March 11, 2014, 4 p.m.

From New Caledonia to French Polynesia, and the Cook Islands to Samoa, there are more holiday destinations to discover in the south Pacific beyond Aussies' beloved Fiji, writes Craig Tansley.

From New Caledonia to French Polynesia, and the Cook Islands to Samoa, there are more holiday destinations to discover in the south Pacific beyond Aussies' beloved Fiji, writes Craig Tansley.

Blue lagoons, empty white sand beaches, rugged green mountainous interiors - what's not to love about the islands of the south Pacific? There's nowhere on earth as untouched and safe. Few Australians travel beyond Fiji, but New Caledonia and Vanuatu in Melanesia, and the Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Samoa in Polynesia are the ideal south seas getaways. Aside from their comparative affordability during the time of a fluctuating Australian dollar, there's virtually no crime, locals are famously friendly, adore visiting children, and don't tout or bargain on prices. As well, the landscapes are among the most pristine on the planet. So, while there's no reason to forego Fjji, there's a whole lot to love about the islands beyond it.

THE COOK ISLANDS

The Cook Islands are made up of 15 tropical islands spread across an area of ocean the size of Western Europe ... but with barely 15,000 inhabitants. Even on its most populated island, Rarotonga (your arrival point), there are just 10,000 locals. No building is higher than the tallest coconut tree and there's not one traffic light.

Perhaps its greatest asset is that its islands are tiny, meaning visitors can access every part of each island within minutes. There's just one main road on Rarotonga which circumnavigates the island in 25 minutes (most visitors hire scooters to get around).

There are far fewer Australian visitors coming to the Cook Islands than Fiji, with many of these visitors coming to get married.

Meanwhile, just 40 minutes away by plane, Aitutaki has become one of the south Pacific's most fabled honeymoon locations. Home to probably the best lagoon in the Pacific behind Bora Bora, Aitutaki has a handful of high-end resorts. It now attracts the rich and famous, but it's still the same sleepy south-seas hideaway it always was, home to 1400 locals surviving by farming and fishing.

But that's always been the Cook Islands' strength: it takes less than 45 minutes by plane from Rarotonga to discover islands where as few as 40 tourists visit a year. The Cook Islands are a beacon for honeymooners, but they also offer an ideal escape for families.

Original post:

Beyond Fiji: the other Pacific paradises you must visit