Where in the South Pacific should I go to?

[Keith009]

OP reedited: I am not at my best early in the morning.

I have 20k UA miles to burn. Have been meaning to do so for a while to avoid having to buy or transfer miles every so often to keep them alive, but of course now I need to do so before the New Year when the enhanced mileage redemption levels kick in. So obviously I'm redeeming for a South Pacific award with stopover in AKL or WLG.

Anyone has any ideas on which South Pacific island is the best for a rockin' beachside party? Something like Seminyak in Bali would be nice.

I looked at PPT as it'd seem the best value redemption wise, being one of the furthest islands away from AKL. But seems like everything else there (food, accom etc) is far beyond what a student budget can afford...

Noumea?

Fiji?

Somewhere I've not thought of and is out of the ordinary? It'd have to be on Air NZ's route map for this to work obviously. I'm looking to spend no more than 5 nights away - 2 in AKL/WLG, and 3 on yet to be determined South Pacific island.

Any advice appreciated.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I have been to Fiji twice...and New Caldonia once (Easter 2008).

Neither places would offer rockin beach parties that I am aware....of say the Thai Full Moon Party Type anyway. However some Fiji resorts are target young adults..and so have active nightlives.

I note that you will only be there a few days..so I will make my comments in that context.

Fiji is very friendly...but very laid back..as per "Island" culture where enjoying life is a focus..so service may be friendly but will be on Island Time. Food quality is variable.. It tends to a "resort" style destination....with many locations requiring lenghty transfers (ferry, boat, seaplane...) and so that would eat into your time available substantially.

So you would want to stay in or near Nadi...which I did not do. But there are places available including 5 star ones.

New Caledonia
Seems to basically avoided by people from Oz and NZ despite being so close. I think this is basically due to the prices as being propped up by the French Government prices are high...comparable to France.. Most of the tourists are French and in Noumea many of the locals too...or French expats.

However the upside of this is that food is good quality at most places.

You only have a few days...so Noumea would be your main option (I had 2.5 weeks and so flew to the Isle des Pines...and renteda car to explore the Grand Terre including 2 nights staying with a French Guy who was a bit of a gourmet who filled us with wonderful French Cooking even if the room was primitive).

In Noumea the Capital and about an hour or so from the Airport there are for it's size a goodly number of good quality restaurants to dine at along the two main beaches (the beaches are ok, but not as wonderful as those further away.

Car rental is compared to other things relatively cheap....and Airport Transfers expensive!!

So a good idea is to rent a car at the airport for your time there as the transfers will cost you a goof % of the rental anyway....and then you have car to visit the sites, beaches and try various restaurants.

Noumea as it hasa hip French attitide also hasa number of nightclubs (but as I had my 3 daughters with me I did not sample them).

I stayed at in a two room apartment as there were 5 of us (Casa Del Sole)...where basically you cannot eat in house, but that does not matter as there are restaurants and cafes just between the Hotel and Beach. I chose it as it had views of both beaches...which were both close as it was on the "neck" between the two main beaches....and because it was located on the main restaurant strip.

So breakfast by the beach witha nice Latte and French baked croissants or baguetes = wonderful.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Oh....and for Noumea we had redeemed with QF but flew with AirCaledonia for the Aus to Nouemea legs.

One tip was that to gain lounge access on the return flight that you need to be registered in advance...so on flying in remember to have the Dragon at the Lounge in Australia request it for you.

If you are not on their list they will not admit you.

Not sure if this applies for UA redemptons...but it may.

 

[docjames]

I think you'll struggle to find a "party island" anywhere in the Pacific - it's all more of a "lay back on the beach and do nothing" type of holiday place.

An option would be to find a resort that has decent watersports (most have some, some are better than others).

Could you redeem to link to a RTW / *ONE* ex-Pacific? Then you could have a few days at start and end of *ONE* to relax / recover.

Not sure of you can redeem to Vanuatu but it was quite nice too. And Samoa - is that an option?

i think (generally speaking) there are pros/cons to each, but you may be best going on availability of flights / timing of flights as (relatively speaking) the island holidays are much the same!

