Everything you need to know about the South Pacific Islands

Everything you need to know about the South Pacific islands in a (coco)nut shell HOW TO GET THERE AND HOW TO GET AROUND FLIGHT TIMES FROM THE MAJOR PACIFIC HUBS FIJI COOK ISLANDS FRENCH POLYNESIA LA USA Island hop by Take a boat to boat on the Island hop by plane Moorea or island Yasawa flyer hop by plane SOLOMON ISLANDS 9.5 11 -------- SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN FRENCH POLYNESIA SAMOA VANUATU COOK ISLANDS 6.5 NEW CALEDONIA FIJI TONGA 2.5 5.5 SYDNEY- AUSTRALIA AUCKLAND Journey times shown in hours. Some island to island routes are also available. NEW ZEALAND WHAT CAN YOU SEE ON THE ISLANDS? New Caledonia has the second-longest double-barrier coral reef in the world, after Belize Volcanoes Lava Tubes Mountains Cliffs Palm Trees Jungles Waterfalls Caves Hibiscus Flowers Lagoons Tribes Sharks Overwater Bungalows Dolphins Scuba Divers Whales Tropical Fish Turtles |Shipwrecks Corals In Fiji, a flower worn behind a WHO LIVES THERE? woman's left ear NUMBER OF ISLAND RESIDENTS V TOURISTS means she's unmarried, behind the right means she's taken or 'promised'. SOLOMON ISLANDS 523,000 VANUATU 266,937 SAMOA 194,230 FIJI 858,038 NEW CALEDONIA FRENCH POLYNESIA 268,767 268,270 %23 COOK ISLANDS 19,569 I Total number of residents I Annual tourist visits as a proportion of residents Source: wikipedia TONGA 103,036 LIKELIHOOD OF FINDING YOUR OWN DESERTED ISLAND PERCENTAGE OF UNINHABITATED ISLANDS Likely TONGA 86% SAMOA 80% SOLOMON ISLANDS 67% K E FIJI 67% FRENCH POLYNESIA 43% VANUATU 21% NEW CALEDONIA 6% COOK ISLANDS 0% Unlikely Source: wikipedia The Solomon There are no Islands are home traffic lights in the Cook Islands to Marovo Lagoon, the world's largest saltwater lagoon and most people get about on their motor Scooters QUICK HISTORY OF THE SOUTH A key French Polynesian PACIFIC IN A (COCO)NUT SHELL export is Tahitian black pearls 150 MILLION BC Volcanic activity shapes the South Pacific and begins creating islands and atolls 200 BC A The Marquesas (French Polynesia) are the first islands to be settled 1568 A The Solomon Islands are visited by South America explorer Alvaro de Mendana 1616 4 Tonga is discovered by Samuel Wallis from Cape Horn 1700s 4 The Dutch discover Samoa, the British discover Tahiti, the Cook Islands, New Caledonia and Vanuatu 1817-1839 English Missionary John Williams arrives to convert the Cook Islands, Samoa and French Polynesia 1842-1853 Å French Polynesia and New Caledonia are colonised by the French 1874-1893 K Fiji, the Cook Islands and the Solomon Islands are colonised by the Brits 1900-1914 Germany rules Samoa 1906 UK and France share administration of Vanuatu 1914-1962 New Zealand rules Samoa 1942 Samoa and New Caledonia see intense fighting during WWII 1946-1980 Beginning with New Caledonia in 1946; Samoa, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Solomon Islands and finally Vanuatu regain independence 2011 16 Samoa shifts over the International Dateline Samoa's 'Fa'aa In Vanuatu, Samoa' (the Samoan way) is a 3,000 year old tradition teaching respect for elders and responsibility to your family buses have no set route or schedule - just hop on and tell the drive your destination - enjoy the free tour! WHAT'S THE WEATHER LIKE? AVERAGE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE 31°C 30°C 29°C 29°C 29°C 27°C 26°C 26°C 26°c Average South Pacific sea temperature Source: www.weather-and-climate.com Fiji HOW TO SAY 'HELLO' AND 'Bula!" WHAT YOU'LL BE SPENDING Fijian dollar Samoa "Tālofa" Tala Cook Islands French Polynesia "Kia orana!" "La ora na, nana' New Zealand Cour de Franc Pacifique dollar Vanuatu "Alo!" II New Caledonia Tonga "Bozu!" "Malo e lelei" Pa'anga a Vanuatu vatu Cour de Franc Pacifique Tipping is not expected in the South Pacific countries and Solomon Islands bargaining is generally frowned "Halo" upon too Tongan postage stamps are extremely popular with stamp Solomon Islands dollar collectors around Source for phrases: Lonely PLanet Guide to the South Pacific 2012 the world S HOW MUCH DO THINGS COST? Source: numbeo.com/cost-of-living A CHEAP MEAL A BUDGET NIGHT'S STAY A LOCAL BEER FIJI TONGA SAMOA VANUATU FRENCH ISLANDS SOLOMON POLYNESIA CALEDONIA Want to visit the South Pacific? If the lapping of warm waters along palm-fringed shores is alluring, we can help you plan a trip to the South Pacific - Call Travel Nation on +44(0)1273 320 580 or email [email protected] today! Brought to you by : travelNation www.travelnation.co.uk Round the World Travel Experts SOLOMON ISLANDS ICIH FRENCH POLYNESIA SAMOA VANUATU £3 £1.50 £15 £3 TONGA £1.30 £25 COOK ISLANDS £5 £1.50 £15 NEW CALEDONIA £12 93 £2.50 COOK £5 £2.00 £25 ISLANDS £6 £25 £2.50 £12 £76 £2.85 £11 NEW £87 £2.30