Je suis en plein preparatifs de dernieres minutes pour mon sejour aux Fidji (depart dans deux semaines!!) et je me rends compte que je suis pas du tout au point, donc je me tourne vers vous en esperant que quelques personnes me feront partager leur retour d'experience!
J'ai donc 3 semaines de vacances aux Fidji, j'y vais seule (enfin les 5premiers jours je suis avec une copine mais le reste c'est en solo!). Dates de voyage du 24 octobre au 14 novembre.
Programme potentiel:
- Viti Levu: nadi, natadola beach, treck du mount tomanivi, coral coast, robinson crusoe island day tour (juste pour le nom je me dois d'y aller!)
- Mamanuca: South Sea Island, une autre a definir
- Yasawa: Nanuya (est ce que c'est bien l'ile du Blue Lagoon?!), une autre a definir
- Taveuni: Bouma NP, Matei
- Lomaitivi: Levuka, Caqelai OU Ovalau
Je ne trouve pas vraiment de conseils pour me decider sur quelle ile precisement, j'ai l'impression que tu dois plus choisir ton resort et du coup tu te retrouves sur une certaine ile... Mais moi je me fiche de la ou je dors/mange, je veux choisir l'ile en fonction de la beaute des paysages, fonds marins et choses a faire/voir, ... J'ai l'impression d'etre totalement a coté du concept des vacances aux Fidi, mais je vais m'ennuyer si je passe 3jours dans le meme resort sur la meme plage... quelqu'un me comprend?..ou je dois me plier aux lois du tourisme local et choisir mon resort?!
Mes gouts: je suis PAS du tout fan des iles fiesta, j'aime les paysages naturels, j'aimerai faire du snorkelling en priorite (plongee aussi mais grosse preference snorkelling parce que mes oreilles sont fragiles!), j'ai du mal a farniente (mais bon je crois que je vais devoir m'y mettre!), j'aime les sorties culturelles et les balades en nature
Donc voila mes questions:
1) Quelles iles choisir dans les Yasawa et Mamanuca?
2) Ai-je le temps de tout faire?
3) Combien de temps passer sur chaque ile (j'imagine plus l'ile est grande plus ca demande du temps...mais combien?)
4) Quelle est la meilleure ile/resort pour profiter du fameux Blue Lagoon?
5) Etant donné que j'y serai en novembre, cela vaut il le coup d'aller a Taveuni/Lomaiviti ou les risques sont grands que je passe mon temps sous la flotte et il vaudrait mieux que je me cantonne a Yasawa/Mamanuca?
6) Ai-je oublié un super endroit a ne pas louper?!
7) Caqelai OU Ovalau?
8) Devrai-je faire un stop a Suva?
9) Des resorts (faible budget!) recemment experimentés a conseiller?
10) A tout hasard une bonne adresse d'institut de massage tradi fidjien pas cher?
Merci pour avoir lu le message jusqu'au bout et pour votre aide! Meme si vous repondez qu'a une question ce sera deja top!!
Aurelie
Bonjour Marcetflo,
Je n'ai pas vraiment de budget..je suis plutot du type packpacker (j'apporte peu d'importance ou je dors, dorm me vont) mais je suis prete a depenser pour des activites ou bateau pour se deplacer d'iles en iles si ca le vaut!!
Merci,
Aurelie
Dans ce cas il y a le Ratu Kini backpackers sur Mana Island, dans les Mamanucas, a 1h30 de ferry de Nadi. L'ile est magnifique, il y a 3 plages, south beach, north beach et sunset beach la plus belle et la plus sauvage. Ratu Kini propose des activites et ont un club de plongee. Sinon je vous conseille de prendre le pass du Yasawas Flyer pour les Yasawas pour pouvoir changer d'ile quand bon vous semble. Pour les endroits sympas dans les Yasawas il y a le Octopus Resort, pas mal de jeunes, donc bien pour rencontrer d'autres gens, Chez Otto et Fanny sur Taweva la par contre tres tranquille mais tres joli (des amis en reviennent). Nanuya oui c'est le site du Blue Lagoon mais je crois que la plage du Blue Lagoon resort ou bien Oarsman Lodge (la meme plage) est encore plus belle.
