Group tours?

I have googled 'Pacific Island group tours', and checked all the usual tour companies (G Adventures, Toucan, Intrepid etc...), and there don't seem to be any on offer?! Only expensive cruises.
I mean, I understand.....i'd assume this is because of the number of smaller islands.
Just wondering how a solo female (mid 20's) traveller would go about visiting any of the Pacific Island destinations (like Vanuatu, Tahiti, Samoa, etc)?
Is it safe?
I've always wanted to go somewhere (anywhere!) in the Pacific, and being in a neighbouring country (Aust.), seems like a waste not to take the opportunity!

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated :)

Olivia

Are you looking to do a tour of several Island groups? If so, from Australia you could look at doing a circle route from Australia to Vanuatu, then on to Fiji, from there to New Caledonia and then back to Australia. I am not sure if the link is still available, but we were able to travel from Tahiti to the Cook Islands on one trip. Fiji is a central hub and travel from there to Samoa and Tonga should be fairly easy.

I can't really address the solo travel question as I have always traveled with my husband , but we have found all the SP islands to be relatively safe to travel. Just as in any other area, walking alone at night might not be a good idea. We also found Fiji to be a good spot for solo travelers, meeting many on our travels there.

Are you looking to do a tour of several Island groups? If so, from Australia you could look at doing a circle route from Australia to Vanuatu, then on to Fiji, from there to New Caledonia and then back to Australia. I am not sure if the link is still available, but we were able to travel from Tahiti to the Cook Islands on one trip. Fiji is a central hub and travel from there to Samoa and Tonga should be fairly easy.

I can't really address the solo travel question as I have always traveled with my husband , but we have found all the SP islands to be relatively safe to travel. Just as in any other area, walking alone at night might not be a good idea. We also found Fiji to be a good spot for solo travelers, meeting many on our travels there.

Thanks newfie43!

I hadn't thought of this (doing several islands/countries).
I suppose it's safe enough to spend time in one place, then I suppose fly/sail to another. ....where it is populated enough with similar tourists.

Is it cheaper to fly between islands or go by boat?

Travelling around the S. Pacific is safe for solo female travellers. I have done it a lot and have never had any trouble, not even when visiting Solomon Islands during the fighting and again just after the Peace Accord was signed. The only country I would advise against, if you are new to solo travel, is Papua New Guinea. W. Papua is pretty safe, but PNG does have problems, especially in Port Moresby and the other larger towns. Out in the country it's okay.

Do you have any preferences, like Polynesia, Melanesia or Micronesia? I haven't been to Micronesia so can't comment on that other than I've heard it's safe for solo travellers as well.

If you have limited time you'll have to fly from one island nation to another; some island nations have domestic ferry type services between their own islands, others don't. Finding transportation by boat is not easy and often there isn't any between the different countries.

Just use common sense and take the any of the precautions you would at home and you'll be fine.

Thanks watsoff

Good advice, i'd always heard nerve wrecking things about PNG, so probably one place I won't mind missing!

I haven't really thought enough about where i'd like to go exactly, but I know I want white sand, rainforest/jungle and volcanoes (if possible).

I guess i'd prefer to go to whichever place is safest on the whole (and also somewhere known for its food! haha).
I'll have to read up on Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia though!

I'm starting to feel more confident about it already now, so thanks again :)

Olivia

If you want volcanoes, try Tanna in Vanuatu ... and Vanuatu has all the other things you are interested in as well as being very safe. I envy you your upcoming trip, to wherever. Ambrym also has volcanoes, but I've heard that Tanna is a better option. There should be loads of information on both on Thorntree.

Thanks watsoff

Vanuatu sounds like the place! (Plus there seem to be plenty of flights there, a place many Aussies go!)

I'll go and do some more serious research now!

