My South Pacific
Louise Male is a journalist for the Yorkshire Evening Post. Here she shares her thoughts on one of her most memorable adventures.

The individual allure of the enchanting South Pacific islands can only be understood by uncovering their secrets for yourself. I have always had an imaginary vision of the perfect castaway island. One where the sapphire blue sea stretches for as far as the eye can see and the sand is soft and white.
The daily hassles of life fade away, replaced by calm thoughts and the locals are the most friendly people you have ever met. Visiting the South Pacific the images of paradise in my mind were overtaken by reality.

Fiji is a collection of 300 islands ranging from tiny palm fringed coral atolls to volcanic islands with lush rainforest and remote villages.
Visitors can explore the islands or feel free to slip into ŒFiji time¹ and relax. The Fijian people have been called the friendliest on Earth, a tag well deserved. But I would also like to add that they are probably the happiest as well. I will always remember the warm, friendly welcome from the locals when I stepped off the plane. It was the first, but certainly not the last time I heard the traditional greeting ŒBula¹. A garland made from freshly picked flowers was placed around my neck and I was welcomed like an old friend.
Throughout my stay one of the locals would often bring me a coconut which had just fallen from a palm tree or a fragrant flower picked from the beautiful gardens.
Fiji Islands has a population of just over 750,000. Viti Levu is the heart of the country with the tourist town of Nadi and the capital city of Suva.

Beyond is the more secluded Yasawa Islands with remote beaches and beautiful snorkelling lagoons.
The Cook Islands is a collection of fifteen small islands in the heart of Polynesian South Pacific. More than half are any more than tiny coral atolls. It is a self-governing dependency of New Zealand with its own parliament. Rarotonga is the main island and population centre. Visitors are attracted by the beautiful beaches, tropical mountains and the allure of the laid back Polynesian lifestyle.
Direct descendants of the proud Maori people, Cook Islanders will ensure your stay with them will be an unforgettable experience. Walking about in a Pareu (Sarong), lets you blend in with the locals and enjoy the unspoilt nature of the dream destination.
Tahiti Islands, known officially as French Polynesia, lies in the Eastern part of the South Pacific with 35 islands and 83 atolls in over 5 million sq km of ocean.
Made famous by the Mutiny of the Bounty and its coconut palms, stunning beaches and dramatic tropical scenery. Although excellent for surfing, many of the beaches have black sand on the north and south coasts.

The main attraction of the island is the incredibly beautiful and often dramatic tropical scenery with its hiking trails through tropical forest to refreshing and remote waterfalls.
The South Pacific islands are a truly tropical destination.