Hello Marcetflo,
Merci pour ces infos utiles, je vais definitivement faire un arret a Mana Island!
Pour le pass bateau je crois que je vais me laisser tenter egalement, ca va me laisser plus de liberte au final!... Mais du coup penses-tu qu'il vaille mieux que je me contente des Mamanuca/Yasawa sans aller ailleurs?!
Merci encore :)
Aurelie
le pass bateau c'est a dire le pass pour le Yasawa Flyer ne peut etre utilise que pour les Yasawas a ma connaissance. Tu ne peux pas l'utiliser pour les Mamanucas donc pour Mana island. La compagnie de ferry qui dessert les Mamanucas c'est South Sea Cruise ils ont un site internet avec horaires + tarifs. Donc pour passer des Mamanucas aux Yasawas il te faudra repasser par la marina de Nadi pour prendre le Yasawa Flyer...
Disons qu'en 3 semaines tu aurais le temps de faire 1 semaine dans les iles nords a Vanua Levu car plus sauvage, moins touristique, plus authentique, puis 1 semaine dans les Yasawas et il te reste ensuite une semaine, soit pour faire le tour de l'ile principale soit pour tenter les iles a l'est.
Pour les plages les Yasawas/Mamanucas sont peut etre les plus belles (sable blanc, eau turquoise et cocotiers!!) mais il y a plein d'iles et surement encore des petits paradis a decouvrir! essaie de te procurer le Lonely Planet Fiji il y a plein de renseignements sur plein d'iles.
je me permets de vous contacter car vous avez l'air de bien connaître les Fiji et je suis moi aussi entrain de prévoir un voyage là-bas pour 2 semaines, du 13 au 27 Décembre 2013.
Je crois comprendre que pour se rendre dans les îles Yasawa, nous n'avons pas d'autres options que le Awesome Adventures Flyer, est-ce correct? Doit-on choisir une formule parmi celles proposées afin de les visiter?
Connaissez-vous un peu la météo pour cette période - même si je sais que plus personne ne peut prévoir bien entendu - ?
Je tombe sur ton message et je suis moi aussi entrain de prévoir un voyage aux Fiji pour 2 semaines, du 13 au 27 Décembre.
Tu dois être rentrée maintenant, j'espère que tes vacances se sont bien passées !
Je voulais moi aussi faire les Yasawa, j'ai cru comprendre qu'il n'y avait pas d'autres options que de prendre le Awesome Adventures Boat - tu confirmes?
Pourrais tu me donner des infos sur ton voyage: les resorts, tes impressions, ce qui vaut la peine ou pas?
J'avais lu ton message -jusqu'à la fin :) - et je pense que nous voyageons de manière similaire...
Je te remercie de ton retour,
Cdt,
N.
Reponse tres rapide car je suis encore sur la route (Thailande).
Oui un seul bateau possible pour les yasawas: le yasawa flyer (bateau jaune, je crois qu'il s'appelle aussi Awesome Adventure!)
Mes resorts (et en gros oui tu bouges pas vraiment du resort puisqu'il n'y a rien d'autre sur l'ile et pas forcement de chemin pour explorer le reste de l'ile!), desole c'est en anglais j'avais fait ca pour un ami:
Plus and minuses for mananucas & Yasawa's resorts island
Mana:
+ Cheap, nice walking around island
- cold shower, minimum meals
N/A snorkelling
South Sea:
+ Nice at night cause intimist, snorkel ok+
- over crowded during day (160 day-tripper tourists), cold shower
Octopus:
+ Snorkel amazing for coral, food, nice resort
- bedbugs, managmt (try to screw guests on their bill)
Barefoot:
+ Three beaches, dorms = nice huts on the beach, snorkel good (variety of fishes)
- food so/so, cold shower, cold currents
Blue Lagoon:
+ great snorkel (Fish schools), luxurious nature around, very pretty resort, good activities
- same CD over and over
Le moins aimé:South Sea
Le plus aimé: Blue Lagoon
Feedback general: chaque resort a ses plus et ses moins, a toi de voir selon tes gouts ce qui te convient (plus naturel, plus organisé, niveau de confort, prix, ...)
