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10 Utopian Islands in the South Pacific: “We’re going to the South Pacific” is a phrase that’s sure to elicit a sigh of envy when spoken. And for good reason. This dazzling pocket of the planet has inspired the utopian settings featured in some of the greatest films of all time, and allows travelers to feel as though they’ve truly arrived on vacation, quickly settling them into a state of serenity that’s coupled with a lust for the adventure abundant in the area.
So yup, people want to go to the South Pacific. But when you begin looking into where to go in the South Pacific you realize it’s composed of 25,000 islands and you close your internet browser in overwhelm. To help lessen this fabulous burden, we’ve filled this list with ten of the loveliest islands and archipelagos in this enchanting ocean, and pinpointed what makes them deserve a potential spot on your itinerary. Let’s read below “10 Utopian Islands in the South Pacific”:-
- 10 Utopian Islands in the South Pacific You Must See
- 1 Best for Natural Beauty: Moorea, French Polynesia
- 2 Best for Originality: Fuvahmulah
- 3 Best for Luxury: Bora Bora
- 4 Best for Photography: Samoa
- 5 Best for Beaches: Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu
- 6 Best for Whale Watching: Vava’u Group, Tonga
- 7 Best for Swimming: Isles of Pines
- 8 Best for Culture: Yasawa Islands, Fiji
- 9 Best for Scuba Diving: Palau
- 10 Best for Affordability: Cook Islands
10 Utopian Islands in the South Pacific You Must See
1 Best for Natural Beauty: Moorea, French Polynesia
Bora Bora’s sister island, Moorea seems to have jumped out of the iconic musical South Pacific, especially as it’s said to have inspired the movies’ mythical island Bali Hai. With its lagoon of water so clear you feel as though you’re floating on air when you swim through it, expanses of powder-soft sand, and eight emerald peaks cascading into the South Pacific Ocean, the setting is full on fairytale.
Highlights of the island include Opunohu Bay, a lagoon featuring mind=blowing snorkeling, and Belvedere Lookout, the treasure at the end of a moderate hike that mesmerizes with views of the island’s mountainscapes and bays.
For a taste of the local culture, visit Tiki Village where you can enjoy a traditional buffet dinner and performances by local dancers. In addition, explorers can engage in safari and stingray feeding tours, ziplining, and diving off the deck of one of the island’s many over-water villas.
2 Best for Originality: Fuvahmulah
Those with a passion for one-of-a-kind flora and fauna will appreciate Fuvahmulah, the only one-island atoll in the Maldives, which has a fish and a bird native to the island – the Kattelhi fish, and the Valikukulhu bird that features a distinctive red and yellow beak. In addition, it is one of the only islands in the Maldives that has fresh water lakes.
Adding even more originality to Fuvahmulah is the variety of fruit trees, including mango, guava, pineapple, orange and pomegranate, in addition to sweet potato that grows naturally in the wetlands, and berries and unusual fruits that can be found in the wild. This dynamic tapestry of life makes exploring the island on foot a favorite pastime.
3 Best for Luxury: Bora Bora
The golden child of the South Pacific (and for good reason), Bora Bora is a wonderland of towering peaks, sand-kissed islets, and an aquamarine lagoon surrounded by a coral reef bustling with life. It’s easy to imagine Moana sailing by on her outrigger canoe.
Beyond the luxury offered at the island’s many resorts (some of which have over-water villas with glass floors!), ample adventure is offered with shark and stingray feedings (and snorkeling for those with the courage for it), hikes on trails that weave up the sides of Mount Otemanu and Mount Pahia, and jet ski excursions around the island.
When appetites are stoked, head to the famous Bloody Mary’s, or nosh on the French-inspired food found at the gourmet eateries at many of the resorts. With all that said, know that the notoriety of the island has made many of the accommodations come with a high price tag. However, there are deals to be found.
4 Best for Photography: Samoa
Shaped by volcanic explosions, Samoa is a unique and underutilized country composed of ten islands that are home to barbed peaks, carpets of lush jungles, lots of waterfalls and coral reefs encircling these utopias. This natural beauty, coupled with traditional values and customs the loyals so beautifully honor and display, make Samoa a dream for photographers wanting to capture the authentic spirit of the country.
Snorkeling, diving, fishing, and kayaking, are popular aquatic activities here, much like the other islands. Epic surf can also be had, but because of the gnarly combo of bare skin and coral reef, only experienced surfers should brave Samoa’s swells.
On the beaches and within the jungles, travelers can connect with the wild beauty of the islands during rainforest hikes, bike tours, swims in waterfalls and To Sua, a 30-meter-deep crater filled with seawater, and of course, beachside massages.
Another lovely feature of this country is that it offers a range of accommodations, from thatched-roof huts to five-star resorts, making it accessible to all.
5 Best for Beaches: Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu
The largest island in Vanuatu, Espiritu Santo is famous for its beaches, specially Champagne and Lonnoc Beach. Champagnes Beach is aptly-named, as it seems to fizz at low tide because of gas escaping volcanic rock. Beyond the fizz, soft sand, shockingly clear water and an abundance of foliage surrounding the beach make this an increasingly popular destination for tourists. So if you want to enjoy this haven sans throngs of people, wake up before the sun so you can watch it spread across the water there – it’s worth it. And then there’s Lonnoc Beach: it rivals Champagne Beach in beauty and is slightly less touristy.
Divers will be blissed-out here as they explore world-renowned dive sites like President Coolidge, Million Dollar Point, and numerous other ship and plane wrecks.
When out of the water, adventure-lovers can trek through the jungle to the alien-like Millennium Cave, which features a bat-filled cavern, swimming hole and waterfall, and series of rapids. In addition to the cave, Espiritu Santo is known for its stunning blue holes, composed of clear water that bubbles up from freshwater springs through layers of limestone in blue hues. From beaches to blue holes, this is an island you could easily spend weeks exploring.
6 Best for Whale Watching: Vava’u Group, Tonga
This group of 61 islands (many of them itty-bitty) is where you go to swim with humpback whales and their calves (and sometimes whale sharks), or spot them from one of the many boats following their spouts between July to October. And because of the 100-foot visibility common in the waters surrounding these islands, it won’t be hard to keep an eye on these gentle giants. That visibility also comes in handy when diving the sea caves and shipwrecks you can explore alongside 100 species of tropical fish, massive clams (so big a little dog could fit inside one), manta rays, sea turtles, and spinner dolphins.
As this area has yet to see an overflow of resorts popping up on its shores, the travel unicorns of deserted beaches and unbleached coral gardens still exist here, allowing travelers to have a full on “unplugging from the modern world” getaway. In addition, this is a prime place for surfers to book a boat excursion to many of the best, mostly-empty waves in the South Pacific. The Tongan winter swell season runs from April to October.
When you’re not exploring the islands’ waters and shores, check out the ‘Ene’io Botanical Garden that features 550 varieties of plants, or Mt. Talau National Park where you can explore trails leading to lookouts, thickets of rainforest filled with endangered tree and plant species, and prehistoric-esque birds and reptiles.
7 Best for Swimming: Isles of Pines
Named the Isles of Pines by Captain Cook because of its slender pines that stand out against the white shores, this island is one of the most visually compelling in the South Pacific.
The waters are so transparent it’s hard to see where the sand dips beneath the warm waters. However, when you look further out to sea the water takes on a hypnotic blue hue. As the aquatic world surrounding Isle of Pines is so spectacular it’s easy to see why most visitors rarely leave the water, choosing to spend their time exploring the community beneath the surface.
