Kaua’i
The ancient Hawaiians called this island Kaua’i Kilohana which when translated means Superior Kaua’i – an island born of the Gods. The gods must have been on penalty rates when they set about creating this paradise because from the peaks of its lush, volcanic mountains to the wide, colourful sweep of its majestic canyons and beyond to its warm turquoise waters and golden sandy beaches, the landscape of Kaua’i is quite simply gorgeous. The awesome Waimea Canyon, with its deep valleys and steep, rugged peaks looks like an artist’s canvas awash with hues of pink, red, orange and grey and the undulating Na Pali coast with its sheer, vertical cliffs rising out of the ocean to a height of almost 1200 metres are just two of the outstanding geographical wonders to be found here.
Although Kaua’i is barely 100 kilometres from Waikiki’s concrete towers you couldn’t get further away in ambience if you travelled to Japan. There’s a quiet magic at work here. An almost ethereal atmosphere of mystery cloaks this verdant and ancient land and it’s not hard to picture life as it was for the ancient Hawaiians as you drive the meandering country roads, past cane fields and tiny hamlets that still look as they did a century ago.
Spend a couple of days here and you’ll quickly work out why Hollywood celebrities have chosen this particular Hawaiian island to build their impressive holiday homes and why it has been the setting for so many Hollywood blockbusters such as Jurassic Park and South Pacific. As a couple’s destination it really is heaven!
Don’t miss: An exhilarating helicopter flight with Heli USA over the island where you’ll have a bird’s-eye view of Waimea Canyon and the Na Pali coastline that will blow your mind. On a cloud-free day you’ll even fly into the crater of the volcano that gave birth to this garden island.
For the thrill seeker: Head to the Princeville Ranch for a day of unmitigated excitement as you soar like spiderman on eight separate ziplines that traverse deep ravines and spectacular valleys, cross a swinging bridge and dive into a deep waterfall to cool off after all that adrenaline inducing activity.
Where to eat and drink: Lovely resorts such as the Starwood Princeville and Marriott Resort have wonderful restaurants and bars where you can indulge your tastebuds with haute cuisine and mai tais.
Best time to visit: Kaua’i’s semitropical climate is moderate all year with temperatures ranging from 20˚C to 25˚C. The afternoon trade winds bring cooling breezes and quite often there’s a brief shower in the morning.
Writer’s favourite memory: Sailing down the Na Pali coastline, absolutely enthralled by the unbelievable scenery. RB
Santorini
Arguably the most dramatic of all the Greek islands, the crescent-shaped volcanic island of Santorini possesses a rugged, wild beauty and sleepy charm that captivate all who journey to its picture-postcard shores. Here, whitewashed villages scattered with blue-domed church roofs cling to towering cliffs in one of the world’s most enchanting settings. It’s the perfect holiday mix of crystal-clear waters, dazzling harbour, ancient ruins, stylish accommodation, gourmet restaurants and lively tavernas and clubs.
Don’t miss: Stroll the ruins of the Minoan-era city, Akrotiri. Destroyed and entombed circa 1450 BC, excavations here have revealed eerily preserved streets and prehistoric frescoes showing life in Akrotiri before it was ended by what was probably the biggest volcanic eruption in recorded history – believed by some to have caused the disappearance of Atlantis.
For the thrill-seeker: Make like a volcanologist and head to Santorini volcano on the island of Nea Kameni. After a short hike in a “lunar” landscape, you’ll see the volcano’s crater, complete with solidified lava formations, and smell the sulphur in the air.
Where to eat and drink: Dine at just about any restaurant perched on the edge of the cliffs, and you’re sure to enjoy an unforgettable night as you watch the sun set over the Aegean, no matter what the food is like! But for a truly elegant and romantic dining experience, try Selene or Koukoumavlos in Fira, Santorini’s capital. If you’re planning a special night out in the village of Oia, book a table at the highly respected 1800 or Ambrosia.
Writer’s favourite memory: Without a doubt, the breathtaking Santorini sunset, seen from the very tip of the village of Oia, a scenic haven for artists and artisans bursting with shops and restaurants. This is a real event on the island and every conceivable space is occupied with visitors and locals alike trying to ensure the best view (under the windmill is best, but get there early!). Greek music will provide the soundtrack to the spectacle of one of the best sunsets in the world. It’s so special you’ll often hear waves of applause as the sun finally sinks into the caldera.
