The Manu’a Islands are a popular area for those who love soaking up the sun on the beach and exploring the area’s natural beauty. Made up of Ofu, Olosega and Ta’u, this area of American Samoa is praised for its low key atmosphere and the ability to lounge beside one of the inviting lagoons in virtual solitude.

Tutuila is the area’s main island, famed for its harbour and overlooked by rocky cliffs, which are a good place to practice rock climbing. A popular excursion here is trekking across to the islet of Aunu’u, while other prefer to simply sink into the powdery sand on one of Tutuila’s pristine beaches or take a scuba diving trip to explore the underwater world which simply teems with colourful coral and marine life.

While finding luxurious accommodation can be rather challenging, there are some world class hotels and resorts available for tourists. Those with big budgets can find top of the range accommodation, with prices matching those of major North American cities. It is easy to arrange tours and other activities at these establishments.

African Samoa is rather difficult to get to. Most visitors arrive at Pago Pago International Airport (PPG), which is located at Tafuna. However, African Samoa can only be reached by air from Honolulu, Apia and Samoa. A ferry service also travels between Pago Pago and Apia once a week.

Sydney lies in the state of New South Wales and is famed for its iconic Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, known fondly to locals as ‘the Coat Hanger’. Sydney has over 50 beaches (the most famous is Bondi Beach) but if you prefer pounding the city, Circular Quay, the Botanical Gardens and Chinatown are all good attractions to visit.

Known as Australia’s cultural capital, Melbourne has a vibrant arts scene as well as being famous as the home to the world famous MCG Stadium and the host of the Melbourne Grand Prix. Drive up to the tropical city of Darwin and take the road trip of a lifetime while enjoying visits to Alice Springs and Ayer’s Rock along the way.

Other places worth noting in Australia include Perth in Western Australia, which is one of the country’s youngest cities and famous for its relaxed atmosphere. On the east coast, there are numerous places to visit on the way to Brisbane and the city itself has plenty of famous beaches and a vibrant nightlife scene.

If you are only coming for a couple of weeks and wish to stay in luxury, four-star hotels can be found in all of the major cities. If you are touring Australia, most people opt for staying in hostels, which are a great way of meeting other travellers and are reasonably priced with good facilities.

There are numerous ways to arrive in Australia and every major carrier known in the industry offers flights here. If you don’t opt for a direct 24-hour flight, you can do what most others do and break the trip up by stopping in Southeast Asia before flying on. The main gateway is Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport but low-cost airlines now fly from Asia to other, smaller air hubs.

Fiji’s best known islands are Viti Levu and its smaller counterpart, Vanua Levu, with these two islands possessing nearly 95 per cent of the country’s total population and nearly 90 per cent of its landmass. Fiji’s capital, Suva, is the only urban area and visitors to the area enjoy the vibrant market and captivating museum there but also the pleasant beaches in Nadi.

If you have come for the water sports, you should be heading to Pacific Harbour and if splashing around isn’t your thing one of the best golf courses in the South Pacific can be played on here. If you really want to get off the beaten track, you can go adventuring and discover the remote villages near Navala and Bukaya and see first-hand just how fascinating the local people and their customs are.

There are plenty of accommodation options in Fiji whether you prefer luxury resorts, four-star hotels or more modest beach huts which are just a small stroll to the water. Nadi is the hub of tourism in Fiji and there are plenty of options here when it comes to accommodation and most of the hotels work in conjunction with companies offering trips and days out to all the attractions.

Despite it being quite a small country, Fiji is an important resting point for flights which operate between Australia/New Zealand and North America. If you are already in these areas, your flight to Nadi International Airport will be easy to book with a carrier like Qantas or Air New Zealand.

Papeete is the capital of French Polynesia and is found on the famous island of Tahiti. Papeete is so small you can walk around it easily to go from place to place, particularly if you are going to the waterfront area, which has been developed into a long park with a carnival and numerous restaurants selling international food.

