2 min summary Best time to visit Map & highlights Fiji French Polynesia Tonga Kiribati Micronesia Samoa Solomon Islands Vanuatu Advice

South Pacific Islands Map & Highlights

The South Pacific is made up of tiny islands and remote communities in a vast ocean, so to help make sense of it all, we’ve picked key highlights to help you plan your journey. Click on our interactive South Pacific map to find out which Pacific Island nation floats your boat, from the forested hills of Fiji to the low lying atolls of Micronesia.

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South Pacific Islands map & highlights

A far flung sprawl of tropical perfection, the islands of the South Pacific may be tiny specks on the map, but they’re a massive draw for anyone seeking a slice of paradise, whether that comes in the form of a well-trodden hotspot or a road-less-travelled escape. You may even be able to bypass roads all together; many islands don’t have any, so seaplane or boat is the only way to get to and around their blissful shores. Several South Pacific Islands are barely a blip on the tourism radar, so travelling with a holiday company that has solid experience putting together South Pacific itineraries with expert local guides and a responsible ethos is definitely the way to go.

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Our South Pacific Islands Holidays

1. Bora Bora
2. Kiribati
3. Micronesia
4. New Caledonia
5. Solomon Islands
6. Taveuni Island, Fiji
7. Upolu, Samoa
8. Vava’u Islands, Tonga
9. Wallis & Futuna
10. Yasawa Islands, Fiji

Bora Bora

1. Bora Bora

Swathed in a kaleidoscope of tropical colour and surrounded by tiny idyllic islets and sparkling coral lagoons, Bora Bora is the perfect place to relax on snow white sands or snorkel over crystal clear shallows. Tourism and Bora Bora inevitably stroll arm in arm with stilted, over-water bungalows and towering tropical backdrops tempting honeymooners the world over.

Bora Bora

Kiribati

2. Kiribati

Made up of 33 isles strewn over a massive chunk of the South Pacific Ocean, remote Kiribati is well worth the trek, and nature lovers will be in their element here. Fishing and bird watching are excellent, and divers will see everything from sharks to manta rays to World War II relics in the brilliant blue seas.

Micronesia

3. Micronesia

Strung between Hawaii and the Philippines and made up of over 600 islands, Micronesia has all the requisite tropical beauty you could wish for. It’s also incredibly culturally diverse, with eight major indigenous languages spoken here and a strong English and Japanese influence, due to the country’s colonial past.

Micronesia

New Caledonia

4. New Caledonia

A dazzling archipelago known for its incredible beaches, massive lagoon and impressive barrier reef, New Caledonia attracts intrepid divers from across the globe. A French overseas territory, it’s also home to a surprising number of gourmet restaurants and chic boutiques, if you tire of typical desert island living.

Solomon Islands

5. Solomon Islands

This nation of hundreds of islands is rich in history both recent and modern. During World War II, the British had a base on Honiara and the intense fighting that took place here is remembered with a memorial on the largest island, Guadalcanal. Today, the Solomons are a hotspot for marine and birdlife, and tiny Zodiac boats provide a closer look at the coastal life of even the smallest islands.

Solomon Islands

Taveuni Island, Fiji

6. Taveuni Island, Fiji

As Fiji’s third largest island, Taveuni offers far more than simple seclusion and white sand loveliness (they have black sand here). This is an inhabited, fertile and lesser visited volcanic landscape that supports an assortment of indigenous animals and exciting activities; with kayaking to Nacawa River Falls, the Lavena Coastal Walk and cycling in Bouma National Heritage Park all excellent alternatives to days at the beach.

Upolu, Samoa

7. Upolu, Samoa

Robert Louis Stevenson was so taken with Upolu that he chose to spend the last years of his life on this stunning Samoan island. Home to the capital city and most of the country’s population, its rugged beauty includes offshore lagoons, soaring coastal cliffs, deep caves and a deep green tangle of rainforest at its heart.

