The Beauty Of The South Seas

North of Nadi through sugarcane plantations and past the Sabeto Mountains is Lautoka, nicknamed the Sugar City for the local agriculture and its big processing mill. With a population of around 50,000, it's the only city besides Suva and, like the capital, has a pleasant waterfront. It's the sailing point for Blue Lagoon and Beachcomber Cruises but is otherwise unremarkable for tourists, itself having few hotels and fewer good restaurants. Locals recommend the city as a less-expensive place to shop for clothing, but note that it can take as long as 45 minutes to drive here. Legend has it that Lautoka acquired its name when two chiefs engaged in combat and one hit the other with a spear. He proclaimed "lau toka" (spear hit) and thus the future town was named.

A small piece of paradise in the middle of the Pacific. Dravuni is a mini island promising pure relaxation and the enchantment of a Fijian paradise. Palms line the white sandy beaches, while the colourful underwater world of the nearby Great Astrolabe Reef is a great place for snorkelling and exploring. A walk through the tropical forest takes you to the heart of the island, where there is a tiny village with about 200 inhabitants. Here the locals sell sarongs and home-made jewellery made of mussel shells and coconuts as souvenirs. Dravuni is the perfect combination of nature, culture and tranquillity – a place to enjoy the beauty of the Fiji Islands at their most unspoilt.

Think island paradise anywhere in the world and you will almost certainly conjure up images of Dravuni Island. Shallow limpid seas surround palm tree fringed beaches that encircle the whole island bar the extremities. One of the 110 inhabited islands in the Kadavu archipelago with just 125 residents, Dravuni could be considered Fiji’s mischievous little brother. Smaller, much more manageable and far less touristy than Fiji, do not expect to find an infrastructure of hotels and car hire businesses. A village school and meeting house are perhaps the sum total of civilization here, but the exceptionally friendly welcome from the residents by far makes up for any lack of modern comforts. Instead this special little island has transparent seas that are unsurprisingly a snorkeller’s dream come true. A kaleidoscopic vision of colour thrives beneath the surface and is quite literally a visual feast for the eyes. However, for those who prefer their exploration to be land based, then the views from Hilltop Island are incredible, with the awe-inspiring panoramic vistas well worth the 20-minute hike. Dravuni also holds the auspicious title of being the northern most island of the Great Astrolabe Reef, where, according to legend there used to be a village that sunk into the sea. In order to honour the legend, villagers who fish here respect the story by not throwing garbage overboard.

Port Denarau marina is the lively centre of the small private Denarau Island. Located on the west coast of Viti Levu, the main island of Fiji, its waterfront promenade is the perfect place to enjoy fantastic sunsets. Covering just 2.5 km² (one square mile), the island is connected to Viti Levu by a bridge and is known for sailing and water sports as well as for its luxury hotels, boutiques, bars and restaurants. This is a place where you can enjoy the sea to the full.

Transparent, turquoise water, power-white sand and tropical fish – Champagne Beach on the island of Espiritu Santo, part of Vanuatu, is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The emerald-green rainforest stretches right down to the beach, providing some shade, while turtles will draw you under their spell in the bay. The beach owes its name to the gas bubbles that rise up out of the water at low tide, making the surface look like Champagne, while the golden white sand is also reminiscent of the sophisticated drink. A visit to Champagne Beach is like diving into a world full of natural beauty, tranquillity and tropical charm – the perfect place to leave everyday life behind.

Champagne Beach is found in Hog Harbor on Espiritu Santo Island in Vanuatu. The island got its European name in the early 17th century when Pedro de Quiroz believed he had reached the famous unknown southern land or the “Tierra Australis Incognita.” He called Vanuatu’s largest island, “La Austrialia del Espiritu Santo.” Huge fish poison trees and Alexandrian laurel give cooling shade to the picture-perfect beach and crystal-clear water. The name “Champagne Beach” comes from effervescent bubbles of volcanic origin that are occasionally found in the waters of this stunning spot.

Bramble Haven, an unspoilt atoll in the Louisiade Archipelago in south-east Papua New Guinea, offers unique natural scenery away from mass tourism. On the eastern end of an impressive chain of atolls, reefs and islands that stretch over 400 km (248 miles), Bramble Haven is made up of five main reefs surrounding a rectangular central lagoon. White beaches and transparent water makes it a great place for snorkelling and relaxing – a true paradise for nature lovers looking for unspoilt scenery.

Alotau, a charming town in Papua New Guinea, is cut off from the hustle and bustle of the world since it is only accessible by boat. Surrounded by tropical palm trees and lush vegetation, Alotau was appointed capital of the Milne Bay Province in 1968. On an independent stroll through the village, visitors can discover the traditional lifestyle of the friendly locals and immerse themselves in the culture of the region. One highlight is the Massim Museum, which has interesting exhibits on wood carving, canoe building, basket weaving and contemporary local art. Alotau offers an authentic experience of the culture and nature of Papua New Guinea.