 

[ANstar]

Oh....and for Noumea we had redeemed with QF but flew with AirCaledonia for the Aus to Nouemea legs.

.

I looked at redeeming on this route as well, until I got to the final page when I saw taxes of about $400 (Normal fares is $800 odd)

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I looked at redeeming on this route as well, until I got to the final page when I saw taxes of about $400 (Normal fares is $800 odd)

Yes when I booked NC was more expensive tax wise than other places such as Fji...

However from memory it was just over $200 odd pp then...so has gone up appreciably..

I mainly booked as my wife and daughter wanted to practice and improve their French.

However also with QFF points (not relevant to the OP) Fiji cost more points than NC ( 50K return vs 36K return) from MEL.

I note that Taxes to Fiji are now $309...so they are up too.

Noumea is now $439!!! as you say.

Recent $Aus devaluation at work it would seem.

 

[AviationNZ]

I went to Beachcomber Island off Fiji when I was in my mid 20's and it was a pretty good party island. It's about the only one in the area that is more tailored to a younger crowd rather than couples or families.

 

[drron]

Well as you know I am no party animal.However you could combine the award with a mattress run.SPG have the Westin,Denarau Villas and the Sheraton resort all next to each other,so 3 nights=3 stays.The Sheraton Resort has just re opened after a major refurb-
Fiji Daily Post News - Sheraton reopens after renovation

 

[docjames]

with a mattress run

In the context of "party island" that could be taken out of context...

 

[drron]

In the context of "party island" that could be taken out of context...

Only by people in Brisvegas

 

[Keith009]

Cheers folks, quite a bit to think about.

Now to find time...:-|

 

[Keith009]

NZ award availability is harder to come by in whY than J...

 

[kkutasi]

OP reedited: I am not at my best early in the morning.

I have 20k UA miles to burn. Have been meaning to do so for a while to avoid having to buy or transfer miles every so often to keep them alive, but of course now I need to do so before the New Year when the enhanced mileage redemption levels kick in. So obviously I'm redeeming for a South Pacific award with stopover in AKL or WLG.

Anyone has any ideas on which South Pacific island is the best for a rockin' beachside party? Something like Seminyak in Bali would be nice.

I looked at PPT as it'd seem the best value redemption wise, being one of the furthest islands away from AKL. But seems like everything else there (food, accom etc) is far beyond what a student budget can afford...

Noumea?

Fiji?

Somewhere I've not thought of and is out of the ordinary? It'd have to be on Air NZ's route map for this to work obviously. I'm looking to spend no more than 5 nights away - 2 in AKL/WLG, and 3 on yet to be determined South Pacific island.

Any advice appreciated.

QF009, i can't speak for other south pacific islands, but i was in New Caledonia in May. i dont recommend it. it wasn't bad, but hardly worth writing home about.

as a few have mentioned, it is very expensive - even more so than Europe. the local beers and food are rubbish, so they have to import everything.

there's very few french expats in Noumea. i would say the island is 90% islanders, and they just sit around in parks pretending to be rastas.

Noumea has very few sights worth seeing, although its pleasant. the countryside is much more worthwhile and is similar to North Queensland rainforests. i would recommend hiring a car and driving around for a few days. generally the further north you get, the better i found it.

all the tourist area in Noumea is the Anse Vata/Baie des Citrons area. there's about four hotels, just as many restaurants and a Casino. again, it was pleasant, but hardly fantastic. and not exactly 'party central'.

they promote themselves as the Paris of the Pacific... the truth is its just like an under-developed Fiji where the people speak French instead of English... and much more expensive

 

[Keith009]

Thanks for all your suggestions. I've been spending a fair bit of time on the ANA tool. Unfortunately it would seem a struggle getting seats in whY on NZ TT and South Pacific routes. Looking in Sep I can only find J. They seem to drip feed availability as they get closer to departure date which doesn't help me as I need to get rid of the miles by end of Dec...:-|