traveller
OUR region
Kabakon Island, Duke of York Islands, PNG Meet the locals – which may include a friendly dugong or two – on a visit to the Duke of York Islands, part of the Bismarck Archipelago in East New Britian Province. The islands are off the beaten track in a peaceful corner of the world, yet easily reached by banana boat from Kokopo Town. Peaceful Kabakon Island has all the accountrements of a great beach: white sand, aquamarine water, swaying palms and spectacular snorkelling straight off the shore. Stay at Maira Home Stay, in the traditional village on Doy Island, or Wara Pis Guesthouse on Ururuan Island. See villagehuts.com.
Natadola Beach, Coral Coast, FIJI Fiji’s Yasawa Islands hit the collective consciousness when Brooke Shields frisked along the beaches of Nanuya Lailai in Blue Lagoon in 1980, and the islands have long featured in the world’s top 10. So it’s a tough call to name just one. There’s no hardship to get to one of the most admired: Natadola Beach on the Coral Coast is right out the front of the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa, 45 minutes from the international airport on Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu. Expect five-star views of turquoise waters to match the five-star service back on land. See fiji.intercontinental.com, fiji.travel.
November – December 2014
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