South Pacific Water Activities

Beautiful Pacific

South Pacific Holidays Guide

Beautiful South Pacific Water Activities is a dedicated south pacific islands travel expert offering personalized holiday planning with a reliable and unbiased south pacific resorts booking service. It is our aim to help you select the ideal destination and resorts for your holiday

south pacific travel

south pacific resorts

South Pacific Water Activities

South Pacific Holidays Guide

South Pacific Hotels & Resorts

Cook Islands Holidays

Tonga Holidays

Samoa Holidays

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South Pacific life evolves around the water and with so many islands and such a vast ocean, it is no surprise that water activities are one of the regions main attractions. South Pacific scuba diving holidays are reputed to be amongst the very best in the world. There's a wealth of exotic marine life including diving amongst turtles, sharks, rays and even whales. . There are stunning coral formations, walls and drop offs. The many coral reefs also offer some excellent surfing breaks, although these are quite dangerous and for advances (or crazy) surfers only. Sailing holidays offer the chance to explore the more remote and traditional regions of this enchanting ocean. The sailing season lasts from early May to late October after which the hurricane season persuades most yachties to steer clear of the region. Most resorts offer sea kayaks for guests to explore the immediate coastlines. Only in Fiji and Tahiti do you find commercialised water activities such as para sailing, jet boats and water skiing.

Fiji is one of the best destinations in the South Pacific for water activities with world class diving and surfing, six marinas for yachties and lots of motorised water sports around the busy Mamanuca Islands. For sailors, Musket Cove, Denarau Marina and Vuda Marina are the busiest, all serving the glorious Mamanuca and Yasawa Group of islands. However, due to the treacherous nature of the reefs in this region, most charter companies insist on providing their own experienced skippers who double as useful guides to explore the traditional villages throughout the islands. Those wanting to explore further a field should head to Savusavu (Northern Islands) where several yacht charters are based. There are also two small ship cruises exploring the beautiful Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands. Fiji is without doubt the best of the South Pacific destinations for both scuba diving and snorkelling. In fact, Fiji is renowned as the soft coral capital of the world and is caters for a large scuba diving enthusiast crowd. There are a number of specialist scuba diving resorts catering exclusively for scuba divers, as well as luxurious scuba diving charter boats that explore the region and a decompression centre. Most other resorts in Fiji have either their own PADI scuba instructors or lease out to private scuba diving companies. In the Mamanucas and Southern islands you'll find some of the most challenging surfing in the world but, being reef breaks, are also very dangerous..
Fiji Scuba Diving Guide
Fiji Surfing Guide

The Cook Islands is surprisingly low key when it comes to water activities. Rarotonga has a few nice snorkelling spots and most resorts provide kayaks to explore the lagoon and enjoy the beautiful panoramas of the mountains from the sea. Scuba diving is recommended only for beginners and casual holiday divers. The dive sites are good for marine life and are all just off the coastline of Rarotonga - getting to them takes no time at all. There are no sailing charter or cruises but the extremely remote Northern Cook Island atolls is a popular place for those with their own yachts.
Cook Islands Scuba Diving Guide
Cook Islands Surfing Guide

Tahiti is best renowned for its large pelagics, particularly sharks and rays, and for its enormous schools of colourful reef fish. There are great dives on Bora Bora, Moorea and off the atolls of the Tuamotu Group, but diving in Tahiti is more expensive than its Pacific neighbours. Tahiti has some excellent beach surfing off the black sand beaches on the north and south shore of Tahiti, but there are no specialist hostels or resorts catering for surfers. There are also several yacht charters operating around the lagoons and islets of the outer Society Islands, particularly Raiatea and Bora Bora which have fully serviced marinas, as well as both small and large ship overnight cruises throughout the Society Islands and beyond to the more remote Tuamotu and Marquesas.
Tahiti Scuba Diving Guide
Tahiti Surfing Guide

Tonga is reputed amongst the sailing community as the best South Pacific stopover. Tonga's sailing centre is the Vava'u Group, a myriad of small limestone islands and coral atolls with waterways, deep channels, white sand beaches and crystal lagoons. There are several marinas and boat yards as well as several international yacht charters and lots of private yachts to charter with or without skipper. Tonga offers some good diving, notably around the Ha'apai group although there are only a couple of dive operators. There are several excellent snorkelling spots in Vava'u which rank amongst the best in the South Pacific, and if you snorkel between May and October, you're likely to hear the singing humpback whales! The surf here is not as reliable as either Samoa, Tahiti or Fiji, but at times it can be good off Tongatapu.
Tonga Scuba Diving Guide
Tonga Surfing Guide

Samoa has some excellent winter and summer surfing off both Upolu and Savaii. There are a few specialist small resorts with all the best boats and guides as well as several budget style accommodations to hang out at. The best thing about Samoa is few crowds and a great surf atmosphere. Scuba diving is only average compared to the high standards of neighbouring Fiji, Tonga and Tahiti and there are only a couple of scuba diving operators and no specialist resorts. Snorkelling is good on the south west coast of Upolu. Sailing is limited with only a handful of islands to explore, and those having only a few deep water bays for anchorage. Pago Pago harbour in American Samoa is noted for its dramatic deep harbour setting.

