With Christmas over and done with we are all setting our sights on this summer and how we are going to make it our best yet. And during the January sales it’s the perfect opportunity to shop around and get in the mood for a spot of travelling. Here is my guide to exploring Australasia and the Pacific with your friends this summer in order to have the holiday of a lifetime.
Instead of the teen fascination with the likes of Zanti and Magaluf, all my friends seem to be stretching their wings further afield. Whilst you can go as part of an organised group, such as RAG through the University, or the gap year company Frontier, for example, it is just as easy to travel with the locals.
I am heading to Uganda this summer myself so it is fair to say that I have the travel bug. Having travelled to Australia before, campervanning down the west coast from Perth, I can tell you that it is definitely a country of hidden wonders. But, for the more adventurous amongst you there is nowhere better to start your travels than in the picturesque and cultured pacific islands. With many of the islands being at risk of permanently disappearing, we may be the last generation to see the beauty of the unexplored Pacific.
In the past, instead of flying, people would get on the 1970’s magic bus. Leaving from Hyde Park corner it would travel all the way to Australia. Amazing! But nowadays it is simpler to pick a destination to fly to. I suggest starting in Singapore, Bangkok, or New Zealand where from there you can hitch a ride on the old fashioned boat trade circuit and island hop the Pacific.
There are endless islands to explore, obviously determined by your starting point and ultimate destination. Highlights include Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Nauru, Rottnest, Tasmania, Cook Island and Easter Island before heading to the mountainous and stunningly beautiful New Zealand or the more commercial Australia, a fond favourite with expats.
Fiji island hopping tours are available through the student recommended travel company STA Travel. Visit: http://www.statravel.co.nz/fiji_island_hopping.htm for more information.
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Fiji’s exotic feel, as witnessed on TV programmes such as Channel 4’s longstanding show Shipwrecked, has always appealed to me; its beautiful white sand beaches, crystal clear water, and dancing traditions make it even more alluring.
However, if you fancy island hopping the Marquesas islands, located in the middle of the Pacific, take the Aranui boat, which takes 14 days through 5 relatively unknown islands. Cruises leave Papeete 16 times a year, visit http://aranui.com/ for more information.
Whilst visiting these hidden gems of Australasia will never be cheap, they are well worth the visit for a once in a life time experience.
You’ll soon find the French Polynesia a home away from home whilst you spend your Euros and speak French, you don’t even need visas to visit!
Many island groups are linked by regular shipping services radiating out of larger settlements like Tahiti, Rarotonga and Samoa so the different boats on which you are able to barter a ride with are endless. Visit http://www.pacific-travel-guides.com/south-pacific/backpackers/index.html for further information.
http://www.gayfriendlyguide.com/gay-friendly-travel-pacific-islands.html
With the mainlands of Australia and New Zealand relatively close by, the gems of Australasia are well within your grasp if you choose to voyage down under. For all the adrenaline junkies amongst you why don’t you try New Zealand’s infamous bungee jump opportunities, as featured on Jack Osbourne’s infamous adrenaline fuelled show: Celebrity Junkie. Queenstown, the original and best known home of bungee jumping is not to be missed and at $180 dollars a pop it is well worth a go for an exhilarating feeling like you will experience nowhere else. (http://www.bungy.co.nz/kawarau-bungy-centre/kawarau-bungy) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blT7SGyVS8M
And for those of you considering a year off from studying after the stresses of University, the Australian visa system is pretty flexible in comparison to America, with a 12 month visa easily obtainable. Therefore, once you have your travelling out the way you can work off those debts. And if you want to go one step further you can swap lives with someone down under for 6 months or more. swapping jobs, houses, everything!
http://thingstodo.viator.com/sydney/sydneys-best-kept-secret/
There is no avoiding from the fact that Australasia and the Pacific are a million miles away from Europe, so why not try flying to somewhere in Asia first? A one way ticket to Singapore (based on flights at the end of July 2013) starts at £514. Or in Thailand they have a `Discovery Pass` that allows you to fly anywhere within the country from Bangkok for £35 and anywhere in South-East Asia for £53, although this requires you to book three flights minimum through Bangkok Air. http://www.travelfish.org/feature/118
If you were to go this summer, flights to Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, start at just over £300 with STA Travel.
For those amongst you, who prefer to plan your trip in advance, visit your local STA travel who offer experience packages across Australasia. http://www.statravel.co.uk/travel-south-pacific.htm and http://www.statravel.co.uk/south-pacific-experiences.htm
Prices correct as of December 2012, but please note that they may vary.