Should I go to Vanuatu, New Caledonia or Fiji?

Hi,

I know this is a very open ended question and I apologise but I'm hoping that the many informed posters on Thorn Tree might help me make up my mind. In 1999 I spent 5 wonderful weeks exploring Tonga and now I'm fortunate enough to have between 5 and 10 days (at the absolute maximum) to explore either Vanuatu, New Caledonia or Fiji from either Sydney or Auckland in late October this year.

I know each offers beautiful beaches and reef systems so there's not much to differentiate there and I've already reviewed a few postings concerning the weather but what about other sites to see and the culture and people? I would love to hear your views on what I could reasonably do with 5 to 10 days without rushing too much and whether that (very) short time would be more productively used in one country as opposed to another.

I look forward to your thoughts.

Thanks,
Richard

Hi Richard , My wife & I have been to both Vanuatu and Fiji and reserched New Cal a far bit. Vanutu is the only SP destination we've returned to (other than Lord Howe Is). VN is great for its beaches, shopping, markets, activities fish/surf/dive and cultural experience and that's talking in regard to the main Island 'Efate' only. There's also outer islands you can fly to at res prices. I think the smaller the island destination the better, so you can get to enjoy as much of it as you can. You can drive a hire car around Efate in a day. The people are shy/friendly and welcoming. ---------- Fiji is a bi-cultural (not multi-cultural) which lends to a more uncomfortable experiece outside of 'the resort'. Most of the cultural experieces are found in resorts by way of 'cultural nights' .The markets are a hard sell shopping experience with 99% Indian traders & my wife got hasseled by young men each visit. The indiginous Fijians are very friendly people are the main staff in the resorts. Fiji's main island is huge and distances to limited activities take up time and only a portion of the place could be explored in a 5-10 day timeframe. ---------- New Cal from my reserch and past travellers comments, comes across as 'french' ("not that's there's anything wrong with that") . Noumea is apparently not real clean (as told by a few visitors - one couple we met stayed 1.5 days after planning a 2 week stop) . To me (& reports from visitors) it sounds like the ' Isle of Pines' is the best option as a location in NC or one of the outer Islands, at least somewhere outside of Noumea it seems ... but we haven't been there so I can't give a first hand travel report. A New Cal local we met in Vanuatu said he wished he lived in Vanuatu !

As an independent traveler who stays away from resort holidays, I'd better give an alternate interpretation of Fiji to balance the picture - certainly regarding the implication that most culture you will find on Fiji is in 'cultural nights' at resorts. As far as 'uncomfortable experience' goes (whatever that means) .. well, I can only say that Fiji didn't give me any uncomfortable experiences.

For a short visit of 5 days perhaps the best all-round and varied experience of Fiji would be the island of Ovalau, combining exposure to perhaps the most attractive old town on Fiji (Levuka), some jungle hiking, 'traditional' villages, and small-island resorts of Leleuvia or Caqalai for some hammock-swinging, snorkeling and diving. Personally, I found this corner of Fiji - combined with a couple of days in Suva - offers enough for more than 10 days.

However, if you want a bit more variety a visit of up to 10 days could allow you to include a visit to Taveuni - bigger jungles, more spectacular diving around rainbow reef, etc. But to make the most of it you'd probably have to consider a flight. Bit rushed, though, for my own taste.

Hi qish, I live in New Caledonia and I have a large collection of photos of new cal which might be of interest to you :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/imaxandco/collections/72157601654818104/

As far as I know, New Cal and Vanuatu are of similar culture as they are both melanesian countries.
The major difference between the two islands is that Vanuatu is an extremely poor country with no resources and it's more difficult to travel there because of roads conditions, island geography, etc. Vanuatu is still a truly wonderful place and people are the nicest in the world.

Concerning New Cal : East Coast New Caledonia and loyalty islands are gems. The language spoken is the french so communication might be limited if you only speak english.

Fiji : Touristy, more resort-style place. Cities like Suva or Nandi are truly horrible.

I've been to all three countries.

New Caledonia is very expensive. Very. Noumea is a great city but it really isn't your typical South Pacific experience. It is more like a French city transplanted in the Pacific. It does have its own charms, but if you are looking for something authentic, this isn't it. You'll need to get out of Noumea.

Vanuatu has some really interesting things if you go to the outer islands like Tana or Spritu Santu. They have some good diving, an active volcano, John Frum cults, and a new World Heritage Site.

Fiji is probably your cheapest option. More flights go there than anywhere else in the Pacific. If you go to the Yasawas you can get by on $20-30/day for lodging and 3 meals. The people there are incredibly nice. Most of the resorts in the Yasawas are owned by locals or villages, so they go far out of your way to make you feel welcome.

Vanuatu is easily the most interesting of the 3 countries culturally, and very different from New Caledonia, too.

However for a short visit, I would recommend New Caledonia.
You could easily see the Grande Terre and maybe 1 other island.
And I didn't find it more expensive than Vanuatu either.
A con might be that people in NC really only tend to speak French - the English-speaking locals of Vanuatu or Fiji would offer more chance to get to know the local culture.