, go deep sea fishing, or sea kayaking. Bicycles are the preferred form of transportation here and the fact that cell phones may not provide coverage is considered a blessing by most. Lord Howe Island is less than a two-hour flight from Brisbane or Sydney.

Hotels on Lord Howe Island, Australia

8 Isle of Pines, New Caledonia

 

Captain Cook named this southernmost island in New Caledonia for the slender pines that stand like sentinels along the gleaming white shores. Today it is one of the best tourist destinations in this overseas French territory. Isle of Pines (Île des Pins) is probably best known for its beautiful pine tree-lined bays with soft white sandy beaches lapped by water in brilliant shades of blue. Adding to this natural beauty, adorable rock islets languish offshore, capped with lush foliage. Popular things to do here include swimming, snorkeling and sunbathing at Kanumera Bay and Kuto Bay , stand up paddle boarding, glass bottom boat trips and exploring the island’s caves. Not far from Oro Bayis a natural seawater pool, Piscine Naturelle , where you can swim and snorkel with flocks of tropical fish, and Upi Bay is dotted with picturesque mushroom-shaped rock formations.

Isle of Pines is a 30-minute flight or 2.5-hour boat ride from New Caledonia’s distinctly French capital Noumea . New Caledonia is about a 2.5 hour flight from Sydney.

Hotels on Isle of Pines, New Caledonia

9 Easter Island (Rapa Nui), Chile

 

One of the planet’s most isolated and inhabited islands, Easter Island (Rapa Nui: Polynesian, Isla de Pascua: Spanish) exudes a rugged, mystical beauty. This popular ecotourist destination belongs to Chile, yet lies more than 2,300 miles to the east in the southeastern Pacific Ocean and is true to its deep Polynesian roots. The island’s landscape consists mainly of the grassy domes of extinct volcanoes rippling against a backdrop of brilliant blue water. Much of the island is protected by the World Heritage Rapa Nui National Park and this is where many of the archaeological and natural attractions are located, including caves; volcanoes, hiking trails; ceremonial sites, and some of the island’s 887moai , its most famous attraction. These massive stone statues, created by the Rapa Nui people from the 10th to the 16th centuries, loom among the vibrant landscapes of stark beauty. Cycling, walking and horse riding are all popular ways to explore the island. Other things to do include trekking, diving, snorkeling and surfing the island’s powerful swells. If you really need a beach fix, head out to Anakena Beach , a lovely bay with a half-moon slice of white sand and groves of slender coconut palms.

Hotels on Easter Island, Chile