Best time to visit: May, June (spring) and September (autumn) are the ideal months, with beautiful, warm days and nights (not to mention fewer tourists than in the summer). Peak season is July and August, when day-trippers, all-night partiers and sun-worshippers are out in full force, and temperatures are VERY hot. GC
Vanuatu
It takes between two and three hours to get to Vanuatu – then you’re in another world. A divinely beautiful and pristine archipelago where unspoiled beaches and extensive, undamaged reefs, a thriving traditional culture and people remarkable for their heartfelt friendliness are splashed over more than 80 islands. Life in this safe, uncrowded, uncontrived, lush tropical paradise moves to a different beat: where being happy and having fun is a national pastime.
The enchantment begins the moment you step off the plane and are greeted by guitars and soothing song. Time soon becomes irrelevant, as you inevitably slow down, smile more readily and pause to smell the frangipanis.
Port Vila, the laid-back capital, is an enticing entrée with many beautiful lagoons, and even a pristine waterfall complete with waterholes for swimming. Offering a range of resorts, from the luxurious to the budget, Port Vila is a destination in itself, but some visitors only pass through, on their way to experience the dramatically exotic and unique outer islands (if you do do this, be sure to have at least two to three nights in beautiful Port Vila).
Tanna - home to Yassur, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, starkly stunning Jurassic landscapes and rare primitive cultures - is quintessential “Old Pacific”. Santo, on the other hand, is lauded for its sensational seascapes. Here, the adults–only haven, Bokissa Eco Island, provides a restful and replenishing base.
Lesser-known islands, such as Epi - where Twin-Otters land on a grass landing strip after the pilot has called ahead to clear soccer games and grazing cows – offer a heady, rustic romance: watch active volcanoes from beaches graced by dugongs, discover countless secluded bays with jaw-dropping underwater scenes and savour strikingly scenic walks.
Here’s hoping you’re bumped off your return flight!
Don’t miss: Stirring your soul at Sunday morning church. The coral-walled church at Pango near Port Vila will get feet tapping. Day trip aboard the Coongoola - an old timber trader vessel which visits empty beaches where welcoming dolphins frolic.
Where to eat: Erakor Island Resort has a fabulous new restaurant with heavenly views. Breakas resort has a very creative young chef and the ambience is wonderful. Plus there are plenty more places to eat!
For the thrill-seeker: Even underwater, Tanna is surreal. Lava outpours have formed deep channels, knotted around the coast like turquoise ribbons. Awesome, action-packed snorkelling - right in front of White Grass Bungalows.
Writer’s favourite memory: Kayaking the Molo river (from Bokissa), under a cathedral-like canopy heavy with birdsong - pulling onto sandbanks then diving into refreshing “blue holes”.
Best time to visit: April-October MR
Tahiti and her islands
It’s best to put Tahiti last on your list of must-see island destinations for it’s bound to ruin all that come after it by comparison. Tahiti’s 118 islands are simply spectacular and surprisingly different.
The isolated islands of the Marquesas in the north feature primal volcanic terrain steeped in history and touched by few human hands. It’s here that those with adventure in their blood step foot.
The Tuamotu Atolls are known as the ‘string of pearls’. These white-sanded atolls appear to have been dropped from the sky into the oceans below, a series of serene white sand oases floating in blue. For lovers of doing nothing.
The Gambier Islands sit a thousand miles south-east of the main Society Islands and it is here that the old pearling families still live. Accommodation is in family pensiones that few wish to return from.
Most visitors to Tahiti will spend time in the Society Islands of Huahine, Moorea and Bora Bora. So good they named it twice, Bora Bora exemplifies the colours of Tahiti. Blues don’t exist in Bora Bora, they’re aqua, azure, cobalt, sapphire or indigo.
Marlon Brando fell in love with this island, James Michener wrote about it and Hollywood turned it into a musical. Just like the name, the animals come in two by two at Bora Bora, this is couple’s paradise. Swim five metres in the lagoon and pass through a hundred shades of azure with just as many fish for company. Forget photos, they won’t do it justice.
Don’t miss: Putting your head underwater with the abundant, and inquisitive, marine life.
