Head to Head: French Polynesia vs Fiji

HEAD TO HEADFRENCH POLYNESIA

The South Pacific offers so much more than magnificent beaches

T he South Pacific islands are renowned for their spectacular coastlines and beaches, but they also have a hidden side. A rich Polynesian culture and timehonored traditions – from welcome rituals to food to rugby – are just a few reasons to visit beyond the beach. French Polynesia is home to remote and still pristine islands, while Fiji has a cultural diversity unrivaled in the South Pacific. Our specialists argue why you should prioritize one destination over the other – but which speaks to you?

FRENCH POLYNESIA

By Jenna Sweig French Polynesia is seen as a classic beach destination, but there’s so much to the region. You can lounge in its polished resorts, but you can also explore outlying archipelagos with wild, undeveloped shores.

French Polynesia’s Society Islands (which include Bora Bora and Tahiti) offer peace, tranquility and refined properties. Think white sand, lagoons and overwater bungalows, all complemented by a backdrop of mountains, rainforest and waterfalls.

Your trip could take in beautiful Bora Bora. Here, you can stay in a villa balanced on stilts above the sea and sit on your deck,

watching the sun sparkle on the lagoon. If you fancy something more active, you could go diving to observe the rich marine life of the outer reefs – beginners are welcome.

If you have an appetite for adventure, make your way to Papeete on Tahiti (French Polynesia’s capital) to board a 14-day expedition cruise to the remote Marquesas Islands. En route, the Aranui V takes you through the lagoons of the Tuamotu Islands: pancake-flat, tiny in dimension, and sparsely populated. You might see copra (dried coconut kernels) desiccating in the sun – the islanders’ main source of income.

Your first glimpse of the Marquesas is likely to be their dizzyingly vertical cliffs. They rise straight out of the ocean and are smothered in vegetation. This part of French Polynesia is a far cry from Tahiti – it looks completely unexplored. When I visited I thought: is this how the first Western explorers felt when they laid eyes on these islands in 1595?’

The primary focus of the Aranui V is to carry supplies to the more remote islands of French Polynesia, and it acts as a lifeline to their small populations. Even today, the Marquesas remain relatively untouched by tourism.

Life on the Marquesas Islands is all about simple pleasures. Landing on the island of Nuku Hiva, for example, you might see the dock lined with locals eagerly anticipating the ship’s cargo. People might be playing a ukulele and singing songs, while others cook meat to feed the workers as they unload.

The Marquesas also contain treasures you won’t see elsewhere in the South Pacific: only here can you explore archaeological sites containing the most significant tiki structures outside of Easter Island.

Get me there: An 18-day trip to French Polynesia, including 14 days on the Aranui V, starts from $9,978 pp. For more information, contact Jenna or our French Polynesia specialists on 1-833-640-8050.

28 | AUDLEY TRAVELER

HEAD TO HEAD

vs FIJI

but which part of this dazzling region should you choose?

FIJI

By Chris Wilson The true appeal of Fiji is its geographical, natural and cultural complexity, though its history alone is intriguing. The islands have long been fought over by tribes from Melanesia and Tonga. Fiji’s native tribe, the iTaukei, learned to defend their homeland with efficiency and hostility. The islands’ isolation was ended by the arrival of Wesleyan Christianity; today, Fiji has a warm, welcoming society.

Today, the islands have evolved from a majority of iTaukei to a diverse mixture

of cultures. Even though there are differences, the new belief system is that, no matter your ethnicity, you’re Fijian.

One of the best places to stay in Fiji is Matangi Island. The Douglas family have farmed and looked after Matangi since the 1860s and, like them, you might soon feel you have a special relationship with this place. After a heartfelt song-and-dance greeting, Matangi reveals its treasures. Rooms are beautifully decorated with traditional Fijian ta p a cloth. The dining and entertainment are incredible, and the reefs are alive with dozens of fish, including parrotfish, stingrays, and small reef sharks.

As well as relaxing on Matangi, you can take part in a number of intimate cultural encounters. You might, for example, like to attend a church service in the Yasawa Islands. For me, the vitality and honesty of the singing reminds me of visits to church as a child.

The only thing that the Fijians are more passionate about than religion is sport – particularly Rugby Union. The sevens format is worshipped; every island has a team. Children are taught the importance of kicking the oval-shaped ball as soon as they can walk. And, again, this is something you can see for yourself if you journey beyond the beaches and visit Fijian villages.

Once, in a small village on the island of Qamea, I got a delighted reaction when I told the locals that I come from the town of Rugby in the UK and my great grandfather made the original Gilbert balls used in the earliest international games.

Time and time again, it’s the passion shown by the Fijians that can reshape your experience of this country from ‘just a beach destination’ to an unforgettable, culturally layered community.

Get me there: A 12-day tailor-made trip to Fiji starts from $4,867pp. For more information, please contact Chris or one of our Fiji specialists on 1-833-640-8050.

AUDLEY TRAVELER | 29