Modern Vacation plan: South Pacific Island Hopping. Seeking Advice

[Hard-Deck]

Thanks in advance to anyone who has advice.

In the spring of 2021, I will retire from my post in Hawaii. Before we move back to the continental U.S., we have the opportunity to travel for 2.5 months. Our goal is to "island hop" the S. Pacific: New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji, Vanuatu, French Polynesia, Samoa (maybe others), and on to Austrailia to dive the Great Barrier Reef, and further to Palau and Yap.

I'm finding that island-hopping is pretty much impossible; that a hub-and-spoke method is required, using probably New Zealand as a hub.

Has anyone here done a trip like this? I'd love to hear how travel logistics work best.

Best regards, Snapper

[widebody911]

I hear Enewetak is the hot place to be nowadays.

[Rtrorkt]

this

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[Seahawk]

First of all, well done and congratulations.

Great stuff.

My second cruise we did the South Pacific Route home but we, sadly, never stopped in the places you want to see - which I would love to go.

I'd stage out of Brisbane (did stop there - outstanding) for the first Island hops then look at Guam for the second stage...Guam or the PI.

Please chronicle your trip, Snapper...and again, well done on the upcoming retirement, Shipmate.

Edit: My wife's Mother second husband was a PT boat sailor in WWII in the South Pacidic...the R&R port was Brisbane. Let me do some homework.

[LakeCleElum]

Very true about the Hub and Spoke thing. I'm not a cruise ship fan, but with the cost of resorts, we took this tour 2 years ago:




https://www.pgcruises.com/destinations/marquesas-tuamotus-society-islands/2019-11-23

The cruise ships are small (250 passengers) and get to ports big ships cannot. My wife is friends with the Director of Marketing and can get a big discount if willing to go on less than 90 days notice?

On our 3rd trip to Australia, we stayed 4 days in Fiji and loved it. Next March, we stay in Fiji again on our way to New Zealand.......

While on Tahiti and Moorea, I rented a car and drove the whole Island......Enjoy.

[Baz]

Sounds like a fantastic adventure, Snapper. I'm sure you will get plenty of input from our community.

I spent Christmas on Moorea back in '03. Just me and my surfboard. Rented a moped which helped a lot to get around. It was hot but glad I went to see what it's all about. Obvious that the tourism bug took it's toll, sadly. Probably like that in many places around the world.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by widebody911

I hear Enewetak is the hot place to be nowadays.

BTDT.

[Bill Douglas]

If you do use NZ as a hub go to Auckland. Wellington flies to some of these places directly, but not all of them.

Rarotonga (Cook Islands) is a fantastic place. I'm going to Samoa in a few months both islands to do pina coladas/snorkling/warm water and naked island girls. Just joking about naked island girls. Tahiti is best for that.

The New Caledonia and Vanuatu islands were a bit of a let down. I guess I imagined small bustling Parisian style towns, but in reality they were harsh fishing/commercial places.

As you know Great Barrier reef is fantastic.

[tevake]

That's a lot of places on your list to get to and have time to check out. So much to see and learn about in each group. It's hard to even scratch the surface of N Z. In less than two weeks for example. It's Great place to rent a camper van.

I think that most of the groups have their own small airlines for island hopping.

Some funny experiences I've had flying around down there were being bumped at flight time in Hapai by a member of the royal family of Tonga, they always get to go when they want to.
Another time flying in Fiji to an outer island, and having to buzz the grass landing field to chase the cows off before landing.

One challenge of flying around like you are planning is the main airports are located near the largest most developed part of the country, not usually the best location to get a real feel of the people or culture. This calls for spending a bit more time getting out into the real country. That's Time well spent

I've done most of my travels in the S Pacific by boat so can't add much to your travel plan, other than cheering you on, sounds like a great adventure.

Cheers Richard

[Jolly Amaranto]

Wow, sounds like fun. Two and a half months and so many islands. I guess flying would get the most locations checked off but taking a boat is not quite as frantic. I have done both over the years. Most recently a trip on a sail boat through the Tuamotus and Societys.
Cook Bay on Moorea.


This is Yap in 1966. The ship was the Palau Islander.

[Hard-Deck]

Widebody911: thanks, it's in consideration.

Rtrorkt: too rich for my blood. I'm on a 5K/month budget for two people.

