There is no single best island in the South Pacific. A honeymooning couple, a family with toddlers, a backpacker on a ferry pass and a diver chasing wrecks will all want different things. So instead of one list, we have ranked 12 standout islands by the travel style each one suits best. Use the table to shortlist, then read on for the details.
Quick picks
| Rank | Island | Country | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bora Bora | French Polynesia | Honeymoons and luxury |
| 2 | Aitutaki | Cook Islands | Lagoon lovers who want it quiet |
| 3 | Moorea | French Polynesia | Scenery on a mid-range budget |
| 4 | Rarotonga | Cook Islands | Families and easy first trips |
| 5 | Yasawa Islands | Fiji | Backpackers and island hoppers |
| 6 | Upolu | Samoa | Culture and road trips |
| 7 | Vava'u | Tonga | Wildlife and sailing |
| 8 | Tanna | Vanuatu | Adventure |
| 9 | Isle of Pines | New Caledonia | Beaches with a French twist |
| 10 | Espiritu Santo | Vanuatu | Wreck diving and blue holes |
| 11 | Rock Islands | Palau | Serious divers and kayakers |
| 12 | Taveuni | Fiji | Nature, hiking and soft coral |
1. Bora Bora, French Polynesia: best for honeymoons
Few places match the view of Mount Otemanu rising over the Bora Bora lagoon. This is the home of the overwater bungalow, glass-floor villas and breakfast delivered by canoe. It is expensive, but if you are celebrating, it delivers. On a tighter budget, our guide to Bora Bora on a budget shows how pensions and inter-island passes bring costs down.
2. Aitutaki, Cook Islands: best lagoon without the crowds
The Aitutaki lagoon rivals Bora Bora for color, with a scattering of sandy motus and the famous One Foot Island, yet it has a fraction of the development. Lagoon cruises with snorkeling stops and a barbecue lunch are the classic day out. It is a 50-minute flight from Rarotonga, so it pairs easily with a stay there. See our Cook Islands guide.
3. Moorea, French Polynesia: best scenery for the money
Just a short ferry ride from Tahiti, Moorea has some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the Pacific, plus sandbanks where you can wade with stingrays and blacktip reef sharks. Family pensions, food trucks and a manageable loop road make it the best-value island in French Polynesia, and its overwater rooms tend to cost less than Bora Bora's.
4. Rarotonga, Cook Islands: best for families
Rarotonga is compact, safe and easy. A single bus line circles the island in both directions, Muri Lagoon is shallow and calm for kids, and English is spoken everywhere. Add the Saturday Punanga Nui Market, the Cross-Island Track for older children, and a good range of self-catering villas, and it is hard to find an easier family island.
5. Yasawa Islands, Fiji: best for backpackers
The Yasawa Islands are made for hopping. A daily catamaran links a chain of village-run lodges, dorms and bures, and a flexible ferry pass lets you move on whenever you like. Expect manta ray snorkeling in season, hilltop sunset hikes and kava nights. Our Fiji island hopping guide covers the routes and costs, including the nearby Mamanuca Islands.
6. Upolu, Samoa: best for culture and road trips
Samoa holds on to fa'a Samoa, the Samoan way, more visibly than almost anywhere in Polynesia. On Upolu you can sleep in a beach fale for little money, swim in the To Sua Ocean Trench, and drive between waterfalls, villages and the white sand of Lalomanu in a day. Read our Samoa travel guide for Upolu and Savai'i.
7. Vava'u, Tonga: best for wildlife and sailing
From roughly July to October, humpback whales arrive in Vava'u's sheltered waters to breed and calve, and Tonga is one of very few countries where licensed operators can take you in the water with them. The rest of the year, its protected anchorages make it one of the best sailing grounds in the Pacific. Read our guide to swimming with whales in Tonga before you book.
8. Tanna, Vanuatu: best for adventure
Standing on the rim of Mount Yasur at dusk while the volcano throws glowing lava into the sky is one of the most memorable experiences in the region. Tanna also has strong kastom traditions and simple treehouse-style bungalows. Access depends on the current volcanic alert level, so check before you go. Our Vanuatu and Mount Yasur guide has the details.
9. Isle of Pines, New Caledonia: best beaches with a French twist
Tall columnar pines lining powder-white bays give the Isle of Pines a look all of its own. Snorkel the natural pool at Oro Bay, eat grilled snails and fresh baguettes, and enjoy a quieter pace than the big Polynesian resorts. It is an easy add-on to Nouméa; see our New Caledonia guide.
10. Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu: best for wreck diving
Santo is home to the SS President Coolidge, one of the world's most famous accessible wreck dives, as well as Million Dollar Point, freshwater blue holes and Champagne Beach. It is less polished than Port Vila, which is part of the appeal.
11. Rock Islands, Palau: best for serious divers
The mushroom-shaped limestone islets of the Rock Islands are a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the surrounding walls, channels and blue holes are among the most celebrated dive sites on the planet. Kayaking through the lagoons is superb for non-divers. Palau charges a visitor environmental fee, and you should also expect permit fees for the Rock Islands. See our Palau guide.
12. Taveuni, Fiji: best for nature lovers
Fiji's "Garden Island" is lush, mountainous and lightly developed. Hike to the Tavoro waterfalls in Bouma National Heritage Park, stand on the 180th meridian, and dive the soft corals of the Rainbow Reef in the Somosomo Strait. It suits travelers who prefer rainforest and reef to resort pools.
Compare hotels & resorts
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How to choose
- Short trip from Australia or New Zealand: Rarotonga, Fiji or New Caledonia, all with direct flights of a few hours.
- Big once-in-a-lifetime trip: combine Moorea and Bora Bora, or Rarotonga and Aitutaki.
- Tight budget: Samoa or the Yasawas, where simple accommodation often includes meals.
- Want something few friends have done: Tanna, Espiritu Santo or Vava'u.
Most of these islands share the same pattern of a drier, cooler season from about May to October and a hotter, wetter season with cyclone risk from November to April. Check our best time to visit guide and the landmark map to see how the islands fit together.
Find cheap flights
Compare fares to Sydney, Auckland, Nadi, Papeete and beyond. Via Trip.com.
Getting around
Island hopping across countries usually means routing through hubs such as Nadi, Auckland, Papeete or Brisbane, as direct links between smaller nations are limited. Within countries, domestic airlines and ferries do the work. Our trains, buses and ferries pages list the main connections, and an eSIM set up before you leave makes arrival much easier.
Get a travel eSIM
Data from the moment you land, no SIM swap needed. Via Airalo.
Map of places in this guide
Frequently asked questions
Which South Pacific island has the best lagoon?
Bora Bora and Aitutaki are usually considered the two finest. Bora Bora has the mountain backdrop and luxury resorts, while Aitutaki is quieter and less developed.
What is the cheapest South Pacific island to visit?
Samoa and Fiji's Yasawa Islands are among the most affordable, with beach fales and village lodges that often include meals.
What is the best South Pacific island for families?
Rarotonga in the Cook Islands is a strong choice thanks to calm Muri Lagoon, a simple round-island bus, English everywhere and plenty of self-catering villas.
When is the best time to visit the South Pacific islands?
For most islands, May to October brings drier, cooler weather and lower cyclone risk. November to April is hotter, wetter and often cheaper.
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