Pacific Islands while pregnant

Hi all

My husband and I love travelling and are thinking of taking a short holiday (1 week) in a Pacific Island resort as a romantic treat before we become parents. I am 17 weeks pregnant and we are thinking of travelling around the 20th to 22nd week of pregnancy (end of March). This is our first baby and as such we are thrilled but a little nervous as well and don't know what we can and can't do in terms of travel... so I have a few questions and hopefully someone will be able to give us some advice on where to go:

1. We are looking for a romantic place not too far from Sydney - AUS where we live. We don't want to spend too many hours on a plane, and above all, would like to avoid a too tiring trip... We would love to find a place that doesn't require 3 or 4 flights plus a boat transfer to get to...
2. We love snorkeling and would prefer to stay on a small island with a good reef, not too far from the mainland (or biggest island) so not to be too far away from a hospital in case of emergency.
3. Any idea of which island has the best health system/hospitals?
4. We would also like a place where there are no health issues (like malaria) as I cannot take vaccinations.
5. The resort should be safe, clean and food cooked properly (I usually eat ANYTHING, but now have to be more cautious).

Is tap water potable in the islands? We have never been there, so we are quite confused.
We were thinking of New Caledonia (staying in a garden bungalow at the Coral Palms Island resort right off Noumea), but have heard that the place is not that great, not too clean and the resort not worth the money... has anyone been there? What about Iles des Pins? Are the small planes that take you there suited for pregnant women?
Fiji was another option, but the political situation is not very stable...
Also Aitutaki in the Cook Islands looks good... but maybe it is too complicated to get to and too isolated.
Our dream has always been Bora Bora, but we are afraid it is too far and the trip too tiring... besides, are the small planes that take you from Tahiti to Bora Bora suited for pregnant women? And... would it be too far from a decent hospital??

Basically, we are looking for a place where we feel safe... so we can truly and totally relax!

ANY suggestion is welcome! Island, resort, health tips... ANYTHING!!!
Thank you all!!!

The flight to Aitutaki from here (RAR) is usually a 40-seater, and it's only a 40-minute flight (actually, same preety much applies Tahiti to Bora Bora).

There is a hospital on Aitutaki, but it is not of a high standard. You would have to return here if there was anything more than minor. Flights are daily, but the one on sunday is late late late, at 1am Monday. So, there may be 30 hours or so between flights from Sat pm to that one.

I think you'll find medical services adequate on most of the main islands in PIO country, but not that good on the secondary ones.
No malaria from Fiji eastward, but occasional dengue fever.

My recommendation goes for New Caledonia.

It is probably the Pacific island nation closest to Sydney, and being run by the French it has a good health-care system, no malaria and is as safe and clean as islands get.

It is also stunningly beautiful.

From personal experience of the health system in New Caledonia it was a nightmare when my wife got sick, ended up in hospital and neither of us spoke fluent french.

Hi - I just travelled to the Cook Islands at 23-25 weeks of pregnancy. The biggest problem I faced was that the Australian Health System (both public and private) didn't have spaces available for me to have my 21-23 week ultrasound before I went. The doctor requested I try to have one done whilst away overseas (Pacific Islands! not possible) so I had it upon my return - LOL!!!
The reason we decided to still go when we found out pregnant was:
- Cook Islands : Rarotonga whole island (not just resorts) is very safe and very clean
- It is a 4 hour flight to Auckland in case of emergency
- It is part of the New Zealand Health System (comparible to Australian)
- South Pacific provides the same health conditions as travelling to Northern Queensland/Northern Territory
- It takes you roughly an hour to drive around Rarotonga so the hospital is less than 30 minutes drive (north or south).
- My Doctor advised that there were no issues with travelling to that location at all at that time of my pregnancy
I really appreciated the 2 hour stopover at Auckland for flights both ways as it broke up the flight and gave me a chance to walk around.
I drank boiled or bottled water. I ate the same foods that I would at home - but a lot more fruit.
The only downfall would be that I can't really recommend the resorts in the Cook Islands because personally I think they're overpriced for value for money ie: compared to Fiji - for me personally whilst I love Fiji it doesn't provide the same cleanliness outside of the resorts and you have to travel by boat and small plane once you get there to get to the really lovely locations - Rarotonga in itself is a beautiful location:).

