Papeete is the capital and gateway to French Polynesia, a tropical paradise of islands, beaches, and turquoise seas. It's a superb base for exploring Tahiti, with clear lagoons for snorkeling, black volcanic beaches, blowholes, and lush green mountains. Visit to relax and soak up the rhythm of Polynesian life.

Raiatea, the "Sacred Island," is a key site for Polynesian origins. Its best-known landmark is the Taputaputea Marae, a large ancient temple complex still intact, with traces of old rituals including a sacrificial stone. The Faaroa River is French Polynesia's only navigable waterway. Mount Temehani is a demanding trek and home to the rare white tiare apetahi flower, found only above 1,300 ft and protected by law.

Bora Bora is a dream island: blue seas, white beaches, palm trees and vivid marine life. Famous for romantic sunsets, it offers more than honeymoons-lagoon excursions, underwater scooters, aqua safaris, and island tours, often stopping at Bloody Mary Restaurant & Bar. Its history includes a WWII US supply base ("Operation Bobcat") with ships, equipment, troops and coastal cannons. It was once called Vava'u, suggesting Tongan colonization before French annexation in 1888.

Rarotonga, the main island of the Cook Islands, is warm, lush, and welcoming. Settled about 1,500 years ago by traditional canoes, it holds most of the population and services. An eroded volcano with rainforest, white coral beaches, a lagoon, and reef defines it. Visitors enjoy culture, activities, and inland treks past the Needle. Birds include the Cook Islands Fruit Dove and the recovered Kakerori, which rose from 29 in 1989 to over 500.

Lonely Planet's co-founder calls Aitutaki "the world's most beautiful island," and it's easy to see why. In the Cook Islands, it has white sand, turquoise waters, and a spectacular reef-enclosed lagoon, making it a top diving and snorkeling spot. Its Polynesian history dates to around 900 AD, later shaped by missionaries and the Mutiny on the Bounty era. Traditional songs, dances, and Christian hymns remain part of island life, and visitors entering the main village may face a warrior challenge.

Palmerston is a low-lying atoll inhabited by three families, all descendants of William Marsters (1831-1899). Locals greet visitors and guide small boats and Zodiacs through coral reefs to the only inhabited islet, "Home," where the community often comes ashore. Highlights: church, oldest house, cemetery, school, underground gardens, and "Duke's Pool." The lagoon has reef fish, sea cucumbers, rays, turtles, and birds like tropicbirds, boobies, noddies, frigatebirds, and terns.

Alofi, on Niue ("The Rock"/"Savage Island"), is a tiny capital of about 600 people, making it the world's second-smallest capital city. Though it has an international airport, tourism is limited. Niue is known for rocky coves, reef pools, forest, caves, and snorkelling at Alofi Bay. The island also has a spiritual history: past worship included tugi e mama fire ceremonies, and today there is little organized religion, but sacred taugas are set aside for birds and crabs.

Eueiki is a 19-hectare privately owned South Pacific island in Tonga's Vava'u group, with white sand, coconut palms, calm turquoise seas, coral reefs, and a small resort. Made of uplifted limestone, it offers birdlife such as Polynesian Trillers, Tongan Whistlers, Pacific Pigeons, and Flying Foxes. Its clear reefs are great for snorkeling, with diverse corals and fish, including anemonefish ("Nemos").

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Leleuvia is a tiny low-lying island southeast of Ovalau, about 500 m long, with a small resort. Near Bau, Moturiki and Ovalau, it has an easy western reef with colorful fish, sea kraits by the north pier, and a surprisingly rich forest of tamanu, lantern tree, fish-poison tree and beach gardenia, plus beach hibiscus, heliotrope and Pacific rosewood that attract Sacred Kingfishers, Orange-breasted Honeyeaters and Pacific Swallows.

Lautoka, Fiji's second-largest city, offers beaches, turquoise seas, jungle, and rich local culture. Known as the "Sugar City," it's named for a spear-duel legend and centers on sugar trade. Visit botanical gardens, temples, cafes, mills, and the lively market, plus see warrior dances and firewalking. Nearby highlights include the Blue Lagoon, mineral-rich mud pools and spas, and Savala Island, with soft sand, reefs, and great snorkeling.