For the thrill-seeker: Swim with sting rays. These affection-seeking critters think nothing of climbing up tourist’s bodies waist deep in the water for a pat and a play.
Where to eat and drink: Bloody Mary’s on Bora Bora is a celebrity seafood institution. Dine here and expect to share the sand floored waterfall bathroom with Goldie, Pierce or Keanu. www.boraboraisland.com/bloodymarys/
Writer’s favourite memory: On the boat ride from Bora Bora airport, which sits on a separate land mass across the lagoon to the town centre, I was literally ‘blinded by blue.’
Best time to visit: Bastille Day, 14 July. Witness hefty island men race the streets with bamboo bar bells laden in tropical fruit. Why? Does it matter? ROA
Mauritius
Easygoing, emerald green Mauritius may be just 67 km long and 46 km wide but it can claim the distinction of having the largest concentration of ultra-luxurious five-star hotels on the planet. This island of waving sugar cane and an exotic ‘Mauritian crucible’ mix of French, Dutch, Indian, Chinese and African Creole influence, has set itself apart as a classy corner of a vast ocean. Here visitors tan on pristine sandy beaches winter and summer while a soft ocean breeze blows through coconut and filao trees, stirring traces of an ancient spice trade which once based itself out of its coveted coves.
Don’t miss: In the mountain-backed compact capital of Port Louis - with its mixed French and English street names, and mosques, pagodas, temples and churches sitting side by side - are busy markets, fine old houses, craft centres, galleries and colonial remnants aplenty. The Mauritius Postal Museum celebrates the 1847 misprinted two pence stamp that is said to be the most valuable in the world.
For the thrill-seeker: Windsurfing at spots all around the island. The Pamlemousses botanical gardens, the Black River gorges, the Rochester Falls and the Sept Cascades, La Vanille Réserve des Mascareignes (including a crocodile farm).
Where to eat and drink: Port Louis and Grand Bay have an active restaurant culture and night-life with Banana Cafe, Tom Cat Jazz Club, Keg & Marlin, Labourdonnais, Alchemy, Sports Cafe, Number One, Zanzibar, Don Camillo, Coin de Mire, The Hidden Reef, Chez Dewa, Le Cocoteraie and Chez Mardaye enjoying good reputations.
Writer’s favourite memory: Venturing up into the cool central plateau, with natural lakes and sweeping views to the sea.
Best time to visit: There’s no strict high or low season, but more tourists arrive at Christmas - New Year period. Most comfortable weather is in winter (July-September). GAB
The Maldives
Spicy aromas, gentle sea giants, water so transparently blue it appears white, sand so soft it feels like velvet. Welcome to the Maldives. Sail the atolls, hang your hat on a palm tree with a hammock or don scuba gear and play in the deep lagoons, there’s a plethora of choice. Over 1190 choices known as coral islands stretching 820 kilometres north to south on the equator near the island nation of Sri Lanka.
The Maldives is Mecca for honeymooners and couples seeking time out. The capital, Malé, is a market town filled with fisherman delivering their daily catch of yellowfin tuna and the like – tuna you’ll find served up dripping in lemon juice and spice on your table that night.
A mere 200 odd islands are inhabited and just over 80 of those are exclusive resort islands built for vacationing visitors. We’re not talking a shack or grass hut either, the Maldives is home to some of the world’s most exclusive retreats. Think Banyan Tree, Four Seasons, Soneva Gili, Soneva Fushi, The One and Only and Taj Exotica. Anyone who is anyone can be found here.
Most beautiful beach: Ihuru Beach at Angsana Resort and Spa. The shallow lagoon means diamond waters and the sand is talcum powder blanc.
Don’t miss: An evening under the stars beside a limpid ocean dining alfresco
For the thrill-seeker: This is home of the big dives. Head below sea level here and expect to see manta rays, whale sharks, hammerheads and the like. Take your camera.
Where to eat and drink: The underwater restaurant of the Hilton Maldives Resort and Spa. Dine five metres below the surface in a transparent dome with abundant sea life.
Writer’s favourite memory: Lounging in shallow waters, book in hand, drink in the other, sweet teeny fish nipping at my toes.