The Society Islands are the most inhabited of the western islands and are surrounded by tropical coral reefs and peaceful lagoons. For those after something new, Clipperton Island is based closer to Mexico and was only declared part of French Polynesia very recently. Most tourists make their own way here in order to enjoy fishing, snorkelling and diving.

There is no accommodation on Clipperton Island and you will have to set up camp with those accompanying you. On the other hand, there are nearly 50 hotels of an international class found on 12 islands in French Polynesia. You don’t need to search far to find big franchises such as Sheraton, Novotel and Radisson offering four-star rooms.

Due to its remote location in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean, flying really is the only option if you plan on travelling to French Polynesia. Air Tahiti Nui is the country’s flag carrier and flies directly from Paris, New York, Los Angeles and Tokyo to Faa’a International Airport. Once you land here you can easily catch a connecting domestic flight to another destination.

Guam’s main centre and entry point is Hagatna, a charming town which boasts a rich colonial history stretching back to the days when the Spanish settled here. Hagatna is a good city to walk around on foot and you can visit Latte Park and relax for the afternoon or glance at the revolving statue of Pope John Paul II.

Guam’s main tourist centre is Tumon Bay and this town boasts everything you need; restaurants, luxury hotels and bars, shopping malls and nightclubs. Y’pao Beach Park is a popular attraction and a perfect place to waste a lazy afternoon at while overlooking the bay. Lovers of water sports take the boat to Cocos Island from Merizo and explore the area’s vast barrier reef while engaging in snorkeling.

The accommodation in Guam is priced from more modest budget places near the beach to luxury five-star retreats that offer immaculate facilities. PIC resorts has a presence in Guam and its accommodation is always located near the main attractions and beaches.

Due to the fact it is an American territory, getting to Guam is easily done by flying from major cities in the United States, with Continental Airlines being just one of the companies offering flights. If you are in Asia, flights can also be caught from Tokyo to Won Pat Guam International Airport as Guam is popular with Japanese tourists.

More commonly known as Christmas Island, Kiritimati is located to the north of Kiribati. This picturesque island is a popular spot for water sports such as snorkelling, scuba diving and swimming and also discovering the bonefish that lurk on the sand flats. There are a number of bars lining the beaches, which are a good place to sit and sip a cocktail while watching the sun slowly sink beneath the horizon.

While there are dozens of other islands surrounding Kiribati, Tarawana Atoll is one of the largest. Most of the island’s inhabitants live in South Tarawana, and this is where most of the businesses, services and most beautiful beaches can be found. Tarawana Atoll is a great place for simply lounging around on the beach and snorkelling.

There is limited accommodation on Kiribati and most visitors to this area opt to stay on nearby Tarawa or Christmas Island, where there are plenty of hotels with air-conditioning and other modern conveniences. However, there is a good selection of homestay accommodation on Kiribati, which is a good way to learn about the daily life of the people whom live on the island.

Most people tend to arrive on Kiribati via Bonriki International Airport (TRW), which is served by Air Kiribati, after arriving at the large airport at either Tarawa or Christmas Island and taking a connecting flight. There are also regular ferries to Kiribati from surrounding islands such as Fanning, Christmas and Tarawa Island.

Majuro Atoll is best known for the stunning Laura Beach, which is located on the western tip of Majuro, around 40kms from the town. Dubbed the ‘pearl of the Pacific’ by Robert Louis Stevenson in 1889, this is a great place to explore or simply chill out.

Kwajalein Atoll also makes a good base to explore the Marshall Islands from as there are plenty of services and facilities here such as a hospital, post office, bank and plenty of shops, hotels and restaurants. This picturesque area is the world’s largest coral atoll and is an excellent place for scuba diving and snorkelling.

Although most of the accommodation in the Marshall Islands tends to be basic, it is possible to find luxury hotels, especially on the larger of the islands such as Majuro, where there are also some excellent restaurants. It is possible to organise sightseeing tours and budget car rental through the main hotels and rates for accommodation and attractions tend to be reasonable. However, Internet access is extremely expensive here.

