South Pacific Splendor from Papeete with Stay, 16 October 2026 (14 nights)

If you’re looking for a quiet escape from the hustle and bustle of Papeete’s city centre, then heading to the Gardens of Paofai is far from a bad idea. Beautifully landscaped gardens in the heart of this vibrant city, this wooded area is the ideal destination to take a stroll in the shade or sit and relax. You’ll find a few ornamental fish ponds to admire here too, with the walking trails taking you to several spaces that offer a tranquil serenity. This is the ideal place to sit and enjoy the laid-back coastal ambiance here.

The Papeete Market is a vibrant marketplace in the heart of the capital, and the perfect place to spend some time if you want to soak up some of the culture and cuisine that make this region so unique; here, among the busy stalls, you’ll find a variety of local foods and produce alongside hand-crafted artwork from all the archipelagos that make up French Polynesia – not just Papeete and Tahiti. If you’d rather admire from a distance, you’ll find somewhere to sit and sip on a coffee here, too.

Offering visitors a comprehensive look at pearls, including the process of collecting them and the legends associated with these unique cultured gems, the Robert Wan Pearl Museum is a truly fascinating place to visit when in Papeete. Immersing you in the intriguing world of pearls, with an exploration of historic individuals who held an affinity for pearls, how pearls are farmed around the world, and what it takes to spot the perfect pearl yourself, you’ll leave the Robert Wan Pearl Museum with a new appreciation for these interesting gemstones.

A small park in central Papeete, Bougainville Park is a beautiful spot to stroll when exploring this interesting city. Here, you’ll find tree-covered walkways and picturesque plant-life to admire. Once somewhere where important festivities and celebrations took place, perhaps most notably when King Pomare V ceded the islands to France in 1880, this park is now positioned as a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of this port city’s busier streets.

To get a true taste of local cuisine, head to the bustling Punanga Nui Market. A vibrant open-air market, not only are fresh fruits and vegetables sold here, but handicrafts and live folk music is performed here.

A picturesque botanical garden in the Takitumu District, the Maire Nui Gardens boasts a wide variety of plantlife, a cafe and other beautiful attractions. A peaceful and tranquil attraction, if you’re wanting to be immersed into nature, there’s no better place to visit than Maire Nui.

If you want to learn more about the local marine life of the Cook Islands, this attraction is a must visit. From coconut cabs to turtles and stonefish, this fascinating centre is suitable for tourists of all ages.

Blunts Point Battery is a fascinating site to visit when in Pago Pago, and it tells an interesting story, despite never really being used. Located on Matautu Ridge, just a stone’s throw from Pago Pago, Blunts Point Battery was built as part of the island-wide fortifications developed following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. It’s a rare example of an American Second World War Pacific coastal gun in near-pristine condition, as American Samoa was never actually attacked during the war. However, as one of the only American military bases in the western Pacific, Pago Pago and American Samoa played a pivotal role in the Second World War. While both Blunts Point Battery and further fortifications built into the hillside beneath it are open to the public, the hiking trail to reach these sites is something to consider if you’re wanting to visit. It might sound like a lot of effort, but that effort is worthwhile – if anything, just to see the stunning views from the battery itself.

Rainmaker Mountain is truly a sight to behold, and something you can’t miss when visiting Pago Pago. Also known as Mount Pioa or Mount Peiva, Rainmaker Mountain boasts a three-pronged summit and finds itself directly responsible for the increased rainfall the region enjoys throughout the year. Home to numerous rare species of animal and plant, the mountain is also an important part of Samoan folklore, with Rainmaker Mountain a once-angry brother who now stands brooding – with rainclouds around his head – across Tutuila Island from Matafao Peak – the other brother, and another breathtaking mountain you can see when visiting Pago Pago.

A fascinating museum dedicated to the culture and history of American Samoa, the Jean P. Haydon Museum boasts an incredible collection of authentic canoes, coconut-shell combs, native pharmacopoeia, and more. It’s even home to a naval cannon from HHMS Kaimiloa, the only warship in the fleet of King Kalakaua of Hawaii. The exhibits you’ll find here focus on everything from the natural history of the region and kava bowls to traditional tattooing and historic war clubs. If you’re looking to learn more about American Samoa and its people, this is a must-visit destination in Pago Pago.

Established in 1872, the Colo-i-Suva Forest Park is part of the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy – a network of forest conservation programmes developed in 2015 to help protect the natural landscape of Commonwealth countries – and a stunningly beautiful palace to visit when in Suva. Home to a variety of hiking trails, the opportunity to swim, and plenty of birds to spot with your binoculars, everyone can enjoy spending some time here. Among the native flora here, of which there is a lot to admire, you’ll also find some African Mahogany, which was planted here throughout the 1940s and 1950s.

A rather recent addition to the architecture of Suva, having only been completed in 2000, the Suva Fiji Temple is a remarkable temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the first of its kind to be built in Fiji. Designed with traditional designs and styles in mind, it’s located at one of the highest points in the city and features a 72-foot tall spire. With subtle nods to the local culture alongside the broader symbolism utilised by the Church, it’s a sight worth seeing and stands out against much of Suva’s other architecture.

Sitting in the heart of Suva’s Thurston Gardens, stunning botanical gardens worth visiting in their own right, the Fiji Museum is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in learning more about Fiji and Fijian culture. It’s home to the most important collection of Fijian artefacts in the world, with exhibitions showing off a variety of items of historic importance – from authentic canoes and objects related to cannibalism, to contemporary artwork and more.