Bonnes vacances!
Aurelie
Je suis partie en juin dernier dans les Yasawas où j'ai passé de très bonnes vacances farniente, PMT, plongée pour mon mari.
J'ai séjourné à l'Octopus, au Botaira, au Blue Lagoon et au Nanuya : ces quatre resort sont très différents mais vraiment très bien !
Carole
"Il faut faire aujourd'hui ce que tout le monde fera demain" Cocteau
Nous sommes actuellement en Australie jusqu’à début décembre, et nous souhaitons prolonger le voyage dans les îles du Pacifique. Nous ne savons pas quoi…
Je cherche un lieu paradisiaque pour les 15 premiers jours de novembre pas trop cher. Quel endroit me conseillez vous Iles Fidji, Iles Cook ou autres???????…
Actuellement en tour du monde je souhaitais ajouter une destination a mon itineraire.. Les Fidji... Au depart de Nouvelle Zelande tout etaient ultra complet...…
Ca sort de l'ordinaire mais peut-on rejoindre les Vanuatu depuis les iles Fiji sans transiter par la nouvelle-zelande ou l'australie (en vol direct)? quelles…
I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the scattered info out there and I'm struggling to organize my solo trip to French Polynesia. I'm all about snorkeling—no hiking for me—so it's all about the water, water, water... I'd love to meet whales (what's the best season?), stay with locals or in budget guesthouses (I'm pretty low-key, no worries about comfort), and most importantly, be as close to the coral reefs as possible (all day long...).
I'm retired, so I've got plenty of time...
If you can help, it would mean the world to me.
Thanks everyone! !
Hi,
I'm planning a trip to this region in November. My initial plan was Adelaide-Darwin by van, but I'm worried about those critters. I'm now considering staying in hotels instead, but for the Red Centre, camping is more practical... if we overlook those pests.
What do you think? Thanks.
Hi there,
I’m reaching out because I’m finally living my dream later this year, and I could really use your advice!
On December 26th, I’m flying to Tahiti, then Moorea, and finally Bora-Bora.
Since I’ll be staying in Bora-Bora for several days, I’d love to take a day trip to another island: either Maupiti or Tahaa-Raiatea (my top picks...).
My issue is that the schedules for getting to Tahaa and then to Raiatea don’t quite work for me. Here are the two options I’ve looked into:
**Option 1: Day trip to Tahaa-Raiatea**
- Morning departure at 7:00 AM to Tahaa from Vaitape (I’ll be staying on a motu, so I need to check if there’s a shuttle connecting the motu to Vaitape early enough).
- Arrival at 8:15 AM in Poutoru, Tahaa. Tour of the island, visit to a vanilla plantation.
- Hire a "private" boat to Raiatea around 12:00–1:00 PM.
- Tour of Raiatea.
- Departure at 4:00 PM from Uturoa (Raiatea) back to Bora-Bora.
**Option 2: Day trip to Maupiti**
- Morning departure from Bora-Bora at 8:30 AM.
- Arrival in Maupiti at 10:05 AM. Visit the island and the motus.
- Return in the evening at 4:00 PM.
My questions:
- Will I have enough time to explore Tahaa-Raiatea from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM?
- Car rental? Bike rental? For all three islands...
- Time lost during rentals?
- Distance between rental shops and the ports where I arrive?
- For Tahaa and Raiatea, should I hire a guide? Would that be better organized, meaning no car rental needed, to save time or explore the island on my own?
- Finally, what do you think of these three islands and their points of interest? Which would you choose between Maupiti and Tahaa-Raiatea?
If you can shed some light on this, I’d be so grateful!!!!!!!
