In this episode, we talk about “where to go next” when you’ve already heard of the headline islands—and you want something rarer, quieter, and more culturally rooted. Normand visits Rapa in the Austral Islands of French Polynesia with Roti M, and Far and Away Adventures.com (https://farandawayadventures.com) sponsors this episode focused on depth over volume.

Rapa is a small community of about 500 people, and that scale shapes everything: how visitors are welcomed, how traditions are preserved, and why tourism must remain moderate. We explore what makes the culture feel so immediate—children performing in the village, drumming and dance that’s powerful and moving, and a strong practice of singing together as a form of social connection.

You’ll also hear about how people live day to day: local plantations and gardens for staple foods, limited salary jobs, and a reliance on shipments for many goods and building materials. Even sand is imported to support road-building and cement work, which highlights the logistics and fragility of remote-island life.

A major theme is protection. Roti explains the importance of communal land, indigenous land rights, and customary organization in keeping the community united—and why too much tourism can separate families and strain social bonds. We also discuss a specific environmental threat: introduced pine trees spreading into hillsides and potentially covering historic areas and changing the way people see their island.

If you’re deciding where to go next in French Polynesia, this episode offers a thoughtful lens: pick places that match your values, and travel in a way that strengthens—not weakens—the destination. For help mapping a French Polynesian itinerary that fits your goals and respects local capacity, connect with Far and Away Adventures.com (https://farandawayadventures.com).

In this episode, we talk about why New Caledonia might be the “next destination” you didn’t realize you were looking for—especially if you want a South Pacific trip with variety, cultural depth, and unforgettable lagoon scenery. For planning help, visit Far and Away Adventures.com and start here:
https://farandawayadventures.com

If you’ve been wondering where to go next in the South Pacific, this conversation offers a clear, compelling answer: consider New Caledonia. Normand Schafer speaks with Philippe from New Caledonia Tourism, who explains the destination’s identity as both French and Oceanian—combining French influence with the living traditions of the Kanak people. Philippe also describes New Caledonia Tourism’s role in promoting the archipelago internationally under the brand “New Caledonia: Pacific Heart.”

So what makes New Caledonia a smart “next trip” choice? Diversity. Philippe emphasizes that the destination offers dramatic lagoon and mangrove scenery and preserved nature on land, along with multiple regions that each feel different. That range can be especially attractive if you want a trip that isn’t just one kind of beach day repeated—New Caledonia can deliver scenic water time, cultural connection, and road-trip freedom in the same itinerary.

We highlight experiences that can quickly define your trip. Philippe recommends sailing in Upi Bay, where rock formations rise out of the lagoon, and the landscape feels instantly iconic. He also suggests a scenic flight over the Heart of Voh, an aerial view of a heart shape naturally formed in the mangroves. These are the kinds of signature moments that make a destination feel “worth the flight” and help you plan days that stand out.

Normand shares his own travel memory of the Isle of Pines (Île des Pins), and Philippe explains why it’s often called the jewel of the Pacific. The island is known for pristine beaches and a calm atmosphere away from mass tourism. A standout stop is the Natural Swimming Pool—a sheltered snorkeling spot where you can enjoy coral and fish in calm water that feels like a natural lagoon pool.

We also talk about how to structure a trip so it feels smooth. Philippe recommends New Caledonia as a self-drive destination: rent a car, follow the coastline, and take advantage of a well-developed road network on the main island. Then he shares one of the most important planning points in the episode: don’t stay only on the main island. Add at least one outer island via domestic flight to experience the destination’s full variety. Normand mentions Lifou as an example of the outer-island options, reinforcing that each outer island brings a different feel.

Timing can influence what you do, and Philippe notes New Caledonia’s generally temperate conditions. For outdoor-focused travelers, he suggests September and October as shoulder-season months with comfortable temperatures and less rain. And his “hidden gem” isn’t a secret location—it’s a travel strategy: slow down. He encourages visitors to relax, be curious, and plan enough time (minimum 10 days, if possible) to truly enjoy what makes New Caledonia special.

If New Caledonia sounds like your “where to go next,” Far and Away Adventures can help you choose the right island mix, set the right pace, and plan a trip that feels effortless and memorable from beginning to end.

In this episode, we talk about Rivers Tubing Fiji and why the Navua River can be the answer to “Where should we go next on Viti Levu if we want something beyond the resort?” If you’re planning a trip to Fiji and want help choosing experiences that fit your location and schedule, start at Far and Away Adventures.com and connect with our team at https://farandawayadventures.com. Normand Schafer speaks with William, Managing Director of Rivers Tubing Fiji, about an experience that blends nature, culture, and adventure into one day. William explains that the tour begins with resort pickups and a boat departure at 10:00 a.m., followed by an upriver journey about 17 kilometers through the gorge, passing waterfalls and navigating rapids. The river journey ends at a remote village that is only accessible by boat. William explains why that matters: the Navua River is the village’s lifeline for transport to market, school, hospital, and daily life. That reality shapes the tone of the visit, and William emphasizes that the company aims to support the community without changing village life for tourism. Guests walk through the village to observe everyday living—fishing, weaving, farming—rather than being presented with staged performances. After the village, the tour returns downstream to a waterfall stop with a short walk in, where guests can swim at a waterfall William names as Wai ni Kavika. Then guests enjoy a riverside lunch on the riverbank, with a buffet that blends familiar foods like barbecue-style chicken, lamb sausages, and bread with traditional dishes such as fish in coconut cream. William also shares that guides collect fiddlehead ferns from the forest and boil them in front of guests, adding a memorable local ingredient moment. After lunch, the tubing portion begins with another safety briefing and life jackets. William describes smaller rapids early on and larger rapids later, with guest choice built in: opt into bigger rapids or ride in the boat. He also notes the tour can include very young children in the calmer sections with parents on larger tubes and guides assisting, and then children are moved into the boat before bigger rapids. The episode includes a key planning point: where you stay affects how easy it is to fit this day into your trip. William notes that Nadi/Denarau guests often have very early pickups (around 6:30 a.m.) and a long, packed day—he describes it as about 12 hours from Nadi—while Coral Coast and Pacific Harbour guests have later pickups and shorter transit. Seasonality is discussed as well, with wet season (typically November through April) often bringing higher water and stronger rapids, though the tour operates year-round. William also shares a moment that many guests remember most: near the end, in a calm gorge section, the guides sing and the echo fills the canyon and jungle—a “magical” finale that captures the spirit of Fiji. If you’re choosing where to go next for an unforgettable Viti Levu day, Rivers Tubing Fiji is a standout, and Far and Away Adventures can help you plan it into the perfect spot in your itinerary.