Melanesia

Eco-friendly travel guide to Melanesia advises how to be a responsible tourist. Learn how to travel in a sustainable way and how to respect the local people and culture. Make your trip green by supporting locally owned hotels, organic restaurants and other businesses. Read more on how to protect the environment by making conscientious choices and how to travel green in Melanesia, Oceania.

New Caledonia, Melanesia

Air quality: 2.5 - 3.0 / 5

Bus connections: 3.0 - 3.5 / 5

Train connections: 2.5 - 3.0 / 5

Hitchhiking: 2.0 - 2.5 / 5

National parks: 3.0 - 3.5 / 5

Outdoor activities: 3.5 - 4.0 / 5

Locals' English level: 2.0 - 2.5 / 5

Safety: 2.5 - 3.0 / 5

Accommodation: US$20 - $150

Budget per day: US$30 - $200

Responsible Travel

Melanesia is an oceanic sub-region extended from the New Guinea Island and resides in the Pacific Ocean’s southwest frontier. This region is further divided into four sub-regions or Fiji countries, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea. More reb-regions are present in this region of Melanesia.

Being surrounded by the ocean, this region is home to some of the world's best views and natural landscapes. The region is home to comparatively backward residents, and therefore the rapid growth of urbanization has not reached there yet.

People living there are very conservative regarding the environment. They work day and night to maintain a proper ecological balance. Some of these sub-regions in Melanesia are also very tourist-heavy during prime seasons, and in those seasons, the residents put pressure on these tourists to do the same.

Some of the basic guidelines that tourists and residents both tend to follow when traveling to the region of Melanesia are as follows.

All wastes can be categorized into further categories. In the region of Melanesia, there are several specifically designated trash cans for these wastes. Both residents and tourists dump their trash in these bins to keep the environment clean. Dumping of waste anywhere one feels like is strictly prohibited.

The countries and other subregions that are located in Melanesia are small in landmass. Therefore traveling there by foot is not an issue there. Their people are advised to walk or take a bicycle to roam around in the country. This keeps the use of motorized vehicles low and keeps the air pollution level low as well.

Air Quality and Pollution

The rise of air pollution is prominent in the world. The air is one of the most crucial things that need to be in the top state to live comfortably. The air quality often gets easily tampered with due to several harmful substances emitted into the atmosphere on a daily basis.

Coming to the air quality status of the region of Melanesia and its sub-region, studies show that Melanesia air quality is in the 0 to 15 points range. This point means that the air in the region of Melanesia is as fine as it can get. This is one of the most ideal air quality one can get. The pollution level is very low, and the region's humidity stays around 80 to 90 percent.

These numbers are not exactly accurate, but rather, an average number is taken from a large number of studies. This region's top-quality air is what makes this one of the top tourist spots in the world.

The high state of air quality is well-maintained as of now, and if this is followed, the state seems to be the same further down the line. Tourists who visit Melanesia's region have been following the laws and regulations for controlling air quality, as are the citizens. The government's rules and regulations have played an essential role in keeping the city’s air quality in good shape.

Respect the Culture

The greater part of Melanesia's dialects are individuals from the Austronesian language family or one of the various Papuan dialects, which is a topographical term covering many separate language families. By one check, there are 1,319 dialects in Melanesia, dispersed across a limited quantity of land. The extent of 716 square kilometers for each language is by a wide margin the thickest pace of dialects comparable to landmass on Earth, just about multiple times as thick as in Nigeria, a country renowned for its a high number of dialects in a minimized region.

Notwithstanding the numerous native dialects, pidgins and creole dialects have grown, regularly from the exchange and social communication hundreds of years before European experience. Generally remarkable among these are Tok Pisin and Hiri Motu in Papua New Guinea. They are currently both thought about particular creole dialects. The utilization of Tok Pisin is developing. It is now and then educated as a first language, most importantly by multi-social families. Different creoles incorporate Unserdeutsch, Solomon Islands Pijin, Bislama, Papuan Malay, and other related dialects.

Top 10 Places to Visit

Melanesia is one of the top tourist destinations in the world. There are a lot of beautiful tourist spots and localities that people often visit. Here are some of the top tourist destinations in Melanesia.

Sabeto Hot Springs And Mud Pool: Whoever thought of the possibility of hot springs had maybe visited this piece of Fiji. Notwithstanding, the experience you will arrive at is stunning. The springs and pools lie energetically in Sabeto Valley, standing by to normally touch the individuals who drop. The recollections individuals get from rising in the sand showers followed by cleaning in the natural aquifers are essentially remarkable! Another beautiful location that lies deliberately en route to the mud pool is a beautiful garden. This tropical nursery has an assortment of sweet-smelling orchids and lily lakes.

