Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# I'm travelling in New Zealand and would LOVE to visit the Pacific Islands. Not sure on route. Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea
emma_travelling85 16:42 UTC 14 Nov 2014 | Hi Everyone, I have just got my working holiday visa for NZ very excited and am planning to go at the end of January 2015. I would really like to explore the Pacific Islands while I am travelling but am unsure what the best way to incorporate these (I'm thinking Vanuatu, Fiji and Samoa if at all possible) into my trip would be. My question is, should I book these stops into my flights before I leave the UK (places like STA travel are proposing routes such as London-Auckland-Fiji-LA) or book a return flight from London to New Zealand, and travel to the islands on a return basis from Auckland. Or will I find it too difficult/expensive to navigate my way round and return to New Zealand? I hope that makes sense and thanks in advance. (and I am sorry if I should've posted in the NZ forum!) |
budgetkiwi 05:07 UTC 15 Nov 2014 | Check ou airnz.co.nz they have some specials on from time to time. Depending on how long you plan tobe away I would go direct to NZ and enjoy the summer, ( or find summer work if thats what you intend to do) The Pacific is so much nicer come April- September and you will probably appreciate some warmth then. I go to the pacific from NZ most winters for a few months to escape the cold and I book a return flight from Auckland when specials are advertised - often around Jan/ Feb ( or sept /Oct)-I have an alert on the air New Zealand website... Tonga is the cheapest (about $200 NZ each way) samoa about $250 each way and Fiji the most expensive, often closer to $300NZ. You could fly via LA and Fiji but January will be hot, humid and wet, flying from Fiji to the other Islands is possible but Fiji Air is generally more expensive than Air New Zealand. Check out flights online to NZ, then NZ via LA, Fiji. Check out flights ex Auckland to Apia, Nadi, etc with Air New Zealand....Then think about the weather and how long you intend to stay in NZ and when / what you want to be working at. But I would recommend enjoying NZ during the Jan- march time- we are a bit like England we dont get much settled weather and feb is our best month, while June/July/ August are lovely in the Pacific | 1
tilos 03:51 UTC 21 Nov 2014 | Consider a visit to the Cook Islands, which is a 4-hour flight from Auckland. Get out of Rarotonga and head to Aitutaki or even Atiu. | 2
budgetkiwi 18:14 UTC 21 Nov 2014 | Many flights have a free stop over in rarotonga via LA,for a week or two. Depending on the time of year you are leaving NZ, if you are flying via LA stopping in Rarotonga is a great way to see some of the Pacific. Rarotonga is a great little island to spend a week or two warming up when leaving the NZ winter. There are many backpacker options there and you will meet a lot of other travellers. Just be aware it is very expensive to fly to the other Islands, most of the RTW travellers I met at hostels there couldnt justify the expense and just spent a week on Rarotonga- which while warm and friendly isnt very authentic South pacific compared with Vanuatu and Samoa - more like a warm extension of NZ. I would definitely recommend including a stop in Rarotonga on your return flight if that is an option, its easy, friendly and a great way to end your NZ trip but probably I would also try and pick up a cheap flight to Samoa while in NZ if you can | 3