The Islands of Perpetual Sunday

Advantages: Pristine rainforest and beaches, amazing diving, welcoming locals
Disadvantages: Not for those who cannot make their own entertainment

...& 171.5 W, in the South Pacific between New Zealand and Hawaii Time: GMT-12hours Neighbours: American Samoa, Fiji, Cook Islands, French Polynesia Language: Samoan, English People: Polynesian Currency: Samoan tala Getting there (from U.K.): Use Qantas/BA to Australia, then Polynesian Blue to Apia, or Air New Zealand from London to Apia via Los Angeles....

cladach29 12.09.2006 · Read review
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Review of Independent Samoa (South Pacific Islands)

Not Quite The Island Paradise We Hoped For.

Advantages: Pristine beaches, clear seas, tropical fish.
Disadvantages: Mosquitos, humidity, some negative male attention, nothing to do per se.

...American Samoa. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ American or Western Samoa, as I will refer to it here, is composed of a group of six islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand. Western Samoa is composed of two main islands (Savaii and Upolu), several smaller inhabited islands and a number of other uninhabited islets The islands are mostly coastal naturally although they don't boast beaches with which to compare to places such as The Cook Islands and Fiji. The islands re volcanic, they are rocky and rugged with steep mountainous interiors. The population is around 60,000 and this is gradually declining. I visited Western Samoa for about 8 days in between August and September 2000 while I was on a back packing trip (see my other review on New...

nickyturnill 20.01.2005 (07.04.2006) · Read review
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Review of American Samoa (South Pacific Islands)

Jewel of the South Pacific, FIJI!

Advantages: close to NZ and AUS
Disadvantages: very humid in summer months, only serviced by Air Pacific

...Fiji. A small pocket of paradise in the South Pacific, which is breathtaking to even the most seasoned world citizen. The first thing to strike you as you set foot for the first time on their soil is the Fijian people who have a calm, happy and down to earth nature about them. Fiji is a culturally diverse country although a good majority of the population is Indian and their cultural influences are ever present in the small town of Nadi (pronounced ?nan-dee?), which is a short distance from the International airport. Nadi is a bustling little town bursting with people, arts and crafts and food at the markets, which are held on a regular basis. The main industry in Nadi is tourism where there are countless shops selling souvenirs and duty free goods. Shop owners are standing outside their stores ushering prospective customers inside in...

hunkaspunk 08.02.2004 · Read review
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Review of Fiji (South Pacific Islands)

  Paradox in Paradise

Advantages: ?Things that happen here would seem?.?
Disadvantages: ??.Paradox in Paradise.? (Flecker)

.... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * On setting out to circle the globe, the first question to be answered is where to stop en route. Somewhere in the South Pacific is obviously essential, but where? Tahiti? Samoa? The Cook Islands? All of them, ideally, but alas there was no time for that. Our choice of Fiji was not quite made at random. Having claimed on the basis of no personal experience whatsoever in my F-review that ?Fiji is also among the world?s more agreeable places,? I felt the time had come to put it to the test, and also to put to the test the mixed reports we had heard, ranging from ?pure paradise? to ?already spoiled?. Finally, straddling as it does the 180th meridian. Fiji has the merit of being exactly halfway round the world from home, longitudinally at least. Surely here was the place to find contrasts with what we were accustomed to, if anywhere...

torr 08.03.2005 (09.03.2005) · Read review
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Review of Fiji (South Pacific Islands)

This is SAMOA

Advantages: The weather and the peaceful nature
Disadvantages: Sometimes gets boring very quickly

...This review is from a trip I took to Samoa in January this year. About Samoa ------------------- Well Samoa is situated a few hours away from Australia and the two islands which are part of Samoa are very small and can sometimes be difficult to find on a world atlas. The first island is named Upolu which has the capital city of Apia there. The other is named Savaii and although there are about 5 other islands which are not inhabited these are the two which are. Each island is basically coastal because there is ocean everywhere you go visible in Samoa which is a nice thought and can be a breathtaking experience. Nearby islands you can see sometimes in the open air are Fiji and Tonga. Overall it is a very small place to visit but has advantages. Weather -------------- The weather in Samoa can be unpredictable, they have a dry...

tink-er-bell 09.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of American Samoa (South Pacific Islands)

South Pacific Paradise? Bruny Island, Tasmania

Advantages: Stunningly Beautiful, Unspoilt, Unique
Disadvantages: Located at the very end of the world...

