Smiles are in ample supply in the South Pacific. Apart from a warm welcome, you’re also guaranteed balmy temperatures and beaches that just beg you to come and relax on them.
However, there’s more to this idyllic region than simply basking in the sun. If you’re looking for a holiday where you can get out and active every day, you’ve come to the right place. Put these island getaways on top of your list and explore, explore, explore!
Saddle up for fun in New Caledonia
At 400 kilometres long, New Caledonia’s largest island boasts landscapes that range from soaring mountains to open plains, from fern forests to briny mangroves. So, visitors will have no trouble finding exhilarating ways to get active here.
Kick off the fun with a horseback trek. Horses play an important role in local culture – the west coast is home to a thriving cowboy culture, with broussards, or bushmen, working with large herds of cattle. Experienced riders should go straight to the slopes of the mountain range that run the length of the island, offering stunning vistas along the way.
Alternatively, there are plenty of seaside treks that give you the chance to cool off in the lagoon after a morning in the saddle – make your way over to the Lebris peninsula for some of the best. Keep an eye out for friendly turtles, or head to the reefs for more colourful marine life.
Prefer to explore on two feet? The magnificent landscape of Blue River Provincial Park, about an hour northeast from Nouméa, includes rich red soils, verdant forests and shimmering lakes. A network of hiking trails leads you to some of the top sights.
Be awed by the forest’s giant trees, including an impressive 1000-year-old kauri tree, or step into the drowned forest, where hundreds of gum oaks were submerged beneath the waters when the nearby dam was created. Their striking bleached trunks now appear to rise out of the lake and are amazing during a full moon, when night-time kayaking is popular.
If you like a challenge, the island is also home to a remarkable long-distance hiking trail that traverses the mainland from north to south. It’s divided into two sections, the GR Nord and the scenic GRD Sud, which in turn is split into seven stages, each one between five and eight hours long.
For those wanting to tackle the whole lot, be aware that much of the terrain is mountainous and you’ll have to carry your own gear with you. The reward: the chance to hike through primeval forests filled with plants found nowhere else, and to wind your way through some of New Caledonia’s best alpine scenery.
Or, consider timing your sit for one of the popular local challenges, like the New Caledonia Ultra Trail, held mid-year in the Mont-Dore, with five courses of various lengths, including a gruelling 133-kilometre route. Tough, but a lifetime memory.
Heat things up in Vanuatu
Vanuatu has always been much more than a fly-and- flop destination, thanks to its dramatic landscapes that include a live volcano – yes, really. If you love the idea of peering into a crater full of red-hot lava (from a safe distance), head to the island of Tanna, where Mount Yasur has been bubbling away sedately for hundreds of years.
Four-wheel drives will ferry you most of the way up the mountain, but the last part of the steep slope you’ll have to climb yourself. You’ll wind up on the rim of the crater looking deep down into the caldera into the glowing heart of the volcano. For the most memorable experience, opt for the sunset tour: once the sky begins to darken, the glow of the lava gets even more incredible.
Prefer water to fire? No problem. Vanuatu’s lush forests are home to a series of shimmering sapphire swimming holes, known as blue holes, each one giving you the chance to plunge into a different experience. Some of the pools are fed by freshwater springs and filtered through limestone for a crystal-clear effect. Others link to the ocean, rising and falling with the tides. Several are set up with a range of facilities, including bars and toilets, others have been left almost untouched.
If you’re staying in or around Port Vila, try the Blue Lagoon, just a half-hour drive up the coast, where a rope swing lets you unleash your inner Tarzan. If you’d rather lounge around with a cocktail, Nanda is the blue hole for you. Located between Luganville and Champagne Beach, this is also one of the most fabulous holes, its glittering waters tinted a pretty shade of blue. Or head to Espiritu Santo, home to more blue holes than any other island.
Matevulu Blue Hole draws the most visitors, but if you’re looking for a more private swim spot, ask a local for directions to Hog Harbour Blue Hole (about 3.5 kilometres north of Hog Harbour). This under-the-radar swimhole isn’t signposted, so you may find you have it all to yourself.
Want to pack as much into one day as possible? Then you’re going to love the tranquil paradise Eden on the River. Just a short drive from Port Vila, this gorgeous eco-attraction is designed as a playground for all ages. With hectares of tropical gardens, walking trails through the jungle, suspension bridges through the trees and a range of swimming spots, there’s enough to keep you active all day long.
Discover the natural wonders of Fiji
There are more than 300 islands scattered across Fiji’s archipelagos, but none is quite like Taveuni. Formed aeons ago by a volcanic explosion, much of this island is covered by a primeval rainforest that could double as a setting for Jurassic Park.
Instead of roaming giant predators, however, this rainforest hides a much more delicate treasure. If you want to experience it for yourself, you’ll need to arrive between October and December and bring your hiking shoes with you.
Your destination is sparkling Lake Tagimaucia, set in a volcanic crater more than 800 metres above sea level. For just three months a year, the red and white blooms of Fiji’s national flower, the tagimaucia flower, unfurl on the lake shore – the only place in the world where they’ll bloom successfully.
That’s not the only thing to discover on Taveuni, especially considering that 80% of the island is national park, much of it laced with flowing rivers and plunging waterfalls. Some of the destinations are well signposted; in other cases, the forest trail leading you there is unmarked. So, the easiest way to get around is to hire a local guide to share their favourite spots.
That’ll almost definitely include the Tavoro Waterfalls, a series of three cascades that plummet into cool swimming holes. The first pool is just a short stroll from the car park, but, if you prefer something a little more secluded, head on another 30 metres (be prepared, there’s a little scrambling involved) to the second waterfall. The third waterfall requires yet another hike, but, if you bring a snorkel, you can spy on the activities of the hundreds of prawns that make their home here.
Other Taveuni highlights include the Lavena Coastal Walk, a brilliant three-hour return hike that takes you past black sand beaches and volcanic cliffs, and the Waitavala Water Slide. This natural rock slide offers an exhilarating experience, but check in first with locals to ensure current conditions are safe. Don’t confine your explorations to land, either. There are lots of adventures to enjoy in the ocean, including sea kayaking excursions and famous dive sites, such as Great White Wall in Somosomo Strait, and Eel Reef, on the opposite side of the strait.
If you want to switch down the speed one day, then make your way just north of Somosomo to Gaiatree Sanctuary. This organic spice plantation offers immersive tours, including a delicious lunch that showcases the fresh fruit, herbs and spices grown on site. And, if your happy place is in the kitchen, you’re welcome to help prepare your own tucker.
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