The South Pacific is dotted with idyllic islands, and one of the nicest cruise experiences you can have is to sail to as many as possible. Each South Pacific cruise port is awash in beauty and culture, and you may be surprised by how diverse the islands are, which is why we wish each of us could be your host on the upcoming Tales of the South Pacific!
Here are some of their unique, must see sights:
Kava Ceremony
Kava is a pepper plant, and its dried and powered root is the main ingredient in yaqona, Fiji’s national drink and an important part of religious, cultural and social events throughout the South Pacific. Kava’s naturally relaxing effect will put you in the right mindset for the rest of your voyage!
Villa Vailima
Author Robert Louis Stevenson is the island of Samoa’s most beloved expatriate, and the stately home he built here has been carefully restored to look much as it did in Stevenson’s day. After you tour the house, walk up Mount Vaea to visit Stevenson’s tomb and be rewarded by the stunning view.
Mt. Otemanu
Bora Bora offers unsurpassed tropical beauty, and you can’t go wrong visiting the beaches around the magnificent lagoon. But, don’t miss the opportunity to explore the island’s interior, dominated by verdant Mt. Otemanu. You’ll remember the lush valleys and authentic villages, and might even see some remnants of World War II armaments.
Vanilla and Pearls
Circled by a single coral reef, Ra’iātea and Taha’a might have been a single island long ago; they are divided only by a pretty lagoon. Taha’a is a beautifully rugged island with some refined products: you can visit a vanilla plantation and a pearl farm.
Papeete Public Market
Tahiti is renowned for its black pearls, but the Papeete Public Market is alive with other colors. Just a block from the cruise ship dock, the market brims with colorful vegetables and fruits. Enjoy sipping from an ice-cold coconut as you stroll among the stalls and watch the flower lei makers at work.
Belvedere Point
Moorea, a quick ferry ride from Tahiti, is watched over by Mount Tohivea. Take a ride up the mountain to Belvedere Point, then follow one of the hiking trails for stunning views of bays and peninsulas that shape the island like a heart.
Champagne Bay
Even in a region of pristine and lovely beaches, Vanuatu’s Champagne Bay stands out with its sweeping curve of pink-tinged sand, turquoise water, and relaxed vibe. At low tide, the water appears to fizz like Champagne: a natural phenomenon caused when water passes through the volcanic rocks below.
Amédéé Lighthouse
New Caledonia blends colonial French and indigenous Kanak culture amid abundant natural beauty. Historic Amédéé Lighthouse, one of the world’s tallest, is perched on its own small island. Climb the spiral stairway (241 steps) inside for a wonderful view of the lagoon.
Quality Row
It’s surprising that the Norfolk Pine, a popular ornamental evergreen, comes from the South Pacific – indeed, it’s a key export of Norfolk Island, which was once a colony of convicts. Visit Quality Row in Kingston, the island’s capital, to see historic and well-preserved Georgian homes and barracks.
Ha’amonga ‘a Maui
The archaeological sites of Tongatapu, Tonga’s main island, include Ha’amonga ‘a Maui, a stone trilithon called the “Stonehenge of the Pacific.” Not much is known about the trilithon, and it stimulates the imagination to think about how its posts and lintel – each weighing tens of thousands of tons – were put into place at the beginning of the 13th century.
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