(Paul) Seahawk: Great to hear from you brother. Thanks for the thoughts and advice. Brisbane is a good choice for sure. And I can't wait to retire, 35 years has been fun, but I have other things and interests now to focus one. Travel being one, by boat, motorcycle, RV, backpack.

LakeCleElum: Well, this could be part of the travel plan. Pardon my being dense on this, but when you stated, "My wife is friends with the Director of Marketing and can get a big discount if willing to go on less than 90 days notice?", was this an offer, or a statement on how good of a deal you have locked-in for yourself?

Baz: I like your style. I'm fortunate that I have learned how to travel cheaply, eat cheaply, with a wife who can stay in a hostle, hike, camp etc... Beautiful photos!

Bill Douglas: Auckland it will likely be, thank you for that prompt. Yes, my daughter and I want to dive the Great Barrier Reef, while it's still somewhat thriving.

tevake: We certainly plan to get away from the crowds and go "native" as much as possible. We want to spend 1-2 weeks in each place that we go, even if we have to pair down how many places that we ultimately go to. Good points, thank you.

Jolly Amaranto: Thank you. Yes, I listed a lot, but I plan to pair it down once we know what the reality of logistical travel is. We are aiming for quality of island hopping, not quantity.

I really appreciate all of the input and encouragement so far. I hope to get more input as I have 18 months to plan this.

[DilanYah]

I am planning the same vacation. Me and my husband are planning a trip to the south pacific islands this summer for around 3 months and we are going mainly to see the beaches/scenary and experience the culture...
We are looking for the best places to stay reasonably cheap through booking sites and the best way to get from island to island.
We think we will mainly visit Fiji, Tahiti and the cook islands but any ideas would be amazing

[2porscheguy]

We enjoyed our honeymoon in Fiji way back in 1991 and toured the islands with Blue Lagoon Cruises:

https://www.bluelagooncruises.com/fiji-princess/

The ship has room for only around 70 people and is small enough to be able to get into close range of many of the islands that make up the Fijian atoll. Had a FANTASTIC time with international guests from all over the world. The all Fijian crew was also a ton of fun! Mind you this was back in 1991...things may have changed.....but worth checking out!

Bula! (Hello in fijian!)

Alex

[GH85Carrera]

You might want to skip Fiji.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/04/asia/us-citizens-dead-illness-fiji/index.html

Weird the a young healthy couple both die and no one yet knows why.

[FOG]

Snapper,

Congratulations. You might contact the Camp Foster MWR on Okinawa as they were (are) the go to folks for the West Pac folks doing tours.

You mentioned diving the Great Barrier reef. Is that the only place you plan on diving or any place else? The reason I am asking is the logistics of hauling your dive gear is a consideration. About a dozen folks did something roughly similar for 3-4 weeks in 2003 and based out of Singapore (either Paya Lebar or Seletar for accommodations) traveling by both air and boat. Being AD they were able to get cheap rates with good quarters.

I'm not all that hot on the PI as a hub for a number of reasons. Guam has pretty good air connections , is U.S. territory and probably the cheapest place to stay all things considered. The plus to Guam is that once you're done with your dive gear you can cheaply and easily (no customs etc.) either back to HI. or CONUS.

Palau has some good diving plus a good battlefield tour of Peleiu.

The RAAF use to let folks fly “Space A” in their Herks in Australia. If it would fit into your schedule you can check it out to see if it's still available.

Obviously get one of your 18Ds to get the good anti malaria drugs and Doxy.

One of your fellow SF bubbas was 1st/1st, did an assistant attache tour in the PI and his C&S in Singapore. I only have an old email for contact but I'll reach out for his suggestions.

Back to the smoker fire.

S.F, FOG

[Hard-Deck]

FOG:

Thanks for all of the thoughtful input. We are interested in Diving the Great Barrier Reef, and also Palau, and maybe Yap.

We do not plan to bring our own dive gear, as we will be traveling light in order to take advantage of swift movement, and walking longer distances, if that's required.

I will reach out to the MWR folks to ask for assistance in planning.

Oh yeah, we will for sure be on the meds.

If you have a good POC for your buddy still, I'd love to be able to pick his brain.

I'm still struggling hard to figure out the sequence of movement for this plan; bouning the S. Pacific is not easy...but that also means it'll be awesome and unique.