New Caledonia, Cook, Vanuatu or Fiji?

We are backpackers and want to spend around 4 weeks in the area. We like:
- Climbing volcanos
- Hiking in rain forests and watching wild life
- Snorkeling and Diving
- Enjoying people
- Chilling on nice beaches

What would you recommend for 4 weeks? Is possible to combine New Caledonia and Vanuatu or should we focus on 1 of the 4 islands mentioned in the titel? Which island(s) would cover our interests best?

By the way, we are rather slow travelleres.

Cheers
Rolf

Of your list, Vanuatu is the only place with active volcanoes, it also has the richest marine life.
Ditto very nice people and lots of rainforest.
So there goes my recommendation.

It would be very easy to spend 4 weeks there, especially if you are "slow travellers".
But if keen, you could easily combine it with New Caledonia - in that case, be sure to allow longer for Vanuatu, sg. like 3 weeks vs 1 week.

Note though that Vanuatu and NC are also the priciest countries on your list, though costs can be kept down if you stay in budget guesthouses in Vanuatu and camp in NC.

No volcanoes, high mountains, or real rain forests in the Cooks.

I agree with Laszlo, though you could easily spend more than 1 week in NC , especially if you want to go to the Isles of Pines and/or Loyalties (they are lovely, but can be pricey)

Ive just noticed that you are Swiss and so presume that you speak French - a definite advantage in NC.

Thanks a lot for your answers.

I, apparently, have to clarify my question slightly. I know that there are no volcanos in the Cooks, but I wonder which islands in combination would cover our interests best.

However, based on Laszlo's answer I may conclude that focusing on Vanuatu with a sidestep to NC might be the best option.

Tough to combine Vanuatu/New Cal with the Cooks. It would be a totally separate RT from Auckland NZ to the Cooks and back. I'd stick with Van/NC this trip, maybe do the Cooks on a later trip.

Have a good trip!

To get the most out of NC in a short visit, I'd recommend a day or two in Noumea (for the French feel), afull day in Riviere Bleau park (for rainforest), a trip to Hienhiene (for a look at rural Grande Terre along the way, the gorgous coastline once there, and maybe for the tough climb of Mount Panie (NC's best moss forests), plus a day-trip to the Isle of Pines.
NC is developed enough to let you cover all these in 7-10 days, I think.

OTOH, Vanuatu is undeveloped and much harder to get around, which is why I recommended spending longer there. I think Santo should be the best island for rainforest and hiking there (I did a multiday hike), probably followed by Malekula. The positiveearth website should offer enough info on this - don't rely on the LP guide which keeps getting worse and worse!