Pacific islands calling!!

Right - I have been stuck in OZland for quite a bit now and it's time to go.

I really want to venture and explore the Pacific Islands but I guess I am gonna need some help to plan the whole trip thoroughly, because I seriously have no clue!

So, my original idea was to follow one of LP's itineraries, the one that starts in Fiji, followed by Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Tahiti and Cook Islands.

Now, I thought flights in between NC and Tahiti would be cheaper, but I guess I was wrong. Do you think the trip would be cheaper if started from NC, Vanuatu, Fiji, Cook Islands and Tahiti?

Somebody told me that all those islands are not worth it because eventually they are all the same. I doubt it but I definitely wanna have an opinion from somebody that's been there.

Also, what to see on/in each island/country? where are the most iconic spots/beaches/cities?

Any islands to include/exclude from the trip?

And last but not least, say that I want to fly back to Asia after the whole trip, what would the easiest way be? Back to Australia or NZ?

Any tips on how to keep this trip cheap WELCOME!!!!

Cheeers

Edited by: yosuke88

It will not be a cheaptrip as the only way to get between countries is by air, and there are few discount airlines in the region. There used to be an Air Pacific pass, but it couldn't be purchased in Australia.
If I was doing your trip, I woud include at least one Polynesian country (eg Samoa, Tonga, Cooks, Tahiti) and at least one Melanesian (Solomon Islands,Vanuatu, New Caledonia). Fiji tends to be the crossroads for the area, so is worth including to make transport easier, a well as being a relatively cheap country to visit.
Melanesian culture s quite dfferent to Polynesian, and the islands tend to be larger.
Tahiti is probably the most expensive country on your list: you might find one of the other Polynesian countries better for your budget.

And last but not least, say that I want to fly back to Asia after the whole trip, what would the easiest way be? Back to Australia or NZ?

It depends on where in Asia you plan to go. There are direct flights from Fiji to destinations in Asia like Hong Kong or Seoul so if any of those destinations suits you, you could try to end in Fiji (e.g.: making Cook Islands-Tahiti-New Caledonia-Vanuatu-Fiji).

There are also flights from Papeete to Tokyo so if you plan to go to Japan, you could consider to end in the French Polynesia (although you could also take a look at the fares out of Fiji changing planes in Seoul with Korean Air).

Do you think the trip would be cheaper if started from NC, Vanuatu, Fiji, Cook Islands and Tahiti?

You'll have to do the maths to see what's the cheapest option on your travel dates but be aware in order to go from Fiji to the Cook Islands, you'll have to backtrack through New Zealand.

As has already been suggested, if costs are an issue at all, consider dropping the Cooks and Tahiti and add Tonga or/and Samoa instead. This will make logistics much easier, as the latter 2 Polynesian countries are linked by fairly cheap flights to Fiji.
Quite apart from the savings on the airfares, you will find Tonga and Samoa much cheaper to tour than French Polynesia (which is more beautiful though) or the Cooks.

It is definitely not true that all islands are the same.
Unless you are the kind of person who never strays away from the resorts and beaches, you should find the scenery and culture quite different in each country.

Any tips on how to keep this trip cheap WELCOME!!!!

Don't have an itinerary with so many different island groups!

LP and other guidebooks have a tendency to print these comprehensive itineraries motivated more to cover the guidebook content. They are not always very practical in my opinion.

How much time do you have at your disposal? I wouldn't stay anywhere less than a month.

I am gonna need some help to plan the whole trip thoroughly, because I seriously have no clue!

I usually start my planning with a browse through a guidebook, to get an idea of what might interest me at various places. Really, this is the best way to get information on ultra-basic questions like
>what to see on/in each island/country? where are the most iconic spots/beaches/cities?

LP has a regional guidebook, and there are other online options:
http://books.google.nl/books?id=EDGapfBX-CAC&printsec=frontcover&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false

say that I want to fly back to Asia after the whole trip, what would the easiest way be?

As said above, the best way to get back to Asia depends on where you want to go and where you leave from.

Somebody told me that all those islands are not worth it because eventually they are all the same

Again, this depends on what you want to do and how you approach the experience. Someone could spend most of their time on beaches. Sure, it probably makes no big difference to their holiday where they are. But if you take a closer look, spend more time at one place to get to know it in more detail, then the differences are more obvious -- even differences between islands in one country.