Upolu, Samoa

Vava’u Islands, Tonga

8. Vava’u Islands, Tonga

The idyllic islands of Vava'u, Tonga, present an incredible opportunity to swim with South Pacific Humpback whales, who migrate here from Antarctica every winter. These hilly islands are also one of the South Pacific's best yachting destinations, and home to idyllic waterways and the famous sheltered Port of Refuge.

Wallis & Futuna

9. Wallis & Futuna

Little-known and little visited, these teeny, dreamy volcanic islands sit at the heart of the Polynesia/Melanesia region, around 230 km away from each other, and equally far away in cultural terms. Though both are under French governorship, Wallis shares its ancestry with Tonga, while Futuna’s roots lie in Samoa.

Wallis & Futuna

Yasawa Islands, Fiji

10. Yasawa Islands, Fiji

Due to their location to the northeast of Fiji’s Mamanuca archipelago, the Yasawa Islands require a little more effort to get to but can still be reached on a seven-night small ship cruise, no problem. The seclusion and sense of escape that you’ll experience upon arrival is just magical and it’s still easy to see why Nanuya Levu was chosen as the set for the 1980s desert island romance, the Blue Lagoon.

Travel Team

If you'd like to chat about South Pacific Islands or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

Travel times in the South Pacific Islands

The following times give you a rough idea of the travel times in the South Pacific Islands.

Suva, Fiji – Apia, Samoa: 5hrs 40 mins flight Suva, Fiji – Honiara, Solomon Islands: 5hrs 50 mins flight Suva, Fiji – Vava’u, Tonga: 3 hours 55 mins flight Noumea, New Caledonia – Papeete, Tahiti: 5hrs 20 minutes flight

More about South Pacific Islands

Best time to visit the South Pacific Islands

We’ve done the research for you, so read on to find out the best time to visit the South Pacific.

South Pacific Islands travel guide

Scattered across the world’s biggest ocean, the South Pacific Islands have acquired near mythical status for their natural beauty – especially their beaches.

Fiji

Find out why this volcanic island nation is such a tempting prospect as you read our Fiji travel guide.

French Polynesia

Discover how to make the most of your time all the way from the beaches of Bora Bora to the volcanic monoliths of Ua Pou.

Tonga

Tonga draws adventurous travellers from across the globe in search of pristine beaches and rich underwater life – in particular humpback whales.

Kiribati

Discover the uninhabited atolls and reef islands that make Kiribati holidays such a tempting prospect.

Micronesia

There are few places in the world that are as remote as Micronesia – and few that are as idyllically beautiful.

Samoa

Our Samoa holidays take in the best sites of Upolu and Savai'i, from Mauga Silisili to the bustling capital of Apia.

Solomon Islands

Forget about swish resorts and beach clubs; the Solomon Islands move to a far more authentic beat.

Vanuatu

A Vanuatu holiday follows in the wake of Captain Cook en-route to the Banks Islands and the volcanic wonders of Gaua, Vanua Lava and Mt Séré’ama.

South Pacific Travel Advice

Get South Pacific travel advice from our local experts on everything from where to stay, local culture and hiking in the mountains.

Responsible tourism in the South Pacific

There are no excuses not to travel responsibly in the South Pacific with climate change, coral bleaching, plastic pollution and cruise ships all major issues.

Written by Nana Luckham

ABTA member P7085 so you are fully protected

Photo credits: [Page banner: Chris Isherwood] [Bora Bora: Elizabeth.guterson] [Kiribati: KevGuy4101] [Micronesia: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade] [New Caledonia: Roderick Eime] [Solomon Islands : StewyOz] [Taveuni Island, Fiji: John Game] [Upolu, Samoa: Neil] [Vava’u Islands, Tonga: Sylke Rohrlach] [Wallis & Futuna: Anna Vinet] [Yasawa Islands, Fiji: Tim Parkinson]

South Pacific Islands Map & Highlights