Guide to family holidays in the South Pacific Islands
Scattered across the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, you can expect any family holiday to the South Pacific Islands to be both welcoming and ridiculously stunning. Renowned for their natural beauty, turquoise waters, pristine beaches and lush tropical landscapes, they also boast vibrant cultures and warm hospitability.
Some islands, such as Fiji, Tahiti and Bora Bora, are famous for their luxurious resorts. Others, like the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, offer adventurous families opportunities. Water-loving families can’t go wrong in the South Pacific, which has world-class diving and snorkelling spots featuring colourful coral reefs. Generally, a family holiday to the South Pacific provides an unforgettable experience with a laid-back island atmosphere and breathtaking scenery.
When discussing the South Pacific, the islands fall into a sub-region of either Polynesian, Melanesian or Micronesian. Many families find themselves heading to either a Polynesian or Melanesian island. Regardless of whether you head to the paradisiacal beaches of the Cook Islands or Fiji or the lush rainforests of Papua New Guinea, each region and island offers its own allure.
South Pacific Islands for a family holiday
With thousands of islands in the South Pacific, we can’t cover them all. However, some well-known Polynesian, Melanesian and Micronesian islands to explore with your family are below.
Polynesian Islands in the South Pacific
The Polynesian subregion of the South Pacific consists of over 1,000 islands. They’re spread across the triangle formed by Hawaii in the north, New Zealand in the southwest, and Easter Island in the southeast. Each island group (Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti, etc.) has its own unique cultural practices, such as traditional dance, music, and art forms like tattooing and carving, yet they also share similarities.
Polynesian islands are famous for picturesque beaches, volcanic landscapes, lush rainforests, warm hospitality and fascinating culture. In general, it’s not hard to find an idyllic tropical paradise for any holiday in the South Pacific if you go to a Polynesian island.
Cook Islands
Known for its stunning natural beauty and comprising 15 islands, the Cook Islands are self-governing in free association with New Zealand. This means it maintains close ties while enjoying a large degree of autonomy. Avarua, the capital, is found on the largest island, Rarotonga, where all international flights land. Cook Islanders are predominately of Maori descent and are famous for their friendly nature. Combine this with turquoise lagoons, coconut trees, coral reefs and lush landscapes, and you’ve landed on a picture-perfect family holiday to the South Pacific.
One of the best things about the Cook Islands is that the main island, Rarotonga, is just as beautiful as the outlying islands. So unlike French Polynesia (Tahiti), you don’t need to spend a fortune to reach the island on the holiday brochure.
French Polynesia
A group of 118 islands and atolls in the South Pacific, it’s known for its lagoons of many shades of turquoise and blue and overwater bungalows. Even though it has a reputation as a honeymoon holiday destination, French Polynesia in the South Pacific is also an amazing destination for families.
French Polynesia is an overseas collectivity of France, consisting of five archipelagos with Tahiti as the economic and political centre. Here, you’ll find a unique blend of Polynesian and French cultures, luxury offerings, rich cultural heritage and vibrant coral reefs. The region has its own government and president yet remains closely tied to France.
New Zealand
New Zealand is known for its stunning natural landscapes, which include mountains, fjords, beaches and geothermal wonders. It comprises two main islands, the North Island and the South Island, as well as numerous smaller islands. New Zealand’s Maori culture and heritage are integral to its identity, and the country offers a range of outdoor activities for families, such as hiking, skiing and adventure sports.
New Zealand is also famous for being the filming location of the ‘’The Lord of the Rings’’ trilogy and other movies. Although not as ‘white sand and tropical island’ as you would expect from a holiday to the South Pacific, New Zealand is incredibly unique with many Aussies heading here in winter for snow activities.
Samoa
Samoa is known for its breathtaking landscapes, lush rainforests, volcanic craters and white-sand beaches. Of course, we can’t forget the warm hospitality of the Samoan people, who have a rich cultural heritage with traditional practices like fa’a Samoa, emphasising respect for elders and community values. This independent Polynesian island nation in the South Pacific has two main islands, Upolu and Savai’i, and several smaller ones. And while it’s not as visited as other favourites, it’s definitely worthy of any holiday to the South Pacific.
Tonga
Officially the Kingdon of Tonga, this Polynesia archipelago in the South Pacific comprises over 160 islands, of which only 36 are inhabited. A holiday to this South Pacific island will see you enjoy a tropical climate, sandy beaches and stunning coral reefs.
Tonga has a rich cultural heritage, with a monarchy that has existed for centuries. Traditional ceremonies, such as the kava-drinking ritual, are integral to Tongan customs. The people have a strong sense of community and place a high value on respect and social harmony.
Easter Island (Rapa Nui)
A remote South Pacific island holiday destination in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, Easter Island is known for its monumental stone statues called Moai. It is a special territory of Chile and is of cultural and archaeological significance.
The Moai are massive humanoid figures carved from volcanic rock between the 13th and 16th centuries. It’s a bit of a mystery exactly how they were constructed or transported, but this just adds to the appeal of seeing them.
The Indigenous Polynesian culture has been preserved here, and you’ll also find plenty of natural beauty, with stunning landscapes and volcanic craters.
Melanesian Islands in the South Pacific
Melanesia is a region in the southwestern Pacific Ocean that includes Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. This South Pacific holiday region is known for its beautiful landscapes and cultural diversity, with over 1,000 different languages spoken among its various ethnic groups.
Fiji
Known for its family-friendly resorts, stunning coral reefs and white sand beaches, Fiji comprises 333 islands with the largest being Viti Levu. Fiji is famous for its warm hospitality, with the traditional Fijian greeting, ‘’Bula,’’ reflecting the friendly and welcoming nature of the people. It’s a popular choice for families seeking a mid-range or luxury holiday with natural beauty and cultural immersion in the South Pacific.
Vanuatu
Vanuatu is an archipelago in the South Pacific comprising 83 islands. Like many of the islands in the South Pacific, a holiday here features beautiful landscapes, white sand beaches, coral reefs, diverse cultures and vibrant traditions. Vanuatu’s population, known as Ni-Vanuatu, consists of various ethnic groups with distinct languages and customs and is one of the few places where traditional kastom (custom) remains integral to daily life.
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a French overseas territory comprising the main island, Grande Terre, and numerous smaller islands. This archipelago has everything from mountain ranges to coral reefs and even boasts the world’s second-largest barrier reef, the New Caledonian Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a haven for marine biodiversity.
It has a certain degree of autonomy from France but the blend of French and Melanesian cultures, combined with its natural beauty is a big drawcard for many seeking a holiday to the South Pacific.
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea is diverse and culturally rich, sharing the eastern half of the island of New Guinea with Indonesia and encompassing numerous smaller islands. Port Moresby serves as the capital.
Home to over 800 Indigenous languages, the country’s rugged terrain includes mountains, dense rainforests and coastal lowlands. Visitors are drawn to this South Pacific destination for a holiday for its unique cultural experiences, unique festivals, stunning landscapes and coral reefs.
Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands is an archipelago comprising nearly 1,000 islands and is known for its pristine coral reefs, diverse marine life and lush tropical rainforests. Honiara serves as the capital on the island of Guadalcanal.
Here, you will find a culturally diverse population with unique traditions, dances and languages. Visitors come to this South Pacific holiday destination for the natural beauty, the people, the WWII historical sites and the world-class diving and snorkelling opportunities.
Micronesian Islands in the South Pacific
Micronesia consists of over 600 small islands known for its marine life, coral reefs, diverse landscapes and Indigenous culture. Although not as widely visited as the Polynesia and Melanesia, the most well-known regions are the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Marshall Islands and Northern Mariana Islands.