Best time to visit: If you’re looking for surf, and there are some good breaks in this part of the world, then March to November but if still water is more your thing then March to April and September to October. ROA
Koh Samui
It’s everything you ever imagined in your wildest Thailand fantasies: white sun-kissed beaches beside an ocean of warm turquoise flecked with other tiny islands, fishermen meandering past in traditional long tail boats, a mountainous interior full of exotic jungle, animals and waterfalls, seaside bars made for long, lingering sunset drinks, world-class restaurants, a million night options, or nothing but the moon, the stars and a midnight stroll on the sand.
Don’t miss: While most visitors come to Koh Samui to lie on the island’s world-famous beaches, one of the real attractions here is the island’s gorgeous, forest-covered interior. There are many waterfalls to look at, don’t miss the Namuang and Hin Lad waterfalls, while jungle walks here are out of this world.
For the thrill-seeker: Located in the heart of Koh Samui’s jungle interior, Canopy Adventures take thrill-seekers on a thrilling ride from treetop to treetop. The views are breathtaking, if you can open your eyes, as you sail across 300 metres of cable above the trees.
Where to eat and drink: For one of the most romantic settings of any bar and restaurant in the world you have to visit Dining On The Rocks in picturesque Samrong Bay. Its ‘New Asian’ cuisine is incredible. The Red Snapper is also a great spot for drinking and eating. Koh Samui has an incredible range of bars and restaurants, and should you want to party, try the Green Mango Bar or the enormous Reggae Pub, while for a little more sophistication try a quiet drink at the beachside Zazen Restaurant.
Best time to visit: Any time between late December and the end of March is ideal, the wet season from October to early December is best avoided.
Writer’s favourite memory: At sunset on Chaweng Beach the colours linger in the air for what seems like hours. We walked the bay here and stumbled on a lively game of beach soccer between what seemed like every child on the island. The sounds of their excitement at the contest framed by a mirror sea reflecting a myriad of sunset colours seem to encapsulate all that is heart rendingly beautiful on this island. CT
Fiji
The tropical sun of Fiji may kiss your skin but it’s the people that warm your heart. It seems every Fijian can sing, play a ukulele or strum a guitar and harmonise like no other. It’s this smiling music that thaws urban hearts in the quest for relaxation.
The 330 islands of Fiji and their coral reefs are built for lovers of luxury. This is where the world’s elite come to rest and rejuvenate. The seriously luxe Wakaya Club, Vatulele, Turtle Island, Wadigi, Nukubati, Namale, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Taveuni and Sofitel Vomo Island share these waters with the exclusive Royal Davui, Yasawa and Qamea island resorts. Intimate island retreats where attention to detail is paramount and friendly service de riguer.
Check into Wadigi or Dolphin resorts and experience your own island with personal chefs, massage therapists, boat captains and not another guest on the island. Royal Davui’s private hilltop villas feature personal infinity pools so you need never share your pool water with strangers. It’s no surprise Demi, Brittany, Nic, Tori and the like have chosen Fiji as their honeymoon destination. Privacy is guaranteed.
Don’t miss: A traditional kava ceremony. The original drink of the Royal families of the Pacific region, kava is a root herb mixed with water said to bring on a happy, tranquil state.
For the thrill-seeker: Dive, dive, dive. Wall to wall coral, drop offs, outer reefs, playful manta rays, Fiji has the lot.
Where to eat and drink: The Wakaya Club’s Palm Grove Restaurant is said to be a favourite of international chef, Nobu Matsuhisa of “Nobu” NYC and London fame. As a consulting chef he created the ceviche and sashimi dish on this international menu.
Writer’s favourite memory: The dolphin show put on by one cheeky critter playing in the waves created by our boat. A leap out of the water, a spin in the air and I swear I saw him wink.
Best time to visit: May to October is less humid but take a sweater for cooler nights. ROA
Cook Islands
Heavenly beaches, warm, clear lagoons, coconut fronds swishing in the breeze, happy Polynesians playing ukeleles under a starry sky. It may sound clichéd, but the Cook Islands are the blueprint for the ultimate tropical fantasy. These are perhaps the world’s most under-rated islands, and fewer tourists venture here than to Fiji or Tahiti. The 15 islands of the Cooks are still largely undiscovered, so for anyone who’s given up on ever attaining the perfect holiday, come here now!