Port Moresby: It is the capital city of Papua New Guinea. The best that this city has to bring to the table are referenced beneath. Something else, there are some other brilliant attractions which you can likewise go for other than them. First of all, appreciate the celebrated Bomana War Cemetery. This graveyard lies discreetly roughly 1900 meters toward the North of Port Moresby. It is home to the remaining parts of the 3,824 troopers of Commonwealth. They kicked the bucket during the battle between Bougainville Island and the Territory of Papua. Until this point, the burial ground is looked after well. Likewise, a landmark was added to offer importance to the fallen warriors' weight during the war. One must also wait for a bit and enjoy the Port Moresby Nature Park. It is a mix of social, zoological, and natural parks. Also, it is perceived universally. The recreation center is home to various and fluctuating types of creatures and plants. You will require around an hour and a half to totally visit this winsome park.

Kokoda Trail: Some time ago, there was a fight for supremacy between the Japanese and the Allied powers in World War II. The war seethed for around 120 days. In the midst of the war, more than 600 servicemen died. They were the Australian starting point. That verifiable war is the thing that brought forth the Kokoda Trail. The path prompts a town called Kokoda, someplace in the region of Oro. Hiking through this path involves experiencing Owen Stanley Range, which is portrayed by thick woods. You will likewise experience the pinnacles of a mountain called Bellamy, which is around 2490 meters high. The excursion takes somewhere in the range of 4 and 12 days and is very unpleasant.

Cenderawasih Bay National Park: This park is famous for the few types of corals found here, with more than 150 sorts. A portion of the sorts incorporates Alcyonacea, dark, and blue corals. There is a lot of vegetation, too, with more than 46 sorts of plants on record. The regular kinds which overwhelm incorporate Avicennia, Bruguiera, and Metroxylon Sagu. The national park won’t release you before you see numerous kinds of fish and turtles. We should simply say, investigating the recreation center is healthy.

Jayapura City: Jayapura is the capital city of Papua. The area is wealthy in normal attractions. The three most well-known spots that can get us going are Lake Sentani, Base G Beach, and McArthur Hill. Lake Sentani is the greatest of lakes in Papua. The view given by the lake lying before the mountains is dazzling for as you will discover. With this impact, an exceptional spot called Khalkotte was put aside as a perspective for sightseers because it has the best view. A celebration called Lake Sentani Festival is commended in Khalkotte consistently to praise this spot's rich culture. Timing this celebration could merit the hustle. Relax At Base-G Beach. One can always relax under the new sea breeze. You can choose to tune in to the music made by the waves as they hit the gigantic reefs. Even better, you can swim. Nonetheless, swimming when the tides are elevated isn’t suggested; it is dangerous. McArthur Hill is emblematic of when the military from the US contributed up Papua in World War II. It is where General Douglas McArthur discovered asylum while planning for battle with the military from Japan.

Millennium Cave: This cavern is situated on Espiritu Santo, which turns out to be the greatest island here. To get to it, you should foot across a hand-made bamboo connection to get to Vunaspef town, where it is found. Water quickly goes through the cavern. It is roughly 4000 meters in length, with the roof around 50 meters high up. It is dull and possessed by sparrows and bats. There is a waterfall inside the cavern, and it is the famous Millenium Cave Waterfalls.

Mele Cascades Waterfall: Vanuatu is an area spotted with numerous cascades. All things being equal, Mele Cascades is by all accounts the most famous one. It is exceptionally near Port Villa, around 10 kilometers away. Maybe another significant motivation behind why you should stop. There is a tricky pathway that prompts the highest point of this 35 meters in length cascade. The fall closes at a characteristic pool, exceptionally deserving of swimming. A bistro bar, change rooms, and latrines deliberately remain by the tumble's passageway to help visitors set up this quiet experience.

Raja Ampat Islands: These islands are found at the tip of Bird’s Head Peninsula, on the northwest side. They are a group of 4 primary islands, specifically Salwati, Misool, Batanta, and Waigeo, with more than 1500 smaller than normal islands encompassing them. Of interest here are maybe the dazzling seashores and coral reefs, which arbor a huge number of amphibian species. Be guaranteed to see seahorses, dolphins, ocean turtles, and a few kinds of fish. Other than all that, it is additionally a sweet spot for swimming and jumping. Outside the water, the spot gloats of quiet vegetation comprising of pretty and native blossoms. Goodness, and thick woods as well!

Amedee Lighthouse: It is likely the most excellent beacon produced using an iron that you will actually see. It is roughly 2400 meters from Noumea. The lights of this pinnacle represent a section into an entry called Boulari. This is one among the solitary three characteristic sections along the reef of New Caledonia. Amedee Lighthouse is the principal beacon made of metal that was underlying France. The simplicity of transportation was broken into smaller than expected parts, later reassembled upon appearance in New Caledonia. The beacon is greatly 56 meters high.

