Cairns, a laid-back Far North Queensland city, is the gateway to two World Heritage treasures: the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest. Cruise by luxury catamaran to a pontoon on the Outer Reef, or ride the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway over lush jungle and explore the world's oldest continually surviving tropical rainforest. In Cairns ("cans"), stroll the Esplanade, swim in the saltwater lagoon, and visit the Botanic Gardens, Cairns Aquarium, shops, and cafes.

Honiara, capital of the Solomon Islands, is known for lush vegetation, snorkeling and diving, and above all for WWII Guadalcanal history (1942-43). Visit memorial gardens with carilla trees honoring US soldiers, war museums with airplane remains, and battlefields in western Guadalcanal. For local life and flora, explore Central Market and Botanical Gardens.

Espiritu Santo is often called Vanuatu's crown jewel, with pristine beaches and dense rainforest. From quiet Luganville, head north to the crystal-clear Riri Blue Hole to swim, dive, or kayak. During World War II, nearly 40,000 US troops were stationed in Luganville; a small museum shows artifacts from the nearby SS President Coolidge wreck, sunk by a mine in 1942 and now a favorite snorkeling and diving site.

Vanuatu has been inhabited for thousands of years, with evidence dating to 2000 BC. In 1605, Pedro Fernández de Quirós was the first European to reach it; later James Cook named the islands New Hebrides. Visit a Melanesian village in Erakor Rainforest, hike to a 65-foot waterfall and swim in a rock pool, sail to Pango Peninsula and snorkel Paradise Cove, and browse markets for island jewelry, handicrafts, and sarongs.

Mystery Island is a remote, undeveloped escape with soothing colors, palm-frond rustling, and sparkling clear water. Snorkel its thriving coral reefs and watch for clownfish, parrotfish, and the occasional sea turtle. Stand-up paddleboard lessons and massages are available. Enjoy a perfect beach feast of freshly cooked lobster and banana pie, prepared and served by residents of nearby Aneityum Island.

Lifou is the largest of New Caledonia's Loyalty Islands, enchanting visitors with its pristine crystal beaches and rich Melanesian culture. Snorkel in the turquoise lagoons of Jinek Bay and witness the eclectic array of marine life. Hike up Jokin's towering cliffs, which contain layers of fossilized corals and marine life. Trek to the regal Notre Dame de Lourdes chapel, which offers astonishing panoramic views of the island's lush landscape.

Capital of the French territory New Caledonia, Nouméa played an important role in World War II, serving as the headquarters of the United States military in the Pacific. It boasts the most sunshine of any Pacific island capital, and is also the most European-influenced. Called "The Paris of the Pacific," it features fine French dining, designer boutiques, and cosmopolitan residents. Just off the coast, the longest barrier reef in the world shelters 350 species of coral and 1,500 species of fish.

The Fiji archipelago consists of tiny coral atolls and mountainous forest-clad islands of volcanic origin, and is famed for its aquamarine waters and white sand beaches. Lautoka, meaning "spear-hit" or "hit to win," was named that as a result of an argument between two chiefs. It is sited in the western side of the largest island in Fiji. The city is surrounded with the blue Pacific Ocean on the western side and green gold sugar cane and pine trees on the other sides.