South Pacific

Sydney, capital of New South Wales and one of Australia’s largest cities, is best known for its harbourfront Sydney Opera House, with a distinctive sail-like design. Massive Darling Harbour and the smaller Circular Quay port are hubs of waterside life, with the arched Harbour Bridge and esteemed Royal Botanic Garden nearby. Sydney Tower’s outdoor platform, the Skywalk, offers 360-degree views of the city and suburbs.

Port Vila is the harborside capital and main hub of Vanuatu, on Efate island. Its small downtown is home to colorful market stalls selling produce and local handicrafts. The National Museum of Vanuatu, inside the Vanuatu Cultural Centre, displays artifacts such as slit-gong drums and outrigger canoes. The town is a base for diving and trips to Mele Cascades, a multi-tiered waterfall with rock pools in a rainforest.

Uninhabited and untouched by modern society, Mystery Island will make you believe it wouldn’t be so bad to be a marooned sailor in an old storybook. You’ll find no electricity, roads or telephones here. A comfortable 30-minute walk will take you on a self-guided tour of the entire island. Only accessible by cruise ship and the nearby inhabitants of Aneityum, you’ll truly get to experience life on a deserted island. Cruise to Mystery Island and explore the white-sand shoreline and its warm waters – go for a snorkel and see an incredible underwater world untouched by human influence.

A melting pot of ethnicity and culture, sunny Noumea will quickly win you over with its upbeat city vibe. The capital city of New Caledonia offers some of the best weather in the South Pacific. Noumea’s cultural pride shines through in its museums, theatres and art galleries – check out the Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre to explore the traditional Kanak culture. Head to the top of the Noumea Cathedral for views of the island, dotted with palms, hibiscuses and coconut trees. Hop a ferry out to Amedee Island to see its lighthouse and swim with turtles. Cruise to Noumea and relax on the picturesque beach at lemon tree-lined Baie des Citrons, or go snorkelling in Anse Vata Bay.

Sydney, capital of New South Wales and one of Australia’s largest cities, is best known for its harbourfront Sydney Opera House, with a distinctive sail-like design. Massive Darling Harbour and the smaller Circular Quay port are hubs of waterside life, with the arched Harbour Bridge and esteemed Royal Botanic Garden nearby. Sydney Tower’s outdoor platform, the Skywalk, offers 360-degree views of the city and suburbs.