...MY MAP OF TASSIE: Although Bruny Island is not especially well known, I'm a little ashamed to admit I'd never even heard of it until I decided to go there, on a whim, about four years ago. Having booked Ferry tickets to Davenport, I was lazily studying a map of the Tasmanian coastline, wondering where to start. It was then that I spotted Bruny, right at the bottom of the map, at the exact point where the Indian Ocean swells into the southern Pacific. The Island is situated approx. 30km south of Hobart, and is separated from the 'mainland' by the D'Entrecasteaux Channel. It is comprised of two parts - North Bruny and South Bruny, which are connected by a narrow strip of land locally referred to as the 'Neck'. The island is accessed at Robert's Point by car-ferry from Kettering, a smallish town on the Tasmanian mainland. SO WHY...

snowbunni 29.11.2005 · Read review
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Review of Tasmania (Australia)

Octopus Resort, Waya Island

Advantages: Cheap, great snorkelling and beaches, friendly people
Disadvantages: Long ride in a small boat

...shells, and a movie night where they set up a screen on the beach. We were welcomed to the island with a song and a ceremony where you drink kava - best described as muddy water that makes your tongue and lips go numb! The boat ride to and from Waya island was interesting - over an hour, not exactly a large boat and it was choppy in places - but it is all part of the experience! Cost for the premium bure - $149 Fijian/night. They also have cheaper bures and dormitory accommodation. A package deal including transfers is usually the best value....

Jaycey 22.10.2004 · Read review
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Review of Fiji (South Pacific Islands)

Island Life at its best

Advantages: Warm weather, sun and fun
Disadvantages: Mozzies (dengue fever season)

...A great spot for a resort holiday or stopover. Very enjoyable. Despite the recent turmoil I believe that it would still be safe. Most of the drama was in Suva which is a couple of hours away from Nadi Airport and the islands. I took a 10 day trip to Fiji and stayed at the Sheraton Fiji Resort which is located on Denaru Island just outside of Nadi. It is actually part of the main island but entering the Sheraton resort is like entering a different world. It si one of those places that you could spend your entire holiday in without venturing outside. The rooms are spacious and have air con (a must in Fiji) and tiled floors. Huge bathrooms and most rooms have a balcony. The buffet breakfast us a very diverse range of foods and delicious (as is the view from the breakfast room). It also has pool facilities, sailing and windsurfing...

cherroxi 06.01.2001 · Read review
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Review of Fiji (South Pacific Islands)

Why we visited it

Advantages: Paradise
Disadvantages: Cant find any

...fish in midair from other birds, and vying for tidbits discarded by fishermen. This aerial skill is borne of necessity, since the frigate bird does not ordinary land water. As with sooty terns, their plumage lacks sufficient waterproofing properties and in addition their 1.8 meters wingspan makes takeoff a challenge. We learned that a little brown bird seen earlier was a Pacific golden plover. It is one of many migratory birds that use Christmas as a vital refuelling and wintering stop after a long fight from their breeding grounds thousands of kilometres away above the Arctic circle. Excellent navigation skills direct these marathon fliers to this avian out post, some 2,100 kilometres south of Honolulu, Hawaii. We have warm feelings for these dear people so far away on Christmas Island. Also, there is a special place in out hearts...

quan 06.08.2007 · Read review
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Review of Fiji (South Pacific Islands)

Escape to Vanuatu

Advantages: Lush rainforests, turquoise waters
Disadvantages: Numerous earth tremors

...Feeling stressed? Need to get away? Then imagine unwinding on a sun-drenched tropical island. Picture yourself swimming in turquoise-coloured waters meandering through lush rain forests, or mingling with exotic indigenous tribes. Does such a paradise still exist on earth? Why yes! In the remote islands of Vanuatu. Located roughly halfway between Australia and Fiji, Vanuatu is a Y-shaped Chain of about 80 islands in the southwest pacific. According to geologists, massive tectonic plates in the earth crust collided at this point to form lofty mountains that are mainly underwater. The peaks of the tallest of these rose above the ocean surface creating Vanuatu?s rugged islands. Today, the geologic crunch and grind triggers numerous earth tremors and fuel nine active volcanoes. Daring sightseers can even view molten lava at close range...

quan 31.07.2007 · Read review
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Review of Vanuatu (South Pacific Islands)