The South Pacific islands are scattered across thousands of miles of deep blue sea, fanned by warm trade winds which make them perfect for sailing. The distances are vast, but remoteness is a part of these islands’ carefree appeal. The main island groups are Fiji, French Polynesia, the Cook Islands, Tonga, Samoa, American Samoa, and Vanuatu. They are warm all year round, yet each group is distinctive both culturally and physically.
French Polynesia is our favourite, stretching from the high, rugged Marquesas to the flat atolls of Tuamotus and, most beguiling of all, the Society Islands - home to Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora. The overwater bungalow concept, introduced in the sixties, has become a template for Polynesian resorts, adding to the Robinson Crusoe feel. At the top of our list – paddle boarding across Bora Bora’s famous blue lagoon, swimming with serene Manta rays at Matira Beach; and a visit to one of the archaeological sites; here, brooding statues and eerie artifacts give a glimpse of life among bygone chiefdoms.