Relaxing places in Australia and Pacific

Some people say this is the most beautiful lagoon in the world. Well, we haven't seen them all, but we will spare you for further superlatives. There fifteen tiny islet within the lagoon where most are inhabited, while the others can be visit for a short Robinson Crusoe experience on a lagoon trip. There is of course amazing snorkeling with heaps of corals and psychedelic colored fish. The flight from Rarotonga will offer some spectaculars views of the coral rimmed lagoon and its unreal turquoise water (sorry for the superlatives, we know we promised not to, but this is what honeymoon dreams are made of).

Rarotonga island is lined with paradise beaches. The whole shore is pretty much one long narrow white-sand beach with leaning palms and turquoise water protected by the outer reef. But the pearl above them all is Muri Beach. The beach is not prettier than the others, but the lagoon is jaw-dropping beautiful with its crystal-clear water that turns azure blue further out. It has excellent snorkeling and there are four palms fringed islands you can swim out to. It hardly gets any better than this.

A whisk away with the ferry from Tahiti lies lay back Mo'orea. Nothing much is going on here, which is the exact point to come here. The main thing is chilling out in the shallow, crystal-clear water of the lagoon, which can easily be stretched to a snorkeling trip, and exploration of the island on bicycle or scooter. There are several exotic bays cutting into the island, creating fine photo opportunity with the jungle covered jagged mountains as backdrop. Stretches of small white beaches fringed with the mandatory coconut palms can be found all along the coast. The slow pace and the light development (compare to other French Polynesian islands) make Mo'orea a very mellow destination, and is probably what you expect Tahiti to be in the first place.

A beautiful area of shallow water protected by an outer reef and sprinkled with hundreds of jungle and palm-tree covered islands. The dense foliage stretches right to the edge where the corals take over below the crystal clear surface. The emerald green water does also contains its share of WWII leftovers like everywhere else in the Solomon Islands. Though most islands are uninhabited, small friendly villages are dotting some of the shores and boast some rather extraordinary sights right smack in their backyard – like birth caves at Mbiche village and maybe-ancient rock art at Bareho village (nobody knowns its origin). Keep in mind that the lagoon covers a large area and transport is costly due to the expensive gasoline.