The Marshall Islands International Airport (MAJ) is located in Majuro, and regular flights are provided by Continental Airlines, Japan Airlines and Marshall Airlines. It takes around 14 hours to fly to Majuro from New York, while Tokyo is 11 hours away and Honolulu is a five-hour flight. Planes and ships are available to take passengers between the various Marshall Islands.

The state of Chuuk has a large lagoon and is an excellent place for wreck diving and snorkelling. A great way to explore the natural beauty of Kosrae is by taking an outrigger canoe trip through the Utwe/Walung Biosphere Marine Reserve. This state is blessed with colourful coral reefs and rainforests, making it a good place for those who enjoy adventure activities.

Pohnpei is a great spot for surfing, and other water sports such as kayaking are also popular here. There are numerous activities available for the adventurous such as trekking through the jungle and exploring the lush mangrove forests. Last but certainly not least, Yap is comprised of 134 islands and atolls and 20 of these are inhabited. The truly adventurous will find plenty to do here and exploring the traditional village of Balabat is one of the highlights of Micronesia.

There are a number of luxurious four and five-star hotels in Micronesia which feature an excellent range of modern conveniences. Perhaps the best place to stay is the city of Kosrae, where top of the range hotels can be found. These hotels are also good places to arrange activities and excursions.

There is a small airport in Micronesia, simply called Micronesia Airport, which receives flights from Continental Airlines three times a week. Most people fly to Guam or Honolulu from places such as North America, Australia and Asia and then take a connecting flight to Micronesia. It is also possible to arrive by ferry from the surrounding islands.

Grande Terre is the main island in New Caledonia, featuring an enormous barrier reef. This is the perfect place for water sports such as scuba diving, snorkelling, fishing and boating. It goes without saying that there are a number of spectacular sandy beaches here, and simply laying on the sand is a popular pastime.

Although sparsely populated, there is plenty to see and do on the Liberty Islands such as exploring hidden caves and secluded beaches. Climb the cliff of Lifou to witness spectacular views and take a boat trip to Ouvéa to relax on the beach or beside a stunning lagoon. It is a good idea to hire a boat with a driver for a day or two in order to fully explore.

Accommodation in New Caledonia is generally in very good condition and can be found to suit every price range. However, restaurants tend to be expensive and those on a strict budget will need to buy food from local markets. All goods have to be imported to New Caledonia and are very expensive compared to other parts of the Pacific.

New Caledonia Airport is located in Paita, which is 52kms northwest of the capital city. There airport receives direct flights from a number of international destinations such as Paris, Tokyo, Australia, New Zealand and various places in Southeast Asia. There is also a major port at Noumea, and a large number of travellers arrive here by boat from various nearby islands and nations.

New Zealand’s most popular city is Auckland, which is home to about a third of the country’s population and is known as the ‘City of Sails’. This inviting city manages to combine natural beauty with commercial and financial centres. Visitors can climb One Tree Hill to enjoy the view before discovering Maori art in the Auckland Museum and watching a sailing event at the Waitemata or Manukau harbor.

The capital city of Wellington is home to the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and this a great place for those who love art and culture. Further south is the city of Christchurch, which is often compared to Oxford or Cambridge in England. This charming city features colonial architecture, theatres and galleries. There are also several beaches and ski fields nearby.

New Zealand’s hotels are world class, and it is easy to find luxurious accommodation in any of the major cities. Service and facilities are on a par with other Western countries and most accommodation features modern conveniences such as air-conditioning, private bathrooms and satellite television. New Zealand offers a wide range of tourist services, such as guided tours, specially tailored trips and interesting attractions.

New Zealand has four international airports, which are located at Auckland, Queensland, Christchurch and Wellington. However, most visitors arrive at Auckland International Airport (AKL), which is served by 20 foreign airlines, bringing passengers to New Zealand from all over the world. There is a regular ferry service linking New Zealand’s North and South Islands and buses and coaches travel throughout the country.