I can’t wait to hear your thoughts, comments, suggestions, and advice!
Hello! We’re heading to the Marquesas in July-August and I’d love to know if it’s possible, for a fee, to do a leg of the journey on the Aranui—like from Hiva Oa to Fatu Hiva, or Nuku Hiva to Ua Pou, or even Ua Pou to Ua Huka? Sure, there are shuttles twice a week with Codim connecting these islands, but the schedules won’t be known until two months in advance, and I need to book flights and hotels much earlier than that. So, what’s the best way to handle this?
Looking forward to your replies—thanks in advance!
Elisabeth Marcel
babeth.marcel@yahoo.fr
Hi there,
I’d like to go to French Polynesia.
I found round-trip flights for 650 € with Air Caraïbes.
That seems really cheap—anyone here who can tell me about this airline if you’ve flown with them before?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi everyone. I’ve got a round-trip ticket to Perth for 4 weeks. Is it better to stay on the west coast the whole time?
Or should I grab a round-trip to the east coast?
Or even head over to NZ as well?
Thanks for your tips.
We’re crossing New Zealand next April and we’re wondering which to choose between exploring Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound.
The first is more well-known, famous, and popular, a UNESCO natural heritage site, while the second can be just as spectacular—bigger, harder to access, and less touristy.
Thanks for your thoughts!
I’ve blocked out 3 weeks at the end of March/beginning of April, arriving in Sydney and departing from Adelaide while following the coast.
Kangaroo Island is a bit of a question mark for me. If I go, I can dedicate 2.5 days to it. Is it worth the time and the cost? I’ve read plenty of travel journals highlighting the landscapes and wildlife, but I’m sure I’ll see plenty of that along my route anyway. I’m not factoring in the financial side (which isn’t negligible for KI), but I’d rather not be disappointed. What are the real added values of KI, especially since the island has been affected by fires? I’ve also come across people online calling it a tourist trap. For example, I ruled out Phillip Island because it felt too organized and structured. Sorry if I’m opening Pandora’s box here!
Hi! I just spent a month in New Caledonia (backpacking/tent) and I know some of you were looking for info on accommodations and itineraries, so feel free to reach out if you want me to share my little experience. Just to say—New Caledonia is AMAZING!!!
Hi there,
I just got back from two weeks in Fiji, and I noticed the forum discussions here are a bit outdated (the most recent ones are from 2017).
So feel free to ask if you'd like an update!
Hi,
I’m heading to Viti Levu, the main island, for a few days’ vacation.
I usually rent a two-wheeler to keep some independence.
On several forums, people advised against it—first because it’s not really the local culture, and also because of the road conditions and local driving habits.
But I’m a bit wary of English-language forums where the typical vacation is just airport-resort-airport with a taxi in between.
Can you confirm if it’s really that risky compared to, say, Southeast Asia? What are the alternatives? Buses, taxis?
Thanks!
I’m planning and budgeting a trip to Australia for August 2026, lasting 40 days.
Here’s the current itinerary:
Arrival at Port Macquarie Airport in New South Wales and return from Cairns Airport in Queensland.
- South West Rock
- Cap Ridge Park
- Springbrook Park
- Stradbroke Island
- Maleny
- Noosa
- Rainbow Beach
- K’Gari
- Gladstone
- Heron Island
- Airlie Beach
- Townsville
- Magnetic Island
- Cairns
- Cape Tribulation
My main issue is transport to cover all of this.
The first leg is already tricky—I haven’t found a way to rent a car in Port Macquarie and drop it off in South West Rock.
And if we keep the vehicle until Cleveland (8 days) before taking the ferry to Stradbroke Island, it’s already around 1000 €.
- Are there any systems where we could buy a vehicle in Port Macquarie and be sure it’s bought back at the end of the trip in Cairns?
- Do you know of any Australian online car rental sites?
As for trains, they’re not really an option for our stay in New South Wales.
