Dreaming of an island escape? Somewhere tropical…somewhere warm, where the waves crash on the white sand beaches and afternoons are spent lazing in warm waters, cocktail in hand. Need more fodder for your daydreams? Here are a few of our favourite beaches.
1 | LALOMANU BEACH SAMOA
Lalomanu is a village on the east coast of Upolu Island in Samoa. The white sandy seaside is called Lalomanu Beach, one of the most popular beaches in Samoa. You’ll find beach fale accommodations run by locals, including Litia Sini Beach Resort and my favourite, Tafua Beach Fales. The beach has stunning coral lagoons and one of the best views in Samoa. From the beach, you can view uninhabited Nu'utele Island off the coast from the village. There are activities like snorkelling and sea kayaks are available in the area. The restaurant at Tafua is great — casual, cheap and good food, in a great atmosphere and overlooking the stunning sands. Keep your eyes open in the water for bright blue starfish that litter the bottom of the white sands. Lalomanu is a 75-minute drive from the capital city of Apia.
2 | YASAWA ISLANDS FIJI
The Yasawa Islands is an archipelago of about 20 volcanic islands in the Western Division of Fiji, with an total area of approximately 135 square kilometres. These islands are incredible and you’ll find a couple of stunning resorts and spas surrounded by 11 deserted beaches, each one a private paradise. Resorts here organise private picnic lunches with bottles of Champagne and gourmet prepared baskets. You’ll be delivered to a beach of your own — bliss!
3 | ONE FOOT ISLAND AITUTAKI, COOK ISLANDS
Aitutaki — also traditionally known as Araura, Ararau or Utataki — is one of the Cook Islands, north of Rarotonga. It has a population of approximately 2,000 and is the second most visited island of the Cook Islands, and often thought of as being the prettiest.
One of the outer islands within the lagoon is One Foot Island. Traditionally this was the ‘customs post’ and is still officially a port — so if you visit this sandy little bay, take your passport and you can get it stamped! Take a daytrip out to One Foot island and you will find some of the best snorkelling in the world, alongside the whitest, cleanest sand and clearest blue waters I have ever seen. Definitely one of the world’s best beaches!
4 | CHAMPAGNE BEACH VANUATU
With a name like this, it was bound to be one of my favourite beaches! Champagne Beach in Vanuatu is a small crescent shaped beach of white powdery sand, sloping down into a coral fringed lagoon of crystal clear turquoise water. The stretch of beach is backed by unspoilt rain forest which gradually rises to mountains overlooking the shore. The sea here is calm and shallow and incredibly clear. The name Champagne Beach originated from the observation of an effervescent quality of the waters of the lagoon at low tide, reminiscent of Champagne!
5 | TAMAE BEACH TAHITI
Although lush Moorea in Tahiti is famous for its jagged, emerald-green peaks, its beaches are none too shabby either! While some beaches are private to resorts, the public beaches are widely accessible. One of the most popular is Temae Beach, which blends into some of the other popular surf beaches along the east coast and Hauru Point, a winding, three mile beach on the west coast. Renowned as a safe beach for swimming, Temae is located between the Sofitel Hotel and the airport and sometimes a little crowded on weekends. For fantastic snorkelling, go to the Hauru’s point located between Les Tipaniers and Hibiscus hotels.
