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Pacific Islands

Sailing through the tropics

KERRY VAN DER JAGT

A sailing regatta offers the chance to explore one of the world's aquatic wonderlands.

Smart way to explore Polynesia

KERI WELHAM - © Fairfax NZ News

Cruising might be the perfect way to experience the pricier islands of French Polynesia.

Remote corner of French Polynesia

GRAEME LAY - © Fairfax NZ News

On Mangareva, in the Gambier Islands in French Polynesia, they're planning a celebration.

Vanuatu's simple pleasures

MAX ANDERSON - © Fairfax NZ News

Vanuatu is a destination that does the "Pacific island" thing to perfection.

Kingdom of the humpbacks

RACHEL PINDER - © Fairfax NZ News

Watching a giant humpback whale breaching the ocean surface is one of those goosebump moments.

Fiji's triple resort

KERRY VAN DER JAGT - © Fairfax NZ News

Before arriving I had concerns it might be a bit of an over-the-top, Fiji-Vegas affair.

Green ambition in the deep blue

LOUISE SOUTHERDEN - © Fairfax NZ News

Cook Islands has plans to become the first eco destination in the Pacific.

Tahiti by 'truk' and tramp steamer

WONDERFUL: Tahiti is famous for its black sand beahces.

BOB MARRIOTT - © Fairfax NZ News

Tahiti's clear blue waters, great beaches and rugged mountains make for a stunning combo.

Keeping the faith

Steve Kilgallon experiences the warmth and wonder of Samoa.

Fiji balloon adventure falls short

WINSOR DOBBIN - © Fairfax NZ News

Fiji balloon adventure falls short

Secrets of Cook Islands underworld

CRAIG TANSLEY - © Fairfax NZ News

Mangaia island has a labyrinth of ancient caves and tunnels that spread under the sea.

Bula from the heavens

On a hot-air balloon equipped with rice instead of champagne, the passengers become the main attraction.

A bruising weekend adventure

Ann's blog: An epic walk across the island left me bruised and sore. So it counts as an adventure.

Rarotonga's heartbreaking strays

Ann's blog: Rarotonga's dogs wander at will and befriend tourists. Sometimes it's hard to tell which animals have homes and which are strays.

Air Pacific threatens action over strike plans

Air Pacific is threatening to take legal action against the Council of Trade Unions following reports a workers’ strike could disrupt flights between NZ and Fiji.

Peculiar pick-up lines

Ann's blog: In Rarotonga, the universal pick-up question is "where do you stay?"

Smooth, unique and most refreshing

Ann's blog: Here in the tropics, I drink a lot of water. Unfortunately, it's harder to do here than it is in New Zealand.

Lux lounging and fine dining in Fiji

MONIQUE FARMER - © Fairfax NZ News

In a villa by the sands, Monique Farmer finds a Pacific paradise for two.

Different country, same stuff

Ann's blog: Flatmates - even on a tropical island you can't escape the same old joys.

Cleanliness is next to godliness?

Ann's blog: One of the puzzling aspects of church-focused Rarotonga has to do with Mormon missionaries, their suits, and the weather.

Winter flu strikes in the tropics

Ann's blog: My adventures in the islands have now taken in a new destination – the hospital, via ambulance.

Today's photo album

Ann's blog: About time I gave you a photo blog showing some scenes of life on Rarotonga.

Waikiki? why not

PETER ELEY - © Fairfax NZ News

Peter and Julie Eley flew to Hawaii and found life a bargain, as well as a beach, in that far-flung US state.

Loved ones buried - in the back yard

Ann's blog: On Rarotonga, well-tended graves are everywhere. It's to do with tradition and the law.

Five things to love about Rarotonga

Ann's blog: Rarotonga is different from New Zealand. And sometimes different means better.

Embracing haphazard kissing

Ann's blog: In Rarotonga I'm getting used to losing a little of my personal space bubble. The custom of routine cheek-kissing is a big part of that.

Cycling island roads

Ann's blog: On the whole, with a few caveats, cycling in Rarotonga is much more pleasant than riding around Wellington's bays.

A tourism time warp

Travelling in Vanuatu is like being in a charming tourism time warp.

Rarotonga's famous Wellingtonian

GONE TROPPO: Jack Cooper is Rarotonga's uninsurable restaurant entrepreneur.

PAM NEVILLE - © Fairfax NZ News

Rarotonga's most famous Wellingtonian is expanding his tropical hospitality empire.

Tonga's pitch to the rugby mad

Some where on the planet is the world's maddest rugby fan - and Tonga wants that person.

Niue's wave of friendliness

KATIE CHAPMAN - © Fairfax NZ News

Friendly greetings are a daily norm on Niue.

Fabulous Fiji

Thomas Baker committed the sin of touching a Fijian chief's head, then lost his own over it.

Travel talk: Designer banana baron

Samoa with the family keeps the itch out of this traveller's feet after years on the road.

State of bliss

ANGELA WALKER - © Fairfax NZ News

Perfect beaches, great shopping, wonderful scenery and more than a few happy reminders of home . . . Hawaii, what's not to love?

Fiji still popular with newlyweds

AAP

A new survey of has ranked Fiji third in the world as the best destination for a post-wedding break.

Flavour beyond the Gallic

BEACHSIDE DELIGHT: Sparkling blue sea, coral sand and saucisson sec - it must be New Caledonia.

ANNA TAIT-JAMIESON

Beyond French cuisine, local New Caledonian food provides a taste that is truly Pacific.

Exclusive island escapes

CAROLINE GLADSTONE - © Fairfax NZ News

From exclusive celeb retreats to affordable family stays, a bounty of bures awaits.

Sailing to the sweet spot

MATT PHILP - © Fairfax NZ News

Travelling by boat to Tonga's tourism sweet spot, Matt Philp finds a string of unspoiled islands and a moonlit dance party.

Air NZ reveals big Pacific losses

Air New Zealand has revealed it was heavily losing money on an air service between Los Angeles, Samoa and Tonga but while it was willing to continue the two governments pulled the plug on it.

Samoan PM savages Air NZ

An Air New Zealand decision to can its weekly Los Angeles-Apia service has drawn a blast from Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele who claims it was stupid.

Dog's life gone troppo

Any Kiwi animal lover willing to roll up their sleeves when required is encouraged to apply for a post to volunteer in Rarotonga.

Perching on the edge of a waterfall

In Vanuatu, "ass i kam fastaem" means reverse or backwards. Say it out loud and it makes sense. Say it out loud when you're perched on the edge of a waterfall and the phrase takes on new meaning.

Adventure on the atolls

If the truth be told, it's not the splendid scenery that holds me in awe but rather the unaffected beauty of the children.

Paddling a remote archipelago

The Philippines is, to most of us, a tropical mystery. A place more often associated in the past with kidnappings and typhoons than experiences that might entice us to visit.