In Queensland, I found the Queensland Rail Travel website with a Brisbane–Cairns line, but trains don’t run every day.
- Do you know of any other train companies in Queensland that connect coastal cities from Brisbane to Cairns?
For flights, I checked Queensland with Qantas, and most routes require a stopover in Brisbane, which wastes a lot of time, and the prices are still high.
Do you know of any low-cost airlines for domestic flights in Australia?
2025 is shaping up to be amazing, as I’m lucky enough to be planning a 6-week trip to Polynesia.
I wanted to buy the *Guide du Routard* (my favorite), but I discovered there isn’t one for this destination. And the *Lonely Planet* is from 2022, which I feel is already a bit outdated.
So I’m looking for other resources: in your opinion, what’s the best paper guide, and most importantly, what online resources have you used to prepare a trip to Polynesia?
My wife, our 3-year-old son, and I are planning a trip along Australia’s East Coast, leaving in early October and returning in mid-November. The plan is to do a 4-week road trip in a campervan, then settle down for about ten days.
The question I’m asking myself is: which way should we go? From Sydney to Cairns or the other way around? Despite all the documentation I’ve read, I’m still struggling to decide the best direction based on the climate at that time and swimming conditions.
Up north, the weather will be warmer, and the water too, unlike the south. However, in the north, there are swimming restrictions, especially because of jellyfish, whereas in the south, there seems to be less danger (apart from sharks, maybe). Are there many protected beaches in the north where we can swim safely?
Also, I should consider that in the south, the Great Barrier Reef no longer protects the beaches, so I imagine there are fewer calm spots for swimming?
I’d love any tips or advice you can share, and thanks in advance!
Hi there,
for a 6-month trip to Australia and NZ starting in NOVEMBER, I’d like to visit PNG and the Solomon Islands. Has anyone already explored these two countries?
How can you travel solo there—transport, accommodation, banking, safety—and what’s the best way to get there from AUS?
Thanks for any tips! Are there any French-language sites about these destinations?
Cheers,
jps
Hi there,
I’m leaving on March 4th for Australia from Réunion Island, landing in Perth, then a road trip down to Melbourne before flying out to Vietnam on April 15th.
I’d like to visit Perth and the surrounding area, then head southwest to Margaret River, Albany, Esperance, and back to Perth to catch a flight to Adelaide. From there, I’ll make my way to Melbourne.
1/ What do you think of this itinerary?
2/ For flights, are there any domestic airlines worth prioritizing for good prices?
3/ I’m planning to rent a car after exploring Perth and the area—I’m traveling solo. Any rental companies you’d recommend, as well as nice hotels, B&Bs, or hostels?
4/ Any tips, good deals, or info are welcome—don’t hesitate to share!
Thanks in advance.
I’m planning a solo trip from April 16th to June 2nd!
I have to work for 3 weeks in Papeete when I arrive in French Polynesia, so I can only explore on the weekends (3-day weekends). For my first weekend, I’ll visit Tahiti; my second weekend will be dedicated to Moorea, and the last weekend to Huahine.
After my work period, I’ll continue with my vacation and keep exploring:
Maupiti - 4 nights
Raiatea - 3 nights (including a day trip to Tahaa)
Bora Bora - 3 nights
Rangiroa - 4 nights (could do 3)
Tikehau - 2 nights (could do 3)
Fakarava - 3 nights
For activities, I’m mostly interested in discovering the islands, hiking, and observing wildlife.
I’m not a diver, but I plan to do a beginner’s dive once I’m there. I love snorkeling, though, and I’m wondering if I’m spending too much time in the Tuamotus, which are famous for diving from what I’ve seen.
For travel between the islands, I’ve already looked into the Bora Tuamotu Max pass, which seems like the best option, but I’d love advice on replacing it with one or more ferries.
What do you think? I’m struggling to finalize my itinerary.
We’ll be in Adelaide from February 24th to March 4th and we’d like to spend 3 days and 2 nights on Kangaroo Island.
Any recommendations?
