64-Day A World Of Islands

Bora Bora is one of over 100 islands in the South Pacific. The people are a mix of Maori, Chinese and European, and have a unique, welcoming culture. One can experience turquoise blue waters, white sand beaches, as well as a heathly mix of culture and the arts. Excellent hiking, scuba diving, fishing, boating and more can also be easily found.

Welcome to Brisbane, the capital of the Sunshine State and Australia’s third largest city. Brisbane is a booming city with over one million people and is the major international gateway to South East Queensland. Brisbane also provides access to the holiday destinations of the Gold Coast to the South and the Sunshine Coast to the North. Brisbane is Australia’s third largest city and the state capital of Queensland. Not so long ago, the rest of Australia considered it little more than an
overgrown country town, but it has shirked off this unwelcome reputation to become one of the country’s most progressive centres.

Beautiful Climate
The Sub-tropical climate promotes an easy going relaxed lifestyle with hot summers and warm clear winter sun.

Explore Brisbane
Brisbane offers a whole range of activities for the visitor. The South Bank Parklands has 16 hectares of fun and excitement: Tropical rainforests, beaches, wildlife habitats, restaurants, specialty shops , shows and even an English style pub. The Queensland Art Gallery, the Queensland Museum and the Maritime Museum are justifiably famous. Customs House provides a look back in Queensland’s history, as does Newstead House complete with period furnishings.
With its Sub-tropical ambience, Brisbane has many gardens and parks. See the Koalas at the Alma Park Zoo, the Australian Woolshed also has sheep shearing demonstrations and don’t miss the Lone Pine sanctuary, the famous City Gardens and Mt Coot-tha Gardens.

The Great Barrier Reef curves close to the coast and meets the rain forest at Cairns, the gateway to Australia’s “Deep North.” Explore the reef up close via catamaran, or choose from a host of excursions the lush tropical forests, picturesque towns and homesteads that surround the city. The nearby town of Kuranda has a butterfly farm and a great street market on Sundays and Wednesdays.

Espiritu Santo, one of the largest islands of Vanuatu off the east coast of Australia, is a popular destination for divers. Famous Champagne Beach, as one might guess from the name, offers crystal clear waters and powdery white sands, while the western side of the island is dotted with caves to explore and reefs team with marine life just offshore.

The capital of the Solomon Islands, it is located on the island of Guadalcanal. It was founded after WWII, since the old capital, Tulagi, had been severely damaged in the war.

It means “the gathering place,” and whoever named Oahu knew what he was talking about. For millions gather here every year to enjoy “the jewel city” of Honolulu, from Diamond Head and the world-famous beaches of Waikiki to the inspiring memorials of Pearl Harbor, to the only royal palace ever constructed on U.S. soil. And if you’re a board-bug, don’t
miss the legendary surfing beaches of the North Shore.

The main city on the Island is Honolulu, with Waikiki being the primarybeach and resort hotel area. Among the many popular things to do on Oahu, the Polynesian Cultural Center and Sea Life Park, on the opposite side of the Island from Honolulu, are very popular.

Kona–that’s Hawaiian for coffee. It’s a coffee lover’s paradise, and much much more. Located on Hawaii’s western shore, the Kona coast is a region of endless lava field and golden Pacific sunsets. The clear waters are perfect for diving, snorkeling and deep sea fishing. You’ll need lots of energy to keep up with it all. World famous golf resorts are still being built along the Kohala Coast. The town of Kailua-Kona is quiant with many shops and excellent restaurants. It is also the
headquarters for the World Billfish Championships. You too can go marlin fishing by chartering one of the many local boats. The southern coastline has many beautiful condo-resorts that sit on lava coastline, many within yards of the splashing surf, and all with lovely flowers and landscaping.

Kona is known for having the best climate of the Islands and often has a pleasant “Kona wind” to keep you cool in the tropics.

The “Garden Island” is considered by many to be the most beautiful of the Hawaiian Islands, because of its lush, tropical rainforest, desolate moonscapes and more than 40 spectacular beaches. Life on Kauai is unhurried from the Na Pali Coast to Waimea Canyon with plenty of unforgettable beaches and stunning waterfalls in-between. Most people have already seen Kauai on the silver screen as the lush, Eden-like backdrop for hundreds of films including Blue Hawaii, South Pacific, Jurassic Park, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Outbreak and Gilligan’s Island. Yet the camera’s lens could never do the island justice. Some of the best golf courses in the Hawaiian Islands are found on Kauai, including the Poipu Bay Resort Golf Course, known from the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, and the Prince Courses at the Princeville Resort.

