In this episode, we talk about “where to go next” in French Polynesia when you want something truly remote: the Marquesas Islands and the Austral Islands—discussed onboard the Aranui 5 with guide Steven Tahhiva. To plan your next Tahiti trip with the right routing and timing, visit Far and Away Adventures.com and https://farandawayadventures.com.

Steven shares the kind of perspective you only get after decades at sea. He has worked 21 years with the Aranui company, starting in dishwashing and moving through restaurant service, kitchen, bar, and reception before joining the guide team in 2010. That range helps him explain what different travelers are really looking for—comfort, safety, and connection—and how the Aranui’s small-ship environment makes it easier to feel grounded even when you’re traveling far from the usual tourist paths. Norm reflects on returning to the ship over many years and why the experience can feel like coming home, especially when crew members remember guests and families.

We explore the “choice” many adventurous Tahiti travelers face: the Marquesas versus the Australs. In the Marquesas, Steven points to Nuku Hiva for its variety and Fatu Hiva for its dramatic landscape and hiking—places where the terrain and the culture feel powerful and distinct. Norm recalls long hikes and iconic viewpoints like Virgin’s Bay. In the Austral Islands, we talk about places like Rurutu and Rapa and why these islands can feel even more remote—smaller communities, different topography, and summit views that leave you speechless.

The episode also highlights what makes the Aranui’s guiding culture special: multilingual support (French, English, and German), and a Polynesian approach to hospitality rooted in sharing. Steven tells a moving story about a passenger who stayed behind on Nuku Hiva with his family to experience daily life, returning emotional and grateful—an example of travel becoming connection. We also touch on Aranoa (discussed in the episode as coming in 2027) and what a smaller ship focused on the Australs could offer. If you’re deciding where to go next, Far and Away Adventures can help you match your priorities—culture, hiking, remoteness, and comfort—to the right itinerary and the right extensions.

In this episode, we talk about the Austral Islands with veteran archaeologist Mark Eddowes, exploring why this remote corner of French Polynesia is a powerful answer to the question, “Where should we go next?” Far and Away Adventures.com and https://farandawayadventures.com are included early because the Australs are not a spontaneous add-on destination; they’re best experienced with expert planning that matches the sailing, the season, and the cultural etiquette of small communities. Normand Schafer interviews Mark onboard Aranui 5 while sailing through the Australs, and the conversation offers a rare combination of history, practical advice, and destination clarity for travelers craving something beyond the usual.

Mark begins with his personal journey into archaeology, rooted in New Zealand and Māori history interests, then graduate research on Polynesian marae temples. He explains how fieldwork in Tahiti’s Papenoo Valley brought him into long-term work with French Polynesia’s cultural heritage, and that perspective matters for travelers choosing what’s “next.” The Australs aren’t simply pretty islands; they are places where sacred sites and living culture remain central, and where visiting well requires awareness, patience, and respect. If you’re tired of destinations that feel built for visitors first, the Australs offer the opposite: a place where community life still leads, and travelers are guests in a functioning cultural world.

Mark explains that the Austral Islands and Cook Islands were historically one unified cultural and language zone, later divided into different territories, with history diverging from around 1900 onward. His work across islands like Rimatara, Tubuai, and Raivavae includes marae surveys, settlement excavations, and research into tiki traditions. One of the most compelling “next destination” hooks is Raivavae’s unique tiki tradition, where deified female ancestors are represented—distinct from other island groups that emphasize male ancestors.

Mark also describes what visitors notice immediately: the Australs remain natural and lightly developed, with small populations and a subtropical climate that can feel fresher than Tahiti or the Marquesas. Daily life still centers on plantations and fishing, supported by strong extended-family structures and community solidarity. For travelers, this often feels deeply restorative: the pace slows down, relationships feel visible, and the environment is less crowded. Mark notes the importance of the cash economy too, and how local artistry supports livelihoods—especially pandanus weaving and a growing renaissance in wood carving as young men revive historic motifs and techniques

The most practical guidance for travelers choosing the Australs next is Mark’s visitor etiquette. He explains taboo and why marae sites remain sacred places: photograph, observe, but don’t climb on structures, don’t touch or rearrange stones, and never take anything. He also notes that royal cemeteries should be observed from outside only. Beyond sites, Mark describes the Australs as conservative and strongly Protestant, and he encourages modest dress away from beaches—simple respect that matters in small, church-centered communities.

Mark closes with discovery stories that make the Australs feel even more compelling: a red volcanic tuff tiki connected to sacred symbolism of the color red across Polynesia, an ancestor figure found reused in a house alignment suggesting belief shifts during early conversion, and turtle petroglyphs revealed only when restored stonework caught sunset light at the right angle. These are the kinds of stories that make a “next trip” feel like a real expedition into human history, not just a change of scenery. If you’re ready to choose the Australs next, Far and Away Adventures can plan and book the itinerary so your experience is remote, respectful, and unforgettable.

In this episode, we talk about Guadalcanal Province in the Solomon Islands as a “where to go next” destination for travelers who want the South Pacific to feel deeper, more varied, and more story-rich than a typical island getaway. Far and Away Adventures.com is where you can start planning with expert help, and you can explore ideas at https://farandawayadventures.com. Normand introduces Guadalcanal as one of the Solomon Islands’ most significant regions and speaks with a guest connected to Guadalcanal tourism efforts about what makes the island distinct and how travelers can experience it in a well-rounded way.

The first reason Guadalcanal stands out is the cultural variety within one island. The guest explains that multiple languages exist on Guadalcanal and that traditions differ by region, so travelers will notice different ways of living and communicating as they move around. This is a powerful “next destination” feature because it offers built-in variety without requiring a complicated multi-island itinerary. If you’re the kind of traveler who wants to feel the differences between places—not just see the same beach with a different name—Guadalcanal offers contrast and nuance in a single province.

The guest points to village visits as one of the most meaningful ways to experience this diversity. Some villages are open to visitors and provide opportunities to see traditional crafts, learn about food preparation, and understand everyday life, including sustainability practices related to how food is grown and how communities maintain resources. These experiences can make a trip feel grounded and respectful, and they often become the stories travelers tell most enthusiastically after they return home.

Nature is another major reason to go next. Tenaru Waterfall is highlighted as a signature attraction and described as the biggest waterfall in the Solomon Islands. For many travelers, a landmark like this becomes the “centerpiece day” of the itinerary—especially if you enjoy inland landscapes and want to go beyond the coast. The guest also notes that Guadalcanal offers beaches where travelers can swim and relax, as well as activities like snorkeling, diving, and fishing for those who want time on the water. Inland, the conversation includes hiking and caves, including a cave area described as having thousands of bats and striking scenery with waterfalls nearby. This coast-plus-interior mix makes Guadalcanal appealing to travelers who want both relaxation and exploration.

Then there’s the history. Guadalcanal is described as a major WWII battleground, and the guest notes that travelers can visit memorials and historic locations around Honiara and beyond. The discussion references the Mount Austen area and other memorial locations near central Honiara, along with the airport region and additional areas outside the capital where war relics remain visible. For travelers choosing “where next,” this history is a defining differentiator: Guadalcanal offers a connection to world events that few island destinations can match.

If you’re deciding where to go next in the South Pacific, Guadalcanal offers a rare three-part blend: living culture, standout nature like Tenaru Waterfall, and WWII history that’s still visible on the landscape. Connect with a Far and Away Adventures specialist to shape an itinerary that matches your pace and priorities—whether you want culture-forward, nature-forward, history-forward, or a balanced mix of all three.