Ultimate Voyage: Islands of the Pacific – Solomon, Papua & Australia’s Top End

Lautoka is situated on the western side of Viti Levu, the largest island in Fiji, and just 20 km north of Nadi. The Fiji archipelago lies just to the western side of the International Date Line. Lautoka is Fiji's second largest city. Read more about Lautoka, Fiji

Tanna is an island (40km by 19km) in the Vanuatu archipelago and one of the more populous islands in this South Pacific country. It lies 200 km south of the capital Port Vila. The island's residents are Melanesians who follow a very traditional lifestyle and which draws the attention of tourists. Read more about Tanna Island, Vanuatu

Pentecost Island, which takes its name from the day on which it was first sighted by Europeans, is one of the 83 islands that make up the nation of Vanuatu in the South Pacific. It lies 190 km due N of the capital Port Vila. The island is long and narrow, with a mountainous interior, rain forest vegetation, streams and waterfalls. Read more about Pentecost, Vanuatu

Isla del Espíritu Santo is an uninhabited island in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) off the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. Some regard this as the most beautiful island in the Gulf. It lies between Isla Partida to the north, and the city of La Paz on the mainland of Baja California Sur (South Lower California). Read more about Espiritu Santo, Mexico

Santa Ana Island is a raised coral atoll in the Makira-Ulawa Province of the Solomon Islands, east of Papua New Guinea. Port Mary, situated on a small bay of the same name on the SW of the island, is the main town. Each cruise ship Zodiac that arrives at the beach landing is greeted by a fierce “welcoming committee”, composed of local men, masked and mud-smeared, dressed in warrior costumes and brandishing spears, shields, and machetes. Read more about Santa Ana Island, Solomon Islands

Honiara, located on the northern coast of the island of Guadalcanal, is the capital of the Solomon Islands, which lie between Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea. Pijin is the principal language. The climate is tropical, and while the most pleasant time to visit is winter, July to September, the cooling sea breezes temper the humidity and heat along all coasts year-round. Read more about Honiara, Solomon Islands

Read more about Alotau, Papua New Guinea

Doini Island is located in the heart of Milne Bay on the eastern tip of Papua New Guinea. This privately owned island is home to a plantation that was originally surveyed by a government surveyor in 1900, and consists of 1100 hectares of coconut trees and beautiful rainforest. Surrounded by white sandy beaches and pristine turquoise waters teeming with myriads of exotic fish, the island is inhabited by warm and friendly local caretakers. Read more about Doini Island, Papua New Guinea

Doini Island is located in the heart of Milne Bay on the eastern tip of Papua New Guinea. This privately owned island is home to a plantation that was originally surveyed by a government surveyor in 1900, and consists of 1100 hectares of coconut trees and beautiful rainforest. Surrounded by white sandy beaches and pristine turquoise waters teeming with myriads of exotic fish, the island is inhabited by warm and friendly local caretakers. Read more about Doini Island, Papua New Guinea

Cairns is a Far North Queensland city located on the northeast coast of Australia. This laid-back city is just over a 2 hour flight from Brisbane, Queensland’s state capital. With a backdrop of rainforest mountains, Cairns is known to be the gateway of 2 iconic Australian sites, The Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest. Read more about Cairns, Australia

Lizard Island, named after the numerous large but harmless lizards living there, is a national park in Queensland, Australia. It is situated 90 km north of Cooktown at the northern tip of Australia’s World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef. It is also the location of an award-winning and internationally famous resort. Read more about Lizard Island, Australia

Cape York is at the tip of the Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland, and is at the very northernmost part of the Australian mainland, with New Guinea just north of the island-studded Torres Strait. It was named by James Cook in 1770 after His Royal Highness the Duke of York. Tourists now visit throughout the year, as facilities are surprisingly modern for such an isolated spot, and tours are always available. Read more about Cape York, Australia

Thursday Island, or 'T.I.' as it's usually known, is the name of the island and the town that is the administrative and commercial centre of the Torres Strait Islands. The island group is off the far north Queensland mainland in Torres Strait, just 39 km north of Cape York Peninsula. The lucrative pearling industry founded in 1885 attracted workers from around Asia, particularly South Pacific Islanders, and this has resulted in a fascinating cultural mosaic. Read more about Thursday Island, Australia

The new Darwin cruise ship terminal at Fort Hill Wharf is adjacent to the convention centre, only one kilometre from Darwin’s CBD. Modern amenities, hotels and parking are there, plus a mini-market with beautiful local productions – Aboriginal art and crafts, diamonds and opals, and eateries, distinctive of the Top End. Darwin is a home port for the small luxury vessels Coral Princess and Coral Discoverer that explore the Kimberley coast to Broome. Read more about Darwin, Australia