Moorea’s white sandy beach, clearwater lagoons, majestic palm trees and volcanic peaks make this a truely peaceful island paradise. Moorea is dedicated to tourism without all of the hustle-bustle typical of its neighboring islands. Go to Velvedere Lookout, or view the facsinating marae ruins and stone archery platforms in the Upunohu Valley, both easily accesible by moped or car.

Tahiti, (te-hê´tê) island (1988 pop. 115,820), 402 sq mi (1,041 sq km), S Pacific, in the Society Islands, French Polynesia. The capital is Papeete. It relies on tourism and produces vanilla, fruits, and copra. Settled by Polynesians (14th cent.), it was visited in the 18th century by Capt. James Cook and Lt. William Bligh. It became French in 1843. Gauguin painted his best-known works there.

Rarotonga, located in the Cook Islands off the coast of New Zealand, has none of the tourist hype that surrounds Hawaii and Fiji. Its tranquil, aquamarine waters and breathtaking landscape bring many visitors to this island paradise.

Suva, capital of Fiji, on Viti Levu.It is considered the most cosmopolitan city in the South Pacific. With a population of 160,000, there are high rise buildings and hotels that overlook the colonial buildings left over from when the British occupied the island.

Sydney, capital of New South Wales, is Australia’s largest city, chief port, and main cultural and industrial center. Manufactures include ships, refined oil, chemicals, textiles, and automobiles. Sydney Harbour and Port Botany are the main ports. Founded as a penal colony in 1788, Sydney is Australia’s oldest settlement. Its population surged during the Australian gold rushes of the 1850s. Sydney replaced Melbourne as the nation’s largest population center after World War II. Landmarks include the Sydney Harbour Bridge (1932); the Gladesville Bridge (1964); the modernistic Sydney Opera House complex (1973); and the Centrepoint Tower (1981), Australia’s tallest building. The city has several universities and museums, including the National Gallery of Art and the Australia Museum.

Vava’u and the other 40 odd islands that make up this stunningly beautiful group, in the north of the Kingdom of Tonga archipelago, is a very special piece of paradise. Now easily accessible from Tongatapu, Fiji and Samoa through airline connections. Vava’u, to its advantage, still remains off the beaten track of mass tourism South Pacific travel routes. This is a place where you can be free to be yourself. Where pressures are washed away by the gentle lapping of the sea on stunningly beautiful white coral sand beaches and the whisper of the trade winds through lush green coconut plantation.

On the main island of Vava’u is located the group’s tiny capital of Neiafu perched above Port of Refuge Harbour, unquestionably one of the most spectacular and beautiful natural harbours in the world. Neiafu and its surrounding villages are home to about a third of the Vava’u Islands overall population of about 20,000. The majority of the Vava’u people live in small villages dotted on islands throughout the group. Situated at Neiafu are all the government agencies including the hospital, customs and immigration departments, police headquarters, the post office and a variety of small shops, two supermarkets and the region’s fresh produce market.

The climate in Vava’u is very pleasant being year round slightly cooler and less humid than most neighbouring countries in similar subtropical latitudes. The temperatures range between 18-25 degrees Celcius during April through October and 24-32 degrees Celcius between November and March. Trade winds blow a fairly constant 13-18 knots during winter month with the breeze being more light and variable during the summer. At times the lush verdant islands attract passing rainclouds and on such occasions the skies open up with breathtaking tropical downpours giving everyone an enjoyable cooling rainbath. Here life is still simple – people find time to enjoy the wonders of nature.

British, and darn proud of it.

The shops are stocked with Harris tweeds, Irish linens and Scottish woollens. The locals play croquet, double-decker buses wend their way through the well-kept streets, and afternoon tea is served daily at the Empress Hotel.

In fact, genteel Victoria, British Columbia so closely resembles an English seaside town that it almost seems out of place among the majestic snow manteled mountains and cedar forests that surround it. This juxtaposition, of course, only
adds to its charm.