Pacific Islands Archives - Planet Whitley

Snorkelling in the Silfra Fissure, Iceland.

10 amazing places to go snorkelling

There are plenty of places around the world where you can go snorkelling and see a few fish. But these ten are genuinely incredible. What makes it special, varies, however. It may be the variety of marine life, the quality of the water or the…

Aitutaki, Australia, Belize, Brisbane, Cook Islands, Great Barrier Reef, Iceland, Indonesia, Mexico, Ningaloo Reef, Pacific Islands, Palau, Queensland, snorkelling, Western Australia, Yucatan

10 astonishing lagoons around the world for your bucket list

There are few geographical features that are as reliably sexy as a lagoon. Usually, they're the stuff jealousy-inducing holiday photos are made of. The shallow waters twinkle in greens and milky blues that bog-standard ocean just can't muster. The white sand beaches and reefs that…

Aitutaki, Australia, Cook Islands, cruises, French Polynesia, Iceland, Italy, Micronesia, New Caledonia, New South Wales, Pacific Islands, Palau, Seychelles, South Australia, tours, Veneto, Venice

The Alofaaga Blowholes on Savaii, Samoa.

Blowholes, lava tubes & village life on Savaii, Samoa

The Pe’a Pe’a Cave, Alofaaga Blowholes and the Tafua Peninsula’s crater are among the natural highlights of Savaii. But it’s the traditional culture that makes Samoa’s second island so memorable. Savaii’s curfew The bulky silhouette stands solemnly by the roadside. He’s there to make sure…

Pacific Islands, Samoa

Six reasons to visit Easter Island

Easter Island is difficult to get to. The only direct flights are from Santiago in Chile. But it is a unique destination – here’s why. Isolation If you like the whole middle of nowhere thing, then Easter Island should be your dream destination. It’s the…

Chile, Easter Island, Pacific Islands

Snorkelling in Palau’s Jellyfish Lake: Nature’s weird ball-pool

The tiny Pacific nation of Palau is home to one of the world’s weirdest experiences – swimming in a lake full of harmless jellyfish. Palau’s special golden jellyfish It’s incredible how some reactions become so ingrained that they stick permanently. I’ve been told the lake…

Pacific Islands, Palau, snorkelling, swimming, wildlife

Why it’s worth paying to visit Malamala Beach Club from Port Denarau

When you’re staying on Viti Levu - whether in Nadi, Denarau or the Coral Coast - it’s tempting to stick to mainland beaches. But heading out to Malamala Beach Club offers something entirely different: a private-island beach experience, a resort-style infinity pool, and clear offshore…

beaches, Fiji, Pacific Islands, tours

Orchid at the Garden of the Sleeping Giant, Fiji.

The strange origin of the Garden of the Sleeping Giant, Fiji

The Garden of the Sleeping Giant on Viti Levu is one of the most popular tourist attractions. But the history of Raymond Burr's orchid collection comes as a surprise. Under the Sleeping Giant Mountain Sat under the looming Sleeping Giant Mountain, the Garden of the…

Fiji, gardens, Pacific Islands

How I got trapped in Guam’s Ritidian Point Wildlife Refuge

A long layover, tiredness and a Japanese map almost lead to disaster in Guam… A layover in Guam Around the world, there are some places we never spend time in by choice. Nonetheless, we’re forced to tackle them through inconveniently long layovers between connecting flights.…

driving, Guam, Pacific Islands, stopovers

What to do on a short break in Noumea, New Caledonia

French flair meets South Pacific relaxation on the world’s largest lagoon – and here’s what visitors to New Caledonia should consider doing. What is Noumea like? Noumea is an intoxicating swirl of contradictions. Urban, but with an island time vibe; in the South Pacific, but…

New Caledonia, Pacific Islands

Noumea: The Pacific’s great missed opportunity

The capital of New Caledonia is a weird throwback. The rule of thumb with island capitals Cities on paradise islands have a tendency to be surprisingly drab and functional. Samoa, for example, is largely stunning but anyone getting excited about Apia is seriously deluding themselves.…

New Caledonia, Pacific Islands