Melanesia

The island groups of the southwest Pacific: Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.

Melanesia means "black islands" and is the southwestern one of the Pacific's three main island groups. For travelers it includes Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, and it is strongest in volcanoes, diving and diverse tribal cultures. Fiji is the most developed resort destination, with Nadi and the Coral Coast as gateways, the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands offering many island resorts, and Taveuni known as the "soft coral capital". Vanuatu has Mount Yasur on Tanna Island, where you can walk to the crater rim to watch lava eruptions, and Espiritu Santo has blue holes and diving on the wreck of the SS President Coolidge. French-governed New Caledonia has one of the world's largest lagoons (a World Heritage Site); its capital, Nouméa, has a French flavor, the waters off the Isle of Pines and Ouvéa are exceptionally clear, and near Voh is the famous heart-shaped mangrove. The Solomon Islands' Gizo and Papua New Guinea's Rabaul draw adventurous travelers with World War II wrecks, volcanoes and traditional culture. Fiji and New Caledonia have good infrastructure, and 5–8 days per country is ideal; elsewhere, transport, accommodation and medical facilities are limited, so pay attention to malaria prevention and local safety advisories.

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Itineraries