Isle of Pines, New Caledonia

If you’re visiting Isle of Pines on a cruise ship, chances are a tender will take you to shore where the sandy curve of Kuto Bay stretches out in front of you, with the seaside restaurant at Hotel Kou Bugny in the distance. It’s about an 800 metre walk to Hotel Kou Bugny and you’ll most likely pass BBQ’s and food stalls set up by locals for visiting cruise ship passengers.

If your plans involve relaxing on the beach you can alternate between the silky sands of Kuto and Kanumera Bays, they are separated by a short walk through trees … Read the rest

Mystery Island, Vanuatu

Chances are if you’re visiting Mystery Island in Vanuatu you’re going to be on a cruise, although the little island does have an airport and air strip. We were onboard the Carnival Legend, part of the Carnival Cruise Line that also owns P&O Cruises. We sailed out of Sydney late December 2017 and arrived by tender to Mystery Island on 1 January 2018.

Mystery Island is uninhabited because it is thought to be haunted, as such I was expecting sand, sea and not much else, I was in for a surprise. We booked an advanced snorkeling tour (AUD$82) on the … Read the rest