Which Island in the South Pacific to Visit from SYD?
Jul 13, 2010, 1:00 am
#1
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Which Island in the South Pacific to Visit from SYD?
I will be in Sydney from 4 Aug - 13 Aug, and am looking to swing up to somewhere in the South Pacific for a brief (36-48 hour) trip. I don't really know anything about any of the islands, so I'm hoping for some input from people who have been to some of the islands.
I am a 24 year old male from the US, traveling on my own, mainly looking to enjoy nice beaches, scenic adventures, and hopefully with a decent town as well. Cairns comes to mind as a place that is similar to what I'm possibly looking for --> a laid-back beach town, but still has some bars/nightlife. I'm not necessarily a big backpacker/hiker, but open to some physical adventures.
I have 2 options for booking the side-trip:
I am a 24 year old male from the US, traveling on my own, mainly looking to enjoy nice beaches, scenic adventures, and hopefully with a decent town as well. Cairns comes to mind as a place that is similar to what I'm possibly looking for --> a laid-back beach town, but still has some bars/nightlife. I'm not necessarily a big backpacker/hiker, but open to some physical adventures.
I have 2 options for booking the side-trip:
(a) Redeem UA miles, so flying on NZ, which does have a fair number of options (i.e. NAN, RAR, TBU, PPT, etc) but like I said, I don't really know anything about those islands.
(b) Find a relatively low cost (<$250 roundtrip) paid fare. The only option I've found for this is Jetstar, which does have convenient SYD-NAN nonstops but it prices out to around $350 roundtrip, so a little above my preferred price range.
Primarily, I'm looking for advice about the islands and what might be the best options for me, but any input on flight options (other low-cost carriers that I don't know about) would be greatly appreciated. ^
(b) Find a relatively low cost (<$250 roundtrip) paid fare. The only option I've found for this is Jetstar, which does have convenient SYD-NAN nonstops but it prices out to around $350 roundtrip, so a little above my preferred price range.
Jul 13, 2010, 7:10 am
#3
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+1.
The nearest non-Australian neighbour from SYD is New Caleodonia which doesn't have what you are looking for. Then its New Zealand and then you are talking Fiji, Vanuatu and are soon more than 5 flight hours away already.
So Queensland looks like the place for you. Cairns, Gold Cost or anything in between.
The nearest non-Australian neighbour from SYD is New Caleodonia which doesn't have what you are looking for. Then its New Zealand and then you are talking Fiji, Vanuatu and are soon more than 5 flight hours away already.
So Queensland looks like the place for you. Cairns, Gold Cost or anything in between.
Jul 13, 2010, 9:05 am
#4
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Which Island in the South Pacific to Visit from SYD?
If you're getting to SYD from NA with UA miles and haven't ticketed, then don't forget about the free stopover for UA awards to Aus/NZ ... you just pay the additional taxes, for example:
LAX-SYD-RAR-LAX
LAX-SYD-AKL-HNL/RAR/NAN/TBU/APW(TBU)-LAX
I've got WAS to CNS with a stopover in RAR on the way back ticketed with UA miles ... in C BTW
. The stopover is a great benefit many folks forget about.
Jul 13, 2010, 5:45 pm
#5
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+1.
The nearest non-Australian neighbour from SYD is New Caleodonia which doesn't have what you are looking for. Then its New Zealand and then you are talking Fiji, Vanuatu and are soon more than 5 flight hours away already.
So Queensland looks like the place for you. Cairns, Gold Cost or anything in between.
The nearest non-Australian neighbour from SYD is New Caleodonia which doesn't have what you are looking for. Then its New Zealand and then you are talking Fiji, Vanuatu and are soon more than 5 flight hours away already.
So Queensland looks like the place for you. Cairns, Gold Cost or anything in between.
Jul 13, 2010, 7:25 pm
#6
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Not really what you are asking for, but if your budget is tight and can't meet your time requirements, get on a plane to Melbourne instead. It is a great place to see for a day and a half - well within your budget and very different from Sydney. It has a great bar/cafe/food scene.