Samoa Scuba Diving Guide
Samoa Surfing Guide

Our Recommended South Pacific Water Activity Resorts:

Cost per Couple - NZ$500 +
	Matangi Island Resort Northern Islands, Fiji Islands Private island with lovely beach and fantastic island views. 14 spacious bures well spaced apart, includes delightful treehouse Down to earth atmosphere.
	Castaway Island Resort Mamanucas, Fiji Islands Upmarket resort with 65 spacious bungalows in the heart of the Mamanucas - lots of watersports and pool - ideal for couples and families.
	Bora Bora Lagoon Resort Bora Bora, French Polynesia Great views looking back to Bora Island from the lagoon. 50 overwater bungalows and 20 beach & garden bungalows. Pool, diving and tennis.
	Pearl Resort Tikehau Tuamotus, French Polynesia Fine bungalows on a secluded coral atoll. Excellent snorkelling and beach front. Good for scuba diving.
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Cost per Couple - NZ$ 300 - 500
	Pacific Resort Rarotonga Rarotonga, Cook Islands 60 studio rooms, bungalows and private villas in beautiful landscaped gardens in the heart of Muri Beach. Lots of water activities. Pick of the resorts in the Cook Islands.
	Toberua Island Resort Lomaiviti, Fiji Islands Small island resort in remote location with good diving and activities. 15 spacious bures on beachfront, swimming pool. Down to earth atmosphere.
	Musket Cove Resort Mamanucas, Fiji Islands Collection of 45 private bures and villas aimed at couples and older families. Nice beach, shallow lagoon; BBQ island next to Marina
	Intercontinental Hotel Moorea Moorea, French Polynesia Large resort in 2 acres of landscaped gardens with large snorkelling lagoonarium and Dolphin Quest. Lots of activities and entertainment.
	Pearl Resort Manihi Tuamotus, French Polynesia Remote atoll location with spectacular scuba diving and snorkelling but no beach. This is the dive enthusiasts haven with all the luxuries expected of resort living.
	Sinalei Reef Resort Upolu, Western Samoa Samoa's most luxurious resort with 22 hillside and beach bungalows. Pool with landscaped gardens, ocean bar, 9-hole golf course.
	Fafa Island Resort Tongatapu, Tonga Most upmarket beach resort in Tonga - easy to get to, lots of privacy, nice beaches and great snorkelling. Bungalows are beachfront.
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Cost per Couple - NZ$ 200 - 300
	Muri Beachcomber Rarotonga, Cook Islands Duplex and quad bungalows in the heart of Muri Beach in a spacious garden setting overlooking the beachfront. Great location.
	Matamanoa Island Mamanucas, Fiji Islands Affordable resort on a delightful island in outer Mamanucas - very quiet, no children. Hotel rooms and beach bungalows.
	First Landing Resort Viti Levu, Fiji Islands Boutique resort in landscaped gardens alongside picturesque beach facing offshore islands with bungalows, villas and pool. 15mins to Airport.
	Le Maitai Polynesia Bora Bora, French Polynesia Excellent value hotel close to Matira Beach with affordable garden rooms. Lovely swimming beach and good base for exploring the island.
	Hotel Hibiscus Moorea, French Polynesia 40 bungalows and air-conditioned rooms in the heart of popular Hauru Beach with snorkelling and activities. Lovely restaurant, pool and sunset views.
	Coconuts Beach Resort Upolu, Western Samoa Set on a picturesque swimming beach with 25 bungalows, rooms and villas. Pool, scuba diving and surfing available.
	Tongan Beach Resort Vavau, Tonga Pleasant small resort facing inlet. Bungalows in duplex buildings very comfortable and modern. Nice restaurant. Beach OK for swimming / snorkelling.
	Sandy Beach Resort Haapai, Tonga Modern beach cottages with great restaurant and scuba diving offshore. This is the only resort in this group.
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Cost per Couple - NZ$ 100 - 200
	Kings Beach Villas Rarotonga, Cook Islands 2 self contained units in duplex bungalow overlooking the quiet southern end of Muri Beach. Option of serviced or non-serviced. Excellent value for money
	Mango Bay Resort Viti Levu, Fiji Islands Activity based budget resort on secluded bay set amongst rain forest. Tube rides, game fishing, snorkelling and diving trips. Great bar and no children.
	Bounty Island Resort Mamanucas, Fiji Islands Budget eco resort on uninhabited coral island with rooms and beach bungalows. Lots of organized activities, nice beach and snorkelling.
	Garden Island Resort Northern Islands, Fiji Islands Primarily a dive resort facing Rainbow Reef with 30 simple hotel rooms and dorm room facing the pool and ocean (no beach). Also great base for exploring rainforest.
	Royal Sunset Resort Tongatapu, Tonga Small resort with basic bungalow accommodation but lots of activities including sailing, diving and island trips. Nice restaurant and beach location.
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Cost per Couple - NZ$ 10 - 100
	Varas Beach Rarotonga, Cook Islands Popular budget accommodation on a great beach location with beach units, hillside units (5 minutes walk across road), self contained apartments and dorm rooms.
	Charlies Cottages Viti Levu, Fiji Islands 3 Self contained cottages on hillside overlooking ocean and picturesque beach 30 seconds away. Great for relaxing and snorkelling. Restaurant close by.
	Yasawa Travel Pass Yasawas, Fiji Islands Selection of 10 budget beach bures on 6 islands - thatch bungalows (mostly shared bathrooms). Hop-on / Hop-off travel pass included on fast catamaran.
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