Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# where to go???? Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea
travellingpiercey 08:02 UTC 24 May 2009 | Gday. I am an Aussie bloke looking at two or three weeks in the Pacific in June or July by myself. I am looking for some kind of backpacker-type island hoppong adventure, but I can't seem to make up my mind! I did something similar in Fiji a couple of years ago and had a great time so now I am looking for somewhere else. I have done a bit of reading on Vanuatu, but it seems that it is more geared towards honeymooners etc than solo travellers wanting to hang out with other solo travellers. Are there any other places in the region that are set up for backpackers like Fiji is? |
Laszlo 11:20 UTC 24 May 2009 | I don't think there is anywhere else in the region as "backpackerish" as the Yasawas in Fiji. I didn't see honeymooners in Vanuatu at all - they must have been busy with each other in the resort bungalows. But I hardly saw any backpackers either. In Samoa, you could find some other backpackers in Lalomanu, and maybe in Apia and Manase. But not many, and even fewer solo ones. Can't comment on the backpackers' scene in the Cooks or French Polynesia. Come to think of it, if you are really keen on such a scene, you might be better off either returning to Fiji, or even changing directions towards Southeast Asia, where you'd have no trouble finding such countries/islands. The latter would also be a LOT cheaper. | 1
travellingpiercey 02:45 UTC 27 May 2009 | Ok thanks. I may still still to Vanuatu coz I like the sound of the volcanos and the WW2 wrecks. I woudl rather try somewhere new than go back to Fiji, which also rules out most of S/E Asia coz I've done that too. But thanks for the tips. | 2
Laszlo 04:40 UTC 27 May 2009 | Vanuatu is a great choice. You just have to set your expectations right - such as not expecting to meet many (or in most places, even any) solo travellers or to find a Fiji-style backpacker scene. But locals are extremely friendly and may compensate for that. | 3