If You Like…
Beaches
Ofu Beach (American Samoa) In the remote Manu’a Islands, this is a palm-fringed white-sand stunner backed by ridiculously picturesque jagged peaks.
Uoleva (Tonga) The west coast of this island in the Ha’apai Group has a spectacular leeward coast of white sand lapped by surely the clearest water on earth. Oh, and did we mention the humpbacks breeching offshore?
Aitutaki Lagoon (Cook Islands) The 15 palm-covered motu (islets) that ring Aitutaki’s mind-boggling lagoon all get a vote for their beaches. One Foot Island is the best known.
Lalomanu Beach (Samoa) This beauty at the eastern tip of Upolu island has it all – white sand, turquoise waters and offshore islands.
Castaway Islands
Niuafo’ou (Tonga) Also known as Tin Can Island, Niuafo’ou is in Tonga’s northern extremes. It’s shaped like a floating doughnut, with an enclosed lake 23m above sea level.
Suwarrow (Cook Islands) In the Cooks’ northern group and the country’s only national park, Suwarrow was home to hermit Tom Neale. Read up on his adventures in An Island to Oneself.
Tofua (Tonga) The mutiny on the Bounty took place offshore of Tofua in the Ha’apai Group in 1789. More recently, Swiss snowboard champ Xavier Rosset spent 10 months alone here to test his mettle!
Ta’u (American Samoa) At the eastern extreme of American Samoa, Ta’u features some of the world’s highest sea cliffs, dense rainforest, inactive cones and craters, and numerous bird species.
Diving & Snorkelling
Vava’u Group (Tonga) A diver’s delight, sites in Vava’u range from coral gardens and encrusted wrecks to sea caves and other geological marvels.
Samoa Many travellers use Samoa as a place to gain their diving certification and there are quality operators on the main islands. Popular spots include Tialipi’s Heaven off Savai’i and Anganoa Wall on Upolu’s south coast.
Aitutaki (Cook Islands) There’s fantastic diving to be had in Aitutaki, with great visibility and features such as drop-offs, multilevels, wall dives and cave systems.
Muri Lagoon (Cook Islands) Snorkellers, rejoice: pristine waters and sheltered coves.
’Eua (Tonga) ’Eua is fast becoming known as an untouched paradise for divers. The Cathedral Cave complex is said to be Tonga’s biggest sea cave, with amazing light shows.
Hiking
Cross-Island Track (Cook Islands) The most popular walk in Rarotonga, taking in some impressive scenery, including the Needle. It's a sweaty three- or four-hour effort from one side of the island to the other, over the peaks in between.
’Eua day hikes (Tonga) Choose from a raft of day hikes on Tonga’s ‘forgotten island’, a growing ecotourism hotspot that deserves a decent visit.
Lake Lanoto’o (Samoa) Take a guide to hike to this pea-green crater lake full of wild goldfish in the central highlands of Upolu island.
National Park of American Samoa Hiking is one of American Samoa’s biggest drawcards, with well-maintained trails through extraordinarily pristine rainforest and coastlines providing plenty of options.
Sailing
Port of Refuge, Vava'u (Tonga) An impossibly photogenic, protected harbour with everything a visiting yachtie could ask for. Turn up on your own yacht, charter one here, or offer to crew on Friday-afternoon races. Cold beer and conversation flow at day's end.
Pago Pago Harbor (American Samoa) This deep, sheltered harbour beneath towering Rainmaker Mountain almost slices Tutuila in half.
Muri Lagoon (Cook Islands) Plenty of options here, with Rarotonga Sailing Club rentals, day trips, sunset cruises and ‘learn to sail’ courses. The great ocean-going vaka (canoes) set off from here to settle New Zealand.
Samoa Adventure Head out on a catamaran adventure.
Modern History
Robert Louis Stevenson Museum (Samoa) Inspect where the great Scottish author lived out his last days in Samoa as Tusitala (Teller of Tales).
Abel Tasman Monument (Tonga) See where the Dutchman became the first European to set foot on Tongatapu, in 1643. He called the island Amsterdam!
Massacre Bay (American Samoa) Hike to where 51 died in a skirmish between French sailors under de la Pérouse and Samoan villagers in 1787. This was the first European expedition to set foot on Tutuila.
Aitutaki Lagoon (Cook Islands) This protected lagoon was used in the 1950s as a refuelling stopover for Solent flying boats on the ‘coral route’ across the Pacific.
