South Pacific Islands Travel Advice
Fiji Cultural tips
Linzi Bird, Fiji specialist at our supplier Audley Travel, shares her Fiji travel advice:
“Kava is a traditional Fijian welcome drink made from the roots of trees. Although it works a bit like an antiseptic, in as much as it will make your mouth go numb, it's a real honour to be involved in one of the village ceremonies that tend to take place about once a week.”
“Kava is a traditional Fijian welcome drink made from the roots of trees. Although it works a bit like an antiseptic, in as much as it will make your mouth go numb, it's a real honour to be involved in one of the village ceremonies that tend to take place about once a week.”
Kirsty Bamby, founder of our supplier Island Spirit:
“Fijians are extremely laid back and ‘Fiji Time’ is an actual thing: an island attitude that’s cool, relaxed and totally chilled out. The sort of feeling that if I’m going to be late then, why worry? It’s not going to affect world peace or anything dramatic like that. Time zones also change year on year as sometimes they don’t add on the daylight saving hours and sometimes they do!”
“Fijians are extremely laid back and ‘Fiji Time’ is an actual thing: an island attitude that’s cool, relaxed and totally chilled out. The sort of feeling that if I’m going to be late then, why worry? It’s not going to affect world peace or anything dramatic like that. Time zones also change year on year as sometimes they don’t add on the daylight saving hours and sometimes they do!”
Our South Pacific Islands Holidays
Budget Tonga holiday, swim with humpback whales
Once in a lifetime chance to swim with humpback whales.
From
£0
0 days
ex flights
Fiji holidays, island hopping tour
Sample all the delights which these beautiful islands have to offer
From
£10350
10 days
inc UK flights
Melanesia cruise, history and wildlife cruise
Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu expedition cruise
From
US $11195
17 days
ex flights
Fiji cruise, escape to paradise
Cruise some of Fiji's most beautiful islands and villages
From
£2019 to £2285
8 days
ex flights
Tahiti, Society & Tuamotu Islands cruise
A cruise from Tahiti to the Society and Tuamotu islands.
From
€2750 to €5100
11 days
ex flights
French Polynesia activity tips
Powell Ettinger at our supplier, the Small Ship Cruise Collection:“Bora Bora and Rangiroa are excellent for snorkelling and diving with classic tropical island beaches adding to the natural attraction of life below the water.”
“The archaeological site on Hiva Oa has similar statues to those found on Easter Island and a guided tour around the village of Puamau is an excellent way to find out more about how and why tikis came to be on the island.”
Packing Tips
Cassia Jackson from our supplier Heritage Expeditions shares her packing tips for the South Pacific: “The climate in the South Pacific can range from temperate, to subtropical to tropical, so clothes that can ‘breathe’ and dry quickly are highly recommended. The ‘layer’ principle is the secret of staying comfortable here too. Be sure to pack a hat, preferably one that can be pulled down to protect your ears, forehead and neck. Remember the ‘slip-slop-slap’ principle. Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat. Don’t forget to pack a light raincoat or poncho to keep dry during those tropical downpours. Your swimming costume is essential, and you may like to bring light cover ups (such as a rash vest) to wear when snorkelling.”Health & safety in the South Pacific
HEALTH
SAFETY
Our top South Pacific Islands Holiday
Pacific Islands tour
Discover some of the world's smallest nations
From
£13195
27 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2023: 28 Sep
2023: 28 Sep
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
Call us tomorrow after 9am
Calling from outside the UK
South Pacific tips from our travellers
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travellers are often... other travellers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do – and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful South Pacific travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday – and the space inside your suitcase.
We have selected some of the most useful South Pacific travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday – and the space inside your suitcase.
Snorkelling amongst the beautiful Fijian corals and reef fish then hiking into remote, but welcoming, Highland Villages to experience traditional customs and rarely visited landscapes.![]()
- Malcolm Fisher
“Tonga is a backpacking destination. Be aware that taxi drivers may over charge if you don't check the fare with them first! Bring insect repellent and bite cream for when it doesn't work!” – Ben MacLennan
“If you are booking dormitory accommodation be aware that the top bunks are very confined. They are difficult to get in and out of (particularly if you are over 65) and only have a clearance of about 30 inches.” – William Bainbridge, on a French Polynesias Cruise
“If you are booking dormitory accommodation be aware that the top bunks are very confined. They are difficult to get in and out of (particularly if you are over 65) and only have a clearance of about 30 inches.” – William Bainbridge, on a French Polynesias Cruise
Fiji is an amazing destination, charming and beautiful. We enjoyed our Bure [wooden hut] in Fiji, the snorkelling, scuba diving well everything.![]()
- Subodha Bhatt
More about South Pacific Islands
We’ve done the research for you, so read on to find out the best time to visit the South Pacific.
Scattered across the world’s biggest ocean, the South Pacific Islands have acquired near mythical status for their natural beauty – especially their beaches.
The South Pacific is both vast and varied, so to help make sense of it all, we’ve picked some key highlights.
Find out why this volcanic island nation is such a tempting prospect as you read our Fiji travel guide.
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 draws adventurous travellers from across the globe in search of pristine beaches and rich underwater life – in particular humpback whales.
Discover the uninhabited atolls and reef islands that make Kiribati holidays such a tempting prospect.
There are few places in the world that are as remote as Micronesia – and few that are as idyllically beautiful.
Our Samoa holidays take in the best sites of Upolu and Savai'i, from Mauga Silisili to the bustling capital of Apia.
Forget about swish resorts and beach clubs; the Solomon Islands move to a far more authentic beat.
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.
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.
