Palm Trees and Tropical Breeze Lure Backpackers to the South Pacific’s Hostels

What’s hot in the South Pacific for young, thin-walleted backpackers this winter? David Stanley, author of the “South Pacific Handbook,” offers five best bets:

Moorea, French Polynesia: Tahiti’s neighbor, Moorea, has all the glamour and scenery of Bora-Bora without the high prices. For $8, a high-speed catamaran will zip you over from the capital, Papeete. Connecting buses to anywhere on the island are $2. Two large campgrounds on the beach next to Club Med have communal kitchens where you can cook your own meals. It’s a perfect place to absorb the beauty of Polynesia without having to worry about the cost.

Rarotonga, Cook Islands: More than a dozen low-budget guest houses are scattered around the rim of this volcanic island, which resembles Moorea but is half its size. Some are near the main town. Others make good bases for hikers, and several are close to good beaches (find them at https://www.varas.co.ck). Most of the guest houses provide cooking facilities and bicycles for rent. It’s a laid-back place to spend a week.

Levuka, Fiji: This colorful town of wood buildings was the capital of Fiji until 1882, and the full flavor of those days remains. The lack of a beach has hampered tourism. Instead, small guest houses and one old hotel accommodate savvy travelers drawn by the lovely scenery and quiet atmosphere of this historic place. Two bus and ferry services operate from Suva, the capital, almost every day.

Vavau, Tonga: This island’s uplifted coral arms embrace a vast harbor, the South Pacific’s main yachting venue. Though hikers, snorkelers, divers, cyclists and anglers are well cared for here, Vavau’s two unique attractions are humpback whale watching (July to October) and sea kayaking (https://www.fikco.com/kayaktonga). Budget guest houses are available, and ferries arrive from Tongatapu several times a week.

Upolu, Samoa: Samoa is the eco-tourism capital of the South Pacific. Several dozen small, family-owned beach resorts on the southeast and southwest sides of Upolu Island provide a mat in a traditional thatched Samoan fale, including three local meals, at $15 per person per night. As you lie on your mat and listen to the waves beating a few feet away, you’ll know that you’ve finally found the South Seas of your dreams.

An updated, 920-page seventh edition of the “South Pacific Handbook” ($24) will be available in bookstores in January. Stanley’s new “Tonga-Samoa Handbook,” $16, is just out. Both are published by Moon Travel Handbooks.

If your Pacific travels include a stop in Hawaii, you can now take free eco-tours operated by the Hawaii Rainforest Foundation (HRF). HRF is a nonprofit organization that offers visitors educational programs on Oahu, including hiking, snorkeling, bodyboarding, fishing, mountain biking and guided rain-forest excursions.

Seven guides volunteer time one day a week, providing one guided activity each day. There is no charge, but donations are accepted; they are used for trail maintenance and transportation.

“Our program promotes conservation through education and is instrumental in developing personal participation in the preservation and maintenance of Oahu’s hiking trails and beaches,” says Mitch Berger, director of the Hawaii Rainforest Foundation.

The average group size is 17, and there are no age restrictions. Reservations are handled on a first-come, first-served basis. To sign up, contact Hawaii Rainforest Foundation, 400 Hobron Lane, Suite No. 1708, Honolulu, HI 96836; telephone (877) 624-8669.

If you are willing to stop in the Cook Islands, you can find information on several of the backpacker hostels on the Cook Islands Internet site at https://www.cook-islands.com.

One of the newest facilities is the Lovely Planet, Box 711, Rarotonga; tel. 011-682-25-100. It’s a little less than a mile from the center of town, and beds are $10 a night.

Another source for budget Cook Islands lodging is the 2000 edition of the “BBH Backpacker Accommodation New Zealand Handbook,” now online at https://www.backpack.co.nz. Along with surveying 250 hostels in New Zealand, the handbook offers three suggestions for the Cook Islands. Besides Lovely Planet, it recommends the Arerenga Backpacker Hostel, P.O. Box 223, Rarotonga, tel. 011-682- 20-050, which is five miles from the center of town but next to a swimming beach and within walking distance of a village. It has beds for $8 to $15 a night.

Also recommended is the Ariana Hostel, P.O. Box 925, Rarotonga, tel. 011-682-20-521, which is two miles from the town, with a swimming pool. Beds are $9 to $15.50 a night; cottages are also available.

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Lucy Izon is a Toronto-based freelance writer. Internet https://www .izon.com.