Part of the First Light Travel Group
South Pacific Specialists
+64 (9) 320 1065
Our team consists of individuals who are well-versed in the South Pacific and we have a strong passion for providing detail-oriented and high-quality service. Our mission is simple – to indulge your curiosity about the South Pacific and ensure that your time away is nothing short of perfect.
We understand the importance of making the most out of your time off and believe that every moment counts. We strive to ensure that your travels are filled with unforgettable experiences, from the last song before sunset to hidden gems that only our Absolute lens can reveal.
Even if you’re not sure where to travel, but crave an escape, a treat, a challenge, or the opportunity to learn something new, we’ve got you covered. Our team offers personalized advice full of insight and inspiration that is carefully curated to suit your individual needs. The bespoke itinerary that we create for you will be tailored to your unique preferences and interests.
At Absolute South Pacific, we are proud of the award-winning, unique, and perfectly-tailored travel experiences that we have created for our clients over the years. Our passion for detail and service sets us apart, and we look forward to creating unforgettable memories with you in the South Pacific.
If you are new to Absolute, here is what you can expect: a personalised service, an expertly crafted itinerary and a seamless journey from inspiration to booking.
Browse our handcrafted journeys for inspiration, each one shaped by genuine local insight and a passion for showcasing the best of the South Pacific.
You will work directly with a locally based Travel Designer, no middlemen, just our personal service, expert knowledge and exceptional value.
Together, we will refine every detail, ensuring your trip is exactly as you imagined and more — with all the hard work expertly handled for you.
We’re tailor made – we build all our trips from the ground up, with thoughtfulness, care, and attention to detail. Nothing is too little, and nothing is ever too much. What you see on our site are merely suggestions – we tailor each trip to the individual.
Inspiration from us is priceless – we don’t charge for our quotes and we will work to get them right before you commit.
We’ll save your time, stress and energy. Our travelers lead busy lives. And as the world expands and becomes ever more complex, it can be difficult to find the proper time to plan the escape you deserve; overwhelmed by options, fretting about FOMO. “Have we made the right decision – is this the right time and place?” But it’s our job to cut through that noise – to do the digging, the heavy lifting, the tailoring and precision engineering, all on your behalf.
We are the authority on Travel in New Zealand, Australia and our South Pacific Islands. We launched in 2001 – our travel partners are fully vetted – nothing is left to chance.
We take sustainability seriously – we are recognised with an Enviro Gold rating from Tourism New Zealand. We have joined forces with the ‘Arrowtown Choppers’ (as in tree choppers),this is a collaborative project supported by the Arrowtown local community and local businesses including First Light Travel and New Zealand Trails. The project is a significant part of our strategy as a tourism business to become carbon neutral by 2027. As the forest develops, the carbon captured in the trees and soil will help offset our carbon dioxide emissions.
We are creating a community of like minded travellers – early adopters – trusting us to go beyond traditional travel channels and have fun during the process.
The best time to visit the South Pacific Islands is during the dry season, which runs from May to October. This season offers ideal weather conditions, with plenty of sunshine and lower humidity levels, making it the perfect time to indulge in outdoor activities and explore the islands’ stunning natural beauty.
If you plan on adding New Zealand to your trip – then November to March is the best time to follow on from the Islands.
Passports
Make sure before you arrive that your passport is valid for at least three months beyond your intended departure date
Generally
Visa requirements for travelers visiting the South Pacific Islands vary depending on the country and the length of stay. Some countries, such as Australia and New Zealand, require visitors to obtain a visa before arrival. Others, such as Fiji and Samoa, offer visa-free entry for certain nationalities for stays of up to 90 days. It’s important to check the visa requirements of the specific country you plan to visit before booking your trip, and to ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your intended departure date.
Visa Exemptions
You don’t need a visa to visit New Zealand if you are:
Visa Waivers
Visitors from over 50 countries don’t need a Visitor’s Visa to New Zealand for stays up to three months.
You do need:
The following are visa waiver countries:
Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia (citizens only), Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong (residents with HKSAR or British National–Overseas passports only), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea South, Kuwait, Latvia (citizens only), Liechtenstein, Lithuania (citizens only), Luxembourg, Macau (only if you have a Macau Special Administrative Region passport), Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal (if you have the right to live permanently in Portugal), Qatar, Romania,, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (if you are a permanent resident), United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom (UK) (if you are travelling on a UK or British passport that shows you have the right to reside permanently in the UK), United States of America (USA) (including USA nationals), Uruguay, Vatican City
The International Date Line has confused navigators, explorers, and the everyday traveler for nearly five centuries since humans first began circumnavigating the globe. It is important you do know what date you actually land – don’t let it baffle you!
The International Date Line is the boundary where each calendar day starts and is also known as the “Line of Demarcation” because it separates two calendar dates: When you cross the date line traveling east, you subtract a day, and if you cross the line traveling west, you add a day.
When you travel from North America, you travel across the International Date Line which means you journey forward in time to get here. So when you leave San Francisco on Friday night you land in the South Pacific on Sunday morning. Of course, you may feel like you’ve lost a day but you’ll gain that back on your return journey, arriving home just a few hours after leaving – it’s like time travel!
Tourism is booming again. Travellers have also realised the South Pacific offers a safe, friendly holiday destination with tons of fun things to see and do. With visitor numbers increasing we experience certain seasonal bottlenecks, so to avoid disappointment, reserving parts of your holiday well in advance is strongly recommended.
There are some direct flights available from the USA to some of the South Pacific Islands, but not all. For example, Air Tahiti Nui offers direct flights from Los Angeles to Papeete, French Polynesia, while Fiji Airways offers direct flights from Los Angeles to Nadi, Fiji.
However, there are no direct flights from the USA to New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, or Samoa.
We encourage travelers to take a flight with stopovers in Australia or New Zealand which most major airlines offer direct flights to.
From Europe: flight times are around 24 hours (two flights of around 11-12 hours). Most travel experts recommend a 24-hour stop over in Asia (think Hong Kong, Bangkok, Dubai, Singapore, Tokyo.)
From Australia: Most of the South Pacific is from 3 to 5 hours flying time from the East Coast of Australia.
Think about incorporating Australia or the Pacific Islands in to your itinerary. Talk to one of our Travel Designers – we are the experts in creating combination tours of the South Pacific.
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