Don’t miss: The lesser-known Cook Islands – Rarotonga and Aitutaki hog all the press but there are 13 other islands that are virtually undiscovered. Experience friendliness you didn’t think still existed, on islands like Atiu and Mitario. The lagoons are actually even bigger than Aitutaki on Puka Puka and there’s no tourists to share it with. On a recent trip to Atiu I was told if one person was already on a beach, to find another beach as no-one likes crowds on Atiu.
For the thrill-seeker: Climb the Needle on Rarotonga. Te Rua Manga is a 413-metre steep bald rock that juts straight up from the island’s volcanic mountainous centre. Only serious climbers should consider this challenge.
Where to eat and drink: No traveller worth their salt could visit the Cooks without stopping for a drink and a meal at the South Pacific’s most famous bar, Trader Jack’s Bar & Grill, on the wharf near Avarua on Rarotonga. Also eat on the beach at Vaima’s and The Flame Tree. On Aitutaki take in the mellow charm of the Coconut Crusher Restaurant & Bar or dine on your own private island at the Aitutaki Lagoon Resort and Spa.
Writer’s favourite memory: I grew up here. As a child I didn’t wear shoes, every day we’d swim in gorgeous lagoons and sail at Muri. Every Saturday was regatta day, there’d be 50 boats racing each other in the clear lagoons, their colourful sails would flap around on the summer breeze while local Polynesians raced their horses on the sand beside us.
Best time to visit: Any time outside the wet season of November to March. The islands have suffered more than their fair share of cyclones these past two summers. CT
Bali
When some of Europe’s most edgy artists and bohemians first flocked to Bali in the 1930s - drawn by a flamboyant beauty, rich culture and the prospect of revelling in almost unfettered hedonism - they become so enchanted that they declared Bali not of this world, but rather, an “island of the gods”.
Aesthetes and pleasure-seekers of all persuasions have been lured to this exotic and friendly tropical paradise ever since, and not without reason.
There’s much that is magical about this indelibly captivating island: walking to the beach through paddocks sprinkled with coconut palms and cows, the ubiquitous tinkle of laughter, croaking of frogs and stirring gamelan, coils of sandalwood incense that spiral skywards from ornate shrines and temples laden with offerings, clouds dissolving to reveal Mt Agung’s cone, ancient frangipani trees that drop a carpet of fragrant flowers. Especially magical is the way simple rituals of everyday life are imbued with devotion and grace, beauty is idolised and spontaneous friendships constantly strike up.
Bali engages all your senses. From your first whiff of clove, Bali’s exuberant sensuality invites you to lose yourself and learn another way of being.
And there’s no better place to seek out your own inner-hedonist than in Bali’s sensational resorts, hotels and villas. Be they sprawling beachfront pleasure palaces or intimate, unique affairs, Bali presents the opportunity to savour some of the most stunning, atmospheric accommodation on the planet.
Best of all, Bali’s opulence and heady escapism are well within the means of mere mortals.
Don’t miss: Commissioning a custom-made painting, homeware, or jewellery piece. Cycle back roads out of Ubud or visit specialist craft villages to find a favourite local artisan.
For the thrill-seeker: Sail the Ombak Putih, a traditionally styled schooner, to the exotic islands east of Bali.
Where to eat and drink: Amid the cool sophistication of Seminyak and Tuban: Ku DeTa for great food and wine in chic surrounds. La Lucciola for classic beach scenes and stunning sunset drinks. Papas Café at Legion for authentic Italian cuisine and some of the best coffee to be found on the island. Or, in Ubud, the un-distilled drama of The Chedi Club’s dining pavilion – reached after walking through rice fields lit with lanterns and the lamps of farmers hunting eels.
Writer’s favourite memory: Walking to our suite at Ibah, just out of Ubud. Best described as a luxury take on Raiders of the Lost Ark - after navigating a series of hanging gardens and tall stone, moss and orchid carpeted corridors overlooked by stone deities, we’d step into our lush courtyard.
Best time to visit: Traditionally, “dry season” April - September, holds most appeal. However, the commonly dismissed, pleasantly cool rainy season, Oct - March, presents a poignant romance of exultant downpours, following clear mornings. MR
MR > Melissa Rimac ROA > Rachael Oakes-Ash CT > Craig Tansley GAB > Glenn A Baker
GC > Ginny Cumming RB > Rhonda Bannister
