Crossing Melanesia: Australia to Fiji

Visit a park featuring more than 1,000 saltwater and freshwater crocodiles, ranging in length from 11 inches to 15 feet. Cruise along Adelaide River to watch jumping crocodiles.Explore the rainforest at Litchfield National Park, and view the Magnetic Termite Mounds and either Wangi or Florence Falls.

Roughly 2,000 years ago, Melanesian and Polynesian settlers arrived on the shores of the Torres Strait Islands, in the far north of the Australian state of Queensland. Today, the unofficial capital of this archipelago is Thursday Island, originally called “Waiben” (believed to mean “no water”) by the Melanesians but today known locally as “TI.” Just 1.4 square miles in size, the island was once a major pearling center. Today, fishing remains a mainstay of the economy.

Just 54 acres in size, Samarai Island was once an important trading center, due to its location on the southeast coast of Papua New Guinea, on the China Strait between Australia and East Asia. It was discovered in 1873 by British navigator Captain John Moresby, who initially called it Dinner Island. Five years later, the establishment of a mission station here led to its development as a bustling port town and headquarters of an administrative district of British New Guinea.

In 1942, it was evacuated and its buildings were destroyed to prevent the island from falling into Japanese control during World War II. Rebuilt since — though not to the same scale as its glory days — the island was declared a National Historical Heritage Island by the government of Papua New Guinea in 2006. Take a stroll along the pleasant pathway that encircles its pretty town, view spectacular marine life on a SCUBA diving expedition, or simply relax on the beach.

The third-largest archipelago in the South Pacific, with 992 islands, the Solomon Islands were settled by European colonists and missionaries during the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1893, the archipelago was divided between Great Britain and Germany. Among the British-controlled islands was the then-obscure island of Guadalcanal, the largest of the Solomons.

Inhabited for thousands of years, Guadalcanal was discovered in 1568 by the Spanish explorer Alvaro de Mendaña de Neira, who named it for a village in Andalucía, Spain. In 1942, the Japanese effort to build an airfield on the island prompted six months of combat, in which the Allies were ultimately victorious. It was a turning point in the Pacific theater during World War II.

The island is still brimming with World War II relics, monuments, and memorials. Perhaps you’ll explore its tropical interior, with its excellent birdwatching. Or discover why the island is revered for its superior snorkeling and diving, with clear waters, shipwrecks, and an abundance of marine life, including barracuda, lion fish, giant clams, hammerhead sharks, and whale sharks.

The third-largest archipelago in the South Pacific, with 992 islands, the Solomon Islands were settled by European colonists and missionaries during the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1893, the archipelago was divided between Great Britain and Germany. Among the British-controlled islands was the then-obscure island of Guadalcanal, the largest of the Solomons.

Inhabited for thousands of years, Guadalcanal was discovered in 1568 by the Spanish explorer Alvaro de Mendaña de Neira, who named it for a village in Andalucía, Spain. In 1942, the Japanese effort to build an airfield on the island prompted six months of combat, in which the Allies were ultimately victorious. It was a turning point in the Pacific theater during World War II.

The island is still brimming with World War II relics, monuments, and memorials. Perhaps you’ll explore its tropical interior, with its excellent birdwatching. Or discover why the island is revered for its superior snorkeling and diving, with clear waters, shipwrecks, and an abundance of marine life, including barracuda, lion fish, giant clams, hammerhead sharks, and whale sharks.

Consisting of 82 volcanic islands, the nation of Vanuatu lies in the South Pacific, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia. Spanish for “the holy spirit,” Espiritu Santo is the largest island in the Vanuatu archipelago. Here, you’ll find miraculous scenery, from its palm-lined, white-sand beaches and spring-fed swimming holes to lush rainforests and lofty mountains, including Vanuatu’s four highest peaks.

The character of this once-isolated island was dramatically changed forever during World War II, when it became an Allied military supply and support base. A lieutenant commander for the U.S. Navy named James A. Michener wrote Tales of the South Pacific based on his experiences while stationed here. The Pulitzer Prize-winning book was later turned into the musical South Pacific by Rodgers & Hammerstein. While here, perhaps you’ll venture to the two protected areas that have been established to preserve local biodiversity, which includes the Santo Mountain Starling, a bird that is exclusive to the island. Coral reefs and shipwrecks — including the SS President Coolidge, renowned as one of the most accessible shipwrecks in the world — make it a popular destination for divers. You can also enjoy exceptional swimming and snorkeling. Or simply relax on the beach.

Port Vila is the harborside capital and main hub of Vanuatu, on Efate island. Its small downtown is home to colorful market stalls selling produce and local handicrafts. The National Museum of Vanuatu, inside the Vanuatu Cultural Centre, displays artifacts such as slit-gong drums and outrigger canoes. The town is a base for diving and trips to Mele Cascades, a multi-tiered waterfall with rock pools in a rainforest.

L’archipel des Fidji est composée de minuscules atolls coralliens et d’îles couvertes de forêts montagneuses d’origine volcanique, et est célèbre pour ses eaux turquoise et ses plages de sable blanc. Lautoka, deuxième plus grande ville et principal port du pays, est synonyme de sucre, principal produit d’exportation des Fidji. La ville est entourée par le bleu de l’océan Pacifique, sur la côte ouest, et de canne à sucre dorée et de pins verts sur les autres côtés. Promenez-vous dans marché de la ville, où vous pourrez acheter une variété de produits locaux.