Island Hop The South Pacific
Still to do
Swim with humpback whales in Tonga, peer into a live volcano in Vanuatu and drift between lagoons the colour of sapphire.
The adventure
The South Pacific is a scattering of islands across the largest ocean on Earth, and hopping between them is a slow, joyful adventure. In Fiji you sail out to the Yasawa Islands, sleep in a beach bure and snorkel reefs crowded with fish. In Samoa you climb down a ladder into To Sua, a sea-filled trench surrounded by jungle, and learn how the fa'a Samoa way of life keeps villages close-knit.
Each island has a moment you will never forget. In Tonga, between July and October, you can slip into the water beside humpback whales and their calves. On Tanna in Vanuatu, you stand on the rim of Mount Yasur at dusk as the volcano booms and throws glowing lava into the sky. And in the Cook Islands or Bora Bora, you simply float in the lagoon and stop counting the days.
Why it’s epic
- Swimming with humpback whales in Tonga, one of the few places in the world where it's allowed.
- Standing on the crater rim of Mount Yasur on Tanna, one of the most accessible active volcanoes on Earth.
- To Sua Ocean Trench in Samoa, a natural swimming hole 30 metres deep.
- Fiji alone has more than 300 islands, from the Yasawas to the Mamanucas.
What it is
A trip hopping between the South Pacific islands: coral lagoons, volcanoes and village life in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu, with the Cook Islands and Tahiti nearby.
How to do it
Fly into Nadi in Fiji as a hub and connect with regional airlines, or join a small-ship cruise that calls at several islands.
Top tip
Many islands only have one or two flights a week, so build slack into the plan.
Need to know
- Flights between islands are infrequent, often once or twice a week, so plan the route around the timetables and leave spare days.
- May to October is the dry season; November to April brings heat, heavy rain and the risk of cyclones.
- Volcano visits and whale swims are weather-dependent and run only with licensed guides.
Make it happen
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Why it’s on my list
Oceania is my weakest continent, with only Australia and New Zealand visited so far. A South Pacific island hop would tick off several countries in one trip.
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