Which islands are best for two or three weeks in the South Pacific?

April 24, 2026 — 5:00am

My wife and I are planning a two-to-three week holiday in the South Pacific in September to October to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. We are looking for a combination of relaxed beach time and interesting cultural experiences. Which countries and islands could you recommend?
R. Dixon, Carlton, Vic

You might start with Fiji. There are several daily flights, the Fijian cocktail of warmth, coral seas and smiling locals is hard to resist and accommodation options range from family-friendly resorts on Denaru Island, close to Nadi Airport, to glossy island resorts to castaway islands with thatch-roof bungalows.

Since you’re looking for cultural enrichment, you might head for the Yasawas, a string of six main islands plus numerous satellite islets off the coast of Viti Levu, Fiji’s main island. A private bungalow at the acclaimed Octopus Resort at Liku Liku Bay on Waya Island costs from $229 a night in low season, yet it comes with a massage centre with spa treatments, daily yoga classes and a program of immersive cultural experiences including a visit to the local church on Sundays.

For your second island, consider Samoa, which you can reach on a non-stop flight from Nadi. It consists of nine islands, although you can discount all but the largest two, Savaii and Upolu, where most of the population lives. At the centre of Upolu the volcanic peak of Mount Fito forms a waistband from which the island falls like a giant skirt, pleated with rainforest and ribboned with gushing streams, descending to a final frill of beach trimmed with coral reefs.

As well as resorts, and Taumeasina Island Resort and Saletoga Sands Resort & Spa are two of the standouts, the Samoan government has encouraged villagers to establish guesthouses based on their own domestic architecture, and the coast is now ringed with these fale-guesthouses. Simple, and mostly open to the elements, these are a natural extension of fa’a Samoa, the Samoan way. If you want to experience Polynesian village life at a bargain price, with a verandah overlooking your own beach, it’s a perfect fit. From Apia, the capital, there are non-stop flights to Brisbane.

We’re going on a Princess cruise from Florida through the Panama Canal and up to Alaska. On board Wi-Fi costs are horrendous. We plan on buying an eSIM for use on land, but any alternatives for on board? I found a company called GigSky offering cruise and land eSIMs, but reviews are mixed.
D. O’Donnell, Clontarf NSW

MedallionNet, which is Princess Cruise’s onboard Wi-Fi system, costs $US25 ($35) a day for one device and $US45 ($63) a day for up to four devices, so your description is apt. GigSky is a satellite-based data system and the only realistic option if you want to stay connected on a cruise without paying these fees. The GigSky eSIM data plans for cruises in the Americas/Caribbean vary from a 100Mb seven-day free trial plan to a 10Gb, 30-day plan at $US123.19 ($173). Reviews of GigSky’s performance on cruise ships vary, however the fact that the company is prepared to offer a free trial does inspire confidence. What you could do is sign up for the free 100Mb plan and if that works, upgrade to the data plan that suits your needs.

My wife and I are planning a trip next year starting with two days in Rome including a visit to the Colosseum. What’s the best way to buy tickets and are there any other attractions we should not miss? We are both nearly 70, moderately fit and will be travelling on foot.
G. Stanley, Central Coast, NSW

You should buy your Colosseum tickets in advance, and from the official website. Two days is tight. Four would be just enough to sample a few of the many sensational things this amazing city has to offer, but if two days is all you can spare, St Peter’s Basilica is a must, and although entry is free, the queue is often long, so book a timed entry on the official website. The same applies to the nearby Sistine Chapel.

From here you might take a stroll through the Trastevere area, which feels more like a lived-in village rather than an open-air museum, a place to wander around and soak up atmosphere rather than tick off sights. Have a bowl of cacio e pepe pasta here, it’s a Roman classic, and this is one of Rome’s best food districts. Rise early and wander through the market in Campo De’ Fiori, have a gelato in Piazza Navona, take a stroll along chic Via Condotti, hang out on the Spanish Steps and round it off with a pizza from Pizza della Madonna dei Monti in one of the city’s chic districts.

My wife and I are heading off on a European holiday including a 14-night cruise from Istanbul followed by Rome for three nights and Bordeaux for seven nights, but I need advice on Madrid. We love our food and wine, what should be on our list for Madrid?
S. Halliday, Rockdale, NSW

Madrid has one of the world’s greatest assemblies of art galleries, and they should not be overlooked. The list includes the Museo del Prado for classical art, Reina Sofia for modern art including Picasso’s Guernica and the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum for European masters. Since Madrid is also one of Europe’s great culinary cities, mix those galleries with the city’s food and wine experiences, eating your way through neighbourhoods, markets and late-night taverns.

Do a proper tapas crawl, and that should include the La Latina, Malasana and Chueca districts, each of which has its own distinct character. The rule is one drink and one tapa in each bar, then move on. Madrid’s food markets are a lesson in the city’s social norms as well as its gastronomy, and put Mercado de San Miguel, Mercado de San Anton and Mercado de la Paz on the list. The taverns are the place to try some of the traditional staples of the city’s workers. Typical dishes include cocido madrileno, a hearty chickpea stew, bacalao stews and offal if you’re feeling the Anthony Bourdain vibe.

You might also want to include a high-end restaurant and Diverxo is currently rated number four on the list of the world’s best restaurants. Another standout, Sobrino de Botin, founded in 1725, is famous for its roast suckling pig. Finally, churros with chocolate, thick and sweet, a late-night classic.

Travel advice is general; readers should consider their personal circumstances