> > by Margaret McGuire
Where do you go when all you want and need is to retreat to a place where life is simple, nature is complex, the sun, the moon and the stars appear as required ... where the sea is warm and the breeze is cool? Where the accommodation ranges from five star bells and whistles luxury to a hut on the beach with the whispery hiss of the waves as your personal serenade? You could try Samoa - and you’d be sure to find all this and more.
With a fabulous climate, and sensational natural beauty above and below the fringing ocean and reefs, Samoa is naturally endowed with all the attributes which have made the South Pacific the benchmark for daydreams and daydreamers, for artists, for sailors, for lovers and beach bums. There’s lots to see and do, but you will probably find that doing nothing much at all is perfectly satisfying ... but then you can swim, dive, snorkel, visit the villages, or take the bus around the island. WHERE?
Samoa is located to the right of Fiji, and up a bit - it sits below the equator and is just 5 1/2 hours flying time from Sydney. Polynesian Blue currently operates a Boeing 737-800 aircraft 3 times per week between Australia (Sydney) and Apia.
Faleolo International Airport is located 35km to the west of the nation’s capital, Apia.
THREE TOP THINGS TO DO:
Beach, beach, beach! But seriously, you’ll probably stay close to the water most of the time (swimming, snorkelling, diving, fishing, kayaking, surfing ...). The islands are dotted with caves, lava tubes, blowholes, waterfalls and rainforest; natural wonders that deserve exploration - if you can tear yourself away from the beach.
Visiting the grave of Robert Louis Stevenson may not sound very romantic, but the walk through the rainforest to the top of Mount Vaea where he is buried takes you to a vantage point with magnificent views over Apia and the bay. At the bottom of the mountain is the beautifully restored colonial homestead Stevenson and his family lived in during their sojourn on the island.