Sorry, #4 but there is no way the hospital in Raro is anywhere near the same standard as the NZ system.

You will note that I mentioned a 4 hour trip back to NZ in case of emergency which would need a referral from the doctor or hospital. Additionally, the private doctor and Chemist we visited (in Avarua) was comparible to GPs/Chemists back home - treated my sisters systems quickly. I am in no way comparing the Raro hospital to NZ/Australia Hospitals

Am pleased to see you say that. However, I was reacting to your comment that "It is part of the New Zealand Health System (comparable to Australian)" which it is not!

Ok guys, here's the story. Here in the Cooks we are "technically" part of the NZ health system in that they take referrals of serious cases from the CI Health Board, and only charge a very low rate to the govt for these referrals. But this process is only for locals. For visitors, this Health Bd. referral sytem does not apply. You would be taken to NZ for serious treatment, and have to pay the full bill. So, get trip/health insurance if this might be a problem.

Having said that, for many things here the doctors are NZ qualified, so it is only more serious or complicated things that one needs to go to NZ.

Thanks everyone for all your preciuos advice!

We are still undecided... we are now also considering somewhere up in Queensland, as that would make a few things easier (like health related issues), but we are concerned about jellyfish. We know that the end of March is not the perfect season for the Barrier Reef... but that's the only time we have.
Anyone knows anything about the jellyfish and snorkeling situation for the area in March? Will post also in the page for Australia.

Thanks again!!!!!

PS: I have made a mistake in calculating the weeks we are planning the trip for... I will be between the 22nd and the 24th! And I have my ultrasound planned for before... thanks Etutiare!

If you go to the Sunshine Coast, for example, which is north of Brisbane you will have no problems with jellyfish. They only occur in far north Queensland, around Cairns, from roughly October to May (I think). In March the climate around Brisbane will be nice, but further north around Cairns will still be very hot and it is still the cyclone season. Look around the Sunshine Coast for great accommodation and restaurants. And frankly, there wouldn't be the same problems for medical emergencies.

That's what I'd choose and I emphasise Sunshine Coast, as opposed to the Gold Coast which is south of Brisbane, very commercialised, noisy and IMHO nasty.

If you're still considering Rarotonga be aware that the dengue fever outbreak is worsening.

Thank you agingaquarian! I will definetely consider the Sunshine Coast! And it's quite close from here! Will have a look!

11--They are finally spraying the dengue areas on Monday. This should stem, or end, the outbreak.

The spraying still hasn't happened, but is scheduled to start as soon as the rain stops..... 2 weeks and counting ;-) My son currently has dengue and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. At the beginning of the outbreak, I was still advising people to come to the Cooks as the chances of contracting it were relatively slim. Recently, however, I'd have to reconsider my advise. With close to 1000 cases since last year, the odds of catching it are certainly higher. I don't want to be a scare-monger, and I know that the tourist industry is starting to take a pounding, but the reality is that dengue is here and is certainly increasing at a rate of knots. While the strain is a milder form, it's certainly not fun. And yes, we took all possible precautions to avoid catching it - ie coils, repellant, our house is screened etc

#14 jeaniej - thanks for being honest. I know that it is a problem for Rarotonga, but it has to be addressed. It seems to me that it happens every few years - something is done and then everyone becomes complacent. The spraying was cancelled due to bad weather and now there are the property checks being done. But there does seem to be a great deal of controversy about the type of spray proposed to be used - apparently toxic to humans, fish, the environment and the lagoon (which is already severely polluted).

I have loved Rarotonga with a passion in the past, but I will never go there again until I know they are serious about addressing the problems they are facing. They will not go away and they cannot hide them for much longer.