We always travel with simple accommodations
Hi everyone, we're heading to Australia next month. We have 7 days to go from Adelaide to Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road. Should we visit Kangaroo Island or not? We can't decide! Thanks for your advice.
We really want to see kangaroos and koalas in their natural habitat.
Hi everyone,
I’m heading to NZ at the end of January.
It’s peak season—do you think it’s necessary to book activities in advance (like a cruise to Milford Sound), or is it not essential?
Thanks
We’ll be in New Zealand starting March 15th. We’re considering renting a car from Christchurch to Auckland. We’ve read that a lot of ferries have been canceled—is that true? Would it be better to rent one car in the South Island and another in the North Island? Thanks, and happy New Year!
Hi,
When I hear our French friends talk about them, they’re the most beautiful islands in the world.
For those of you who’ve traveled extensively, is that really the case?
Are the prices for accommodation, even basic ones, justified? Isn’t a room in a family-run guesthouse at 150/200 € a bit much?
Are there other islands in Polynesia (non-French) that are just as "paradise-like" but more affordable?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Hi everyone,
A quick introduction. I'm 27, I live in Picardy, and I'm getting married in 2017. We'd like to spend our honeymoon in French Polynesia for 3 weeks.
I'm open to all kinds of advice!!!
I think we'll use a travel agency because our work schedules don't leave us much time to organize the trip... Unless I change my mind! ;-)
But we don’t want our trip to turn into tourist clichés—we really don’t like that. That said, we *do* want to see those postcard-perfect beaches and landscapes!
We don’t dive, but I think we’ll try a beginner’s dive, and maybe even get our Level 1 certification, depending on how it goes (I read some comments about it on this forum).
Anyway, I’m looking for any information and internet links to make this trip a success.
This is THE trip of a lifetime, and it has to be perfect!
Thanks for your help!
I’m also checking out the different threads about Polynesia on this forum ;-)
Hi everyone,
What great news to read that Voyage Forum is back up and running—I’m so happy! 🙂 I need some advice for a trip we’re planning in 2025: New Caledonia and Australia.
We’ll arrive in Australia on September 1, 2025, and the plan is to spend 2 nights in Melbourne to explore the city, then rent a car to drive from Melbourne to Sydney, where we’ll arrive on September 12. Unfortunately, we won’t have time for the Great Ocean Road
I’ve checked several blogs for this route and here’s the itinerary I’ve put together:
9/4: Melbourne to Philip Island (140 km) – 1 night
9/5: Philip Island to Wilsons Promontory National Park – 2 nights
9/7: Raymond Island (free ferry to cross a 200 m sea channel) – Lakes Entrance – 1 night
9/8: Drive to Narooma (stop at Quarry Beach) – 1 night at "Bodalla Park Forest Rest Area"
9/9: Batemans Bay – Pebbly Beach – Dolphin Point – Jervis Bay – 1 night (to be found)
9/10: Jervis Bay and surroundings – 1 night at Bendeela Picnic Area
9/11: Blue Mountains National Park (1 hour from Sydney) – 1 night (to be found)
9/12: Arrival in Sydney
I know we won’t be able to see everything, and this 9-day route is just a starting point. The goal is to avoid rushing—if we see a place we like, we’ll stop, even if it means seeing less. A vacation where we don’t watch the clock too much! 🙂
Does this route (a mix of several blogs where not all stops are noted) seem realistic or too ambitious? Are there certain spots that are more worth prioritizing over the ones I’ve listed? For example, in one of the blogs I read, travelers skipped Blue Mountains National Park because they chose another site (which I’ve forgotten 😎).
For accommodation, we’ll likely be camping (free or paid), so if you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear them! 😎
Our arrival in Sydney on September 12 depends on my hope to participate in the marathon on September 15, 2025. After that, we’ll leave Sydney on September 17 for Ayers Rock.
Thanks in advance for your tips and ideas—it’s always tricky to plan a route from a distance when time is limited.
And long live this site, which I’ve missed so much since 2020! 😎🙂
