The Pacific Ocean is one of the most inscrutable aspects of our planet. A practically-endless expanse of water of incomprehensible depth, which accounts for over 30 per cent of our globe’s entire surface, the Pacific is a truly sublime aspect of Earth – and, perhaps counterintuitively, home to some of the most incredible landmasses.
Expansive as the Pacific is, there are pockets of dry land that run throughout, whether with thanks to tectonic shifts or volcanic activity. These isolated isles are also home to vibrant cultures and yet-more vibrant landscapes, making them ideal places to visit even if just to ‘get away from it all’. Whether you’re after a quiet vacation on some sandy beach, or a true adventure, the Pacific has the place for you. But where should you go?
Fiji – A Tropical Paradise
Let’s start with an obvious one: Fiji. Fiji is an idyll, comprising over 300 archipelagic isles some 1300 north-ish of New Zealand. This is the place that people dream about going to when they think about vacationing in the Pacific; its candidacy for ‘quintessential Pacific isle’ is typified even by the travel designs of Jim Carrey’s Truman in The Truman Show.
Visit Fiji, and you’ll encounter the most beautiful waters on God’s green earth. If you’ve the right budget, you could sail these waters with a chartered yacht, and enjoy both the azure shallows of the isles’ shores and the stunning palm-tree-flecked beaches beyond.
Hawaii – The Islands of Adventure
Another quintessential Pacific destination is a little closer to home, in an especially direct sense too. Hawaii, after all, is an American state, and somewhere with which most of us’ll have some form of connection. If you haven’t been already, this is your time!
Hawaii is, of course, a series of isles produced by volcanic activity around 2000 miles west of the US mainland, and hence offers some of the most incredible landscapes you’ll ever set eyes on. The waters in which these isles have formed are also perfect for surfing, making this a mecca for the adventure tourists amongst us. We haven’t even scratched the surface here, but you shouldn’t need to in order to want to go.
Vanuatu – Off the Beaten Path
Last but by no means least, we have something of an underdog destination in Vanuatu. This lesser-known gem is made up of around 80 islands, all of which sit in the South Pacific just over 1000 miles from Australia’s east coast.
Vanuatu is a volcanic archipelago, with the vibrant wildlife to suit its unbelievable climate. Vanuatu is more than its rainforests, though, with a rich Melanesian culture that you’d do well to immerse yourself in.