Jul 13, 2010, 7:37 pm
#7
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I personally like Rarotonga and will return for my third time in Sept, and probably to Aitutaki also, if my job allows. The Cook Islands interest me because they're uncrowded and inexpensive and really a great place to unwind, but the Cooks are not really like CNS.
On RAR, there's a wide range of accommodations from bunks to high end (very overpriced IMO). There's a bus that circles the island, so a car isn't needed, but a scooter / car is $20 / $45 NZ / day. There's a small grocery store in the "big city" of Avarua and small food shops around the island ... or you can eat at one of a dozen or so restaurants / take aways. There's some swimming, snorkeling, and a few dive operations. With a few exceptions, a crowded beach is 4-5 people. RAR also has a few hiking treks. Haven't done the bar thing there, but RAR does have minimal nightlife in Avarua and there's always a decent number of backpackers in Avarua and near Muri.
For the basics on the South Pacific, check out David Stanley's website. His books and website are excellent.
On RAR, there's a wide range of accommodations from bunks to high end (very overpriced IMO). There's a bus that circles the island, so a car isn't needed, but a scooter / car is $20 / $45 NZ / day. There's a small grocery store in the "big city" of Avarua and small food shops around the island ... or you can eat at one of a dozen or so restaurants / take aways. There's some swimming, snorkeling, and a few dive operations. With a few exceptions, a crowded beach is 4-5 people. RAR also has a few hiking treks. Haven't done the bar thing there, but RAR does have minimal nightlife in Avarua and there's always a decent number of backpackers in Avarua and near Muri.
For the basics on the South Pacific, check out David Stanley's website. His books and website are excellent.
Jul 14, 2010, 8:40 pm
#8
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For the basics on the South Pacific, check out David Stanley's website. His books and website are excellent.
If anyone has any other input, I'd be happy to hear it as well.
Jul 17, 2010, 9:59 am
#9
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Fiji is nice if you head for the outer islands. However, the really spectacular South Pacific can be found more on the Cook Islands (Aitutaki) than on Fiji. Fiji is the package tourist destination for Australians, the Cook Island are more Pacific Paradise.
Jul 17, 2010, 5:45 pm
#10
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The "idyllic" south pacific islands can be tricky; some are slums and industrial sweat shops (Guam is full of imported chinese workers making "made in USA" products) and American Samoa is also quite depressing. There is probably a reason that so many Islanders are living in Auckland, Sydney and even Los Angeles. Yet there are beautiful and even truly idyllic islands in the Pacific, but none of them are viable for a 36-48 hour trips (it takes that long just to get to them, one-way). Some of these islands look more like a superfund (pollution cleanup) candidate site (sadly).
Jul 24, 2010, 4:51 am
#11
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Or you can just hang around Fiji Beachcomber ... Just a party island ....
http://www.beachcomberfiji.com/
http://www.beachcomberfiji.com/
Aug 6, 2010, 5:49 pm
#12
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Best Island in the Whole World
Hi
Its not tropical, but if you want to go to an island and you are in Sydney, check out Lord Howe Island, about a two hour flight from SYD. We've been several times: it is really the most beautiful place we've ever been to. There is a very good web site for starters...plenty of places to stay, not touristy and beautiful beaches.
Its not tropical, but if you want to go to an island and you are in Sydney, check out Lord Howe Island, about a two hour flight from SYD. We've been several times: it is really the most beautiful place we've ever been to. There is a very good web site for starters...plenty of places to stay, not touristy and beautiful beaches.
Aug 7, 2010, 8:05 am
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Aug 7, 2010, 9:19 am
#14
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LDH is not an easy place to visit! For one, you cannot buy an airline ticket to go there unless you have accomodation -- the number of visitors per day is strictly controlled with only 400 tourist beds allowed on the island. Flights are quite expensive too. So there is a price for paradise. I've tried several times to arrange trips on short notice and it was simply impossible. Also 14kg checked baggage limit (and 4kg carryon, often strictly enforced as it is an aircraft performance issue for takeoff from LDH).
Aug 10, 2010, 6:49 pm
#15
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It actually works a bit different in reality. You get the standard allowance however anything above 14kg is not guaranteed and will be standby only. So when going you need to make sure that you have everything you need in the guaranteed part of your luggage.