Are you looking for the best the South Pacific has to offer? Samoa has it all. Incredible crystal-clear blue water, beautiful beaches to fall in love with, rainforests, waterfalls and a natural pool in a unique setting. Add the Fa’a Samoa - the samoan way of life, and you got it. Start your adventure in the capital Apia, visit its colourful markets, with a big variety of fresh fish and souvenirs, and refresh yourself with a sweet coconut. Some buildings and monuments remind of the island’s colonial past. The well known writer Robert Louis Stevenson spent his last years on Samoa and stood up for the perservation of the samoan culture. His house near Apia is well worth a visit. A surprise named To Sua Ocean Trench awaits you on the South Coast of Upolu. A thirty meter deep hole filled with crystal- clear water invites you to swim or even dive. Unwind on the island of Savaii and be the first one in the world to greet the first rays of light of a new day! Te Rā Tours recommends to travel samoan style in an eco-friendly way with the very colourful local busses, which are called pasí. Travelling with and in these busses will get you very close to the locals. We also recommend to spend the night the samoan way, in the so-called “fales”, often open round huts directly at the beach. Some are very simple, others more luxurious. But what more do you need than the sea breeze , that accompanies you throughout the night?
A holiday or New Zealand Tour extension on the Fiji Islands is definitely the more „classical“ way of discovering the South Pacific, and it is so worth it. Thanks to its popularity you can choose from budget to high end accommodation, beautiful Eco Lodges, Beachfront Bungalows or even Private Island Resorts. Fijians are famous for their friendliness and their hospitality, so why not choosing a homestay and live like a local? Treat yourself with the very healthy and tasty Fijian Cuisine or a well deserved massage in a spa. Get a therapeutic bath in one of the mud pools. Relax in a hammock. Visit markets and the villages, go swimming, hiking, snorkelling, diving, island hopping, golfing. Get married on one of the breathtaking beaches. Sounds like a dream? We can make it true.
If you ask us which of the South Pacific Islands is the most paradisiacal, we would probably struggle to choose one. If you are not only looking for postcard-like beaches, but for an authentic, off the beaten track experience, Tonga is your choice. While tourism has set foot on islands and archipelagos such as Fiji or Rarotonga, Tonga has stayed relatively remote and out of the focus of big groups, honeymooners, or cruise ship warriors. A perfect destination for those who seek to slow down. On Tonga, the concept of time is rather a relative one, it has the „go with the flow“ - style. For most visitors, the relaxed capital with the wonderful sounding name Nuku’alofa is the entrance gate to the archipelagic state. Visit the colourful market and go on a round trip to see the Tongatapu’s highlights before visiting the other islands. Vava’u is famous for its relatively untouched underwater world. While kayaking, you have even the possibility to visit some of the nearby uninhabited islands. Hike the rain forest on Eua, and if you would like to seize the moment, Hapa’i is the place to be. Should you visit between June and October, Humpbacks can be sometimes even seen or heard from ashore, there are also tours with a licensed operator to see these magnificent mammals from a safe distance on the water. Add Tonga to your itinerary in combination with your trip to New Zealand, or as one of your hubs of your island hopping tour. Te Rā Tours is happy to create your itinerary for an unforgettable visit of Pule’anga Fakat’i 'o Tonga, the Kingdom of Tonga.
New Caledonia is a still relatively undiscovered jewel in the South Seas. This may come as a surprise, given the fact that not only the world’s biggest lagoon is to be found here, but also the second biggest reef with 1500 km, and this one is still intact. Thanks to the isolated location of the archipelago, its flora and fauna are unique – more than half of it being endemic. Around 300 tribes live in the french overseas territory, and with 28 spoken languages and French as its official language, New Caledonia is a true cultural and linguistic potpourri. Its incredibly clear waters make it possible to see the coloured corals, fishes and sea turtles even from the surface – a paradise for divers and snorkelers. The dream holiday starts with the capital Nouméa on Grande Terre, New Caledonia’s biggest island. French colonial architecture meets with the colours and odours of the South Seas. Bougainvillea climb up the facades of the charming buildings, red Flamboyants border both sides of the alleys and the scents of Jasmin and Frangipani beguile the strollers passing by. At the market you can find all sorts of fish, as well as mango, papaya, Yam, Maniok or Tapioka but also Baguette and Croissant- french style. A visit to the Tjibaou Cultural Center, designed by the famous architect Renzo Piano, provides a wonderful first encounter with the culture of the Kanaks. In the evening, enjoy the excellent cuisine of the restaurants before exploring the capial’s nightlife. Outside of the charming town, the main island offers a notable good infrastructure and good roads. The National Park offers hiking opportunities with spectacular views. Te Rā Tours recommends a visit to the small islands Île des Pins und Lifou, both a real South Sea paradise with snow-white beach and welcoming islanders.