:) Olivia

I travel solo to the South Pacific every (NZ) winter and agree you have to see some of it while so close
Every Country has a different personality ( some vary a lot from island to island) so if choosing one or two you should try and decide what will live up to your expectations the most
If you are working in Aus for a while you may be best to take a few separate trips- grab some special fares - these can be cheaper than flying between islands, but if you want to do one trip probably use Fiji as the hub as they have the most inter island flights.
Fiji
pros -it is a backpackers dream, full of young people from all over and really easy to get around- possibly meet with other travellers to spend time with.
cons- the best places are away from the main island and so can be expensive to get to ( and you have to be careful with hidden costs if on an island where all meals have to be bought at the accommodation)most places have dorms or doubles so as a single you either share or pay more. I found Vanua Levu ( the other big island) more authentic- but doesnt have the classic long sandy beaches you envision
Samoa
pros- I enjoy Samoa because as a solo traveller I can have my own Fale or room at no extra charge and a lot of Fale accommodation ( on the beach) have communal dining so you get to meet other travellers, it s cheap to go by ferry to Savaii ( the less developed island) and the wee small islands around . People are mainly religuous and it is quite safe to accept invitations to a family meal, church etc Being closer to the equater it tends to be warmer than the Cook Islands, Tonga etc that are further South so swimming is warm even in winter.I find it really good value as a solo traveller because the meals are included at fales you can budget well e.g 50 oz per night on fale on the beach all meals.
cons - outside resorts the country isnt very developed and if you dont know what places to go you could be the only guest - which can be very disconcerting as a solo traveller- mainly because people are overly concerned about you travelling without friends and family so often feel they have to 'hang out' with you- even when you eat (nb.The local people are not used to alcohol and as a female solo traveller you dont want to be in a place alone where there are only local people drinking)the food is often basic and can be a bit boring- fish, coconut,taro, stir frys and fried food
Cook Islands
pros -rarotonga is a very easy ( less authentic) place to visit, its rather small (32 kms around) but very well set up for backpackers and you meet plenty of young world travellers. Its mainly dorms and doubles but I rented doubles and found they werent too bad- about 30-50 Oz a night ( no meals)- most places have a communal kitchen
cons- you dont really get a feel for the pacific on Rarotonga and it is very expensive to get to any outer islands. the prices are similar to Aus - more expensive than Fiji & Samoa. meals arent included and a lot of travellers never get to try local food- just live on noodles etc
Tahiti
beautiful beaches but because prices were so expensive I didnt get to enjoy asmuch as I would like, make sure you can afford to get out to nice places like Bora Bora and eat and sleep in places that live up to your expectations before you book a flight
Tonga & Vanuatu.
I have been delaying these too because once again the best places are on outer islands and the accommodations around the main island tends to be dorms or more expensive doubles but both have a lot to see and do and look like very good options for young adventure seekers. Just be sure you can afford to get to the places you want to see and if you like company research to try and ascertain if other travellers will be around at that time
This year I am going to Tonga on my own and have decided to try out a few places around Nuku a lofa & E'ua and put up with dorms ( but then I will head over to Samoa for a budget treat)

Advice - solo travelling as is as safe as you make it. I have travelled alone since I was 18 (and my daughter has followed my example) Try and do plenty of reseach and use maps, travellers advice etc to make sure you are not in an isolated situation on your own that you cant easily get out of. Start at a busier place where you would expect to meet other travellers and see if you can arrange to travel to some of the more remote places with another traveller - a couple or female maybe.always have plan b- some extra local currency, a phone number of a local taxi, or someone you can call ( I generally get a local sim where possible)Dont go too cheap ( thats when you get robbed, stuck, tired and depressed)
If in doubt go somewhere easy first, dont make it too hard on yourself, build up your knowledge and confidence.

Above all do it. The South Pacific is so close and so affordable

budgetkiwi

WOW!

Thanks a lot!

Great info you've given me here. I'm getting more interested and excited at the idea of going solo to the Pacific.
I think you're right, I should start somewhere easier with other travellers.
So i've probably narrowed it down to Vanuatu and/or Fiji.

Looks like you're really well travelled :) You seem to know the area really well!

I guess one of my other little queries on the side is money? Are there ATMS in the main cities?
And probably another (silly) question, do you bother with all the vaccinations (for mosquito/water borne diseases)?

Anyway, thanks again, very helpful advice!

Olivia

I keep an account with Westpac because they have ATMs throughout the pacific and so I save on bank charges.Westpac and ANZ have ATMs in a lotof main places in Fiji.
I always keep up to date with inoculations, but for mosquitoes I am just very careful.carry my own mossie net - and extra string, wear covering clothes evening or in the bush,take lots of mossie stuff- often hard to find ( although never had a problem in fiji) luckily the winter isn't so bad, especially by the coast. Haven't had zika yet but have met fellow travellers who have and it was quite nasty, could ruin your holiday

There is malaria in Vanuatu so you might want to take anti-malarials for that portion of the trip. There's also Dengue Fever in both places, however there are no precautions for that other than what budgetkiwi said about avoiding being bitten. Fiji and Vanuatu are good selections!

Thanks *watsoff

I guess the same precautions I had to take for Malaysia, so should be ok by the sounds of it

Hi, I think the Cook Islands are pretty safe and easy to reach. Rarotonga has a regular flights from LA and NZ. Also, regarding mosquitoes and vaccinations you don't need to bother. It's like elsewhere: there is plenty of them which can drive you crazy but they are not dangerous. The only animal that can really hurt you is Centipede. It's not lethal when it bites you but very very painful. You need to be careful but the rest should be just fine!

Thanks nullnfull

The Cook Islands were a place I hadn't thought of! Rarotonga too. I'm going to look them up right now,

thanks!

Olivia