Alotau is the provincial capital of the Milne Bay Province located in the southeast bay of Papua New Guinea. The town and surrounding area has been an important staging ground during World War II and we will see remains and memorials dating back or referring to the war. On a tour of the town, visitors will appreciate lovely vistas of the bay and experience the markets, which are frequented not only by locals, but also by islanders selling their products or looking for produce to take back into Milne Bay. Alotau is an important port facility for the islands and attracts many vendors of handicrafts from different islands.

One of the most beautiful towns in Papua New Guinea lies on a promontory on its north-east coast: Madang. Famous for its lush green gardens and volcanic landscapes, the town offers both impressive encounters with nature and cultural discoveries. About a hundred years ago, the German colonial authorities transformed the wetland area into the administrative centre of Friedrich-Wilhelmshafen. Traces of this time can still be seen in some of the street names and German architecture, such as the mission building and former trading posts. These days, Madang is a lively town with modern infrastructure, in contrast to the surrounding unspoilt natural scenery of the province – a fascinating mix of past and present.

The eastern half of the island of New Guinea - second largest in the world - was divided between Germany (north) and the United Kingdom (south) in 1885. The latter area was transferred to Australia in 1902, which occupied the northern portion during World War I and continued to administer the combined areas until independence in 1975. A nine-year secessionist revolt on the island of Bougainville ended in 1997 after claiming some 20,000 lives. On the north coast of the island, we find colourful Madang, called the “prettiest town in the South Pacific”. Its peninsula-setting is a showplace of parks, waterways, luxuriant shade trees and sparkling tropical islands. Although small, the town has modern urban facilities, including hotels, department stores, markets and art shops. The people of Madang can be broken into four distinct groups - islanders, coastal people, river people and mountain people. These groups are similar in appearance except for the smaller Simbai mountain tribesmen from the foothills. The traditional dress consists mainly of traditional dyed multi-coloured grass skirts made out of either pandanas leaves or sago palm. The women from the mountain areas wear skirts that are colourless, narrow and stringy. Unlike the women, men wear meshy net aprons in front and a clutter of target leaves astern.

Nestled among the densely forested hills of Iwayama Bay lies Koror, the busy economic centre of the island state of Palau. Like floating gardens, the lush green Rock Islands emerge from the azure blue ocean, creating an unparalleled backdrop. Jellyfish Lake is particularly impressive and a great place for snorkelling among the harmless jellyfish – a unique experience that is only possible in a few places in the world. On a walk through Koror, you will see the traditional artistic wood carvings everywhere you go. Admire them on the facades of buildings like the local museum or buy them as souvenirs from the little shops. Koror offers the perfect blend of natural wonders and cultural riches.

Tagbilaran, capital of Bohol, is a captivating place thanks to its proximity to the famous Chocolate Hills: a unique formation of 1,268 cone-shaped hills, which look chocolate-brown in the dry season. Picturesque landscapes like the Rajah Sikatuna National Park and the Mag Aso Falls are other natural attractions on the island. Spanish colonial buildings, including the San Pedro Apostol church, are testament to Bohol's cultural history, while the unspoilt beaches and coastlines are an inviting place to spend time relaxing.

Fine white sandy beaches, a turquoise-blue lagoon and dense jungle – Boracay is the most famous island in the Philippines and its enchanting scenery makes it a unique dream destination. Tourists are mainly attracted to the charming resorts of Balabag, Manoc-Manoc and Yapak, but the true gem of the island is White Beach, which at almost 4km (2.5 miles) long offers endless space for relaxing. Boracay is also famous for the beguiling scent of ylang-ylang, the flowers of which are used to make essential oil of ylang-ylang. The island is a combination of idyllic natural scenery and exotic charm, making it a paradise for sun worshippers and nature lovers.

The Hong Kong Island skyline, with its ever-growing number of skyscrapers, speaks to ambition and money. Paris, London, even New York were centuries in the making, while Hong Kong's towers, bright lights, and glitzy shopping emporia weren't yet part of the urban scene when many of the young investment bankers who fuel one of the world's leading financial centers were born. Commerce is concentrated in the glittering high-rises of Central, tucked between Victoria Harbor and forested peaks on Hong Kong Island's north shore. While it's easy to think all the bright lights are the sum of today's Hong Kong, you need only walk or board a tram for the short jaunt west into Western to discover a side of Hong Kong that is more traditionally Chinese but no less high-energy. You'll discover the real Hong Kong to the east of Central, too, in Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, and beyond. Amid the residential towers are restaurants, shopping malls, bars, convention centers, a nice smattering of museums, and—depending on fate and the horse you wager on—one of Hong Kong's luckiest or unluckiest spots, the Happy Valley Racecourse. Kowloon sprawls across a generous swath of the Chinese mainland across Victoria Harbour from Central. Tsim Sha Tsui, at the tip of Kowloon peninsula, is packed with glitzy shops, first-rate museums, and eye-popping views of the skyline across the water. Just to the north are the teeming market streets of Mong Kok and in the dense residential neighborhoods beyond, two of Hong Kong's most enchanting spiritual sights, Wong Tai Sin Temple and Chi Lin Nunnery. As you navigate this huge metropolis (easy to do on the excellent transportation network), keep in mind that streets are usually numbered odd on one side, even on the other. There's no baseline for street numbers and no block-based numbering system, but street signs indicate building numbers for any given block.