Somba Opu: It is an exceptionally respected notable site. This fortress was a business community for the Gowa Sultanate before the sixteenth century. There is an interesting thing about its area. It lies at the two primary mouths of River Jeneberang. A major piece of the stronghold has been dissolved away halfway due to war and incompletely because of regular causes. What remains is a block divider that is red and 3.5 meters thick. An emblematic cannon, which is 9 meters since quite a while ago, showed in the stronghold. Also, there is a historical center close by, which has an assortment of awesome antiquities for you to see. You will leave valuing the intriguing history of Fort Somba Opu.

Kokoda track, Papua New Guinea

Explore

As said many times earlier, Melanesia's region is home to a large number of beautiful scenic environments. The region may be surrounded by sea on all sides, but that doesn’t stop it from being beautiful and vibrant. The region is also the home of several important historic landmarks and other monuments. Here in this section, we shall discuss some of the must-see viewpoints in the region of Melanesia. These include some of the famous parks, landmarks, museums, beaches, and much more.

City Parks

Melanesia is a big region and is filled with the beauties of nature. One aspect of natural beauty is the natural city parks, and Melanesia is filled with them. Here are some of the city parks famous in Melanesia.

Port Moresby Nature Park

Point Zemun
Melanesian Tourist Services
Marineland Melanesia
Madills Farm Reserve
Crossfield Reserve
Waitākere Ranges Regional Park
Great Adventures – Cairns, Great Barri

Waitākere Ranges Regional Park

National Parks

Melanesia is a region that is known for its nature and variety of wildlife. Melanesia’s countries are filled with beautiful and eccentric parks, and forests have been recognized as national parks. These national parks are various in numbers and are spread across the overall landmass of the Melanesia region.

Koroyanitu National Park
Colo-I-Suva Forest Park
Kulukulu vs. National Park Boundary
Waitabu Marine Park
Garden of the Sleeping Giant
Kula WILD Adventure Park
Tavoro Falls
Ambrym Volcano

Koroyanitu National Park

Beaches

Melanesia, as a region, is well known for a large number of beaches it holds. These beaches are home to a large number of activities and water sports. The countries are covered in beaches, and these beaches have seen tourists and residents both in large numbers coming in and enjoying the beach and its activities.

Here is the detail about some of these beaches.

Aquatic Des Lagoon: It lies in a bay called Anse Vata in Noumea. Fortuitously, Noumea is the capital city of New Caledonia. This tidal pond houses differing types of marine vertebrates, scavengers, fish, and corals. The aquarium further gives a premise to explore how the environments live together in New Caledonia.This beach is the home of several beautiful aquatic creatures. These creatures are the main attraction of this beach as many tourists from all over the globe come to this beach to enjoy looking at these creatures and the spectacles they bring with them.

Marovo Lagoon: You will be essential for an enormous chronicled move, being that this is the greatest salt-water tidal pond in the entire world. It is an incredible 140,000 meters in length. It is arranged in New Georgia Island. This tidal pond has a few islands, some of which are not occupied though others are possessed. The occupants communicate in the language of Marovo. The tidal pond is adjusted by a twofold line of long islands on one side and by Vangunu Islands and New Georgia on another side.

Look for the sharks which make a center segment of the tidal pond. They are generally sited at the tidal pond's Uepi Island. Likewise, you can appreciate swimming and scuba plunging, donning exercises that are exceptionally well known in these islands. At last, you can buy some ably cut wooden antiquities in the towns to convey home.

Marovo Lagoon

Landmarks

Levuka: Once in the past, the Capital of Fiji, Levuka is the biggest of the 24 settlements on the island of Ovalau. From the 1820s onwards, Americans and Europeans built up the town as a focal point of business activity, building distribution centers, shops, and houses around the towns of the native populace. The town was calmly surrendered to the British by the King of Fiji in 1874 and kept on being possessed by native individuals, who dwarfed the Europeans. They impacted its turn of events, with nearby structure conventions being utilized all through the town. Levuka is an uncommon presentation of late-nineteenth-century Pacific port settlements, and consequently, after 2013, it is then recorded as a world heritage site declared by UNESCO. Fortunately for guests, this implies the town will stay as it is always – giving an enduring illustration of a piece of Fiji's novel history.

Naag Mandir Temple, Lebasa: In Labasa, the biggest town on Vanua Levu lives the Sacred Cobra Rock, housed in what has been known as the 'snake temple.' It is accepted that the now 3-meter-high stone has developed greater throughout the long term, to such an extent that the top of the sanctuary has must be raised multiple times since the 1950s. Local people accept that the stone, which is molded like a cobra, can fix the wiped out and the fruitless. The holy developing stone has become an adoring station for some Hinduism supporters, who cover it with splendid bloom and sparkle laurels, and spot contributions of organic product, fire, and coconut cream at its base.

Naihehe Cave: The cavern was utilized as a concealing spot all through the Islands' antiquated ancestral occasions because of its regular fortification like characteristics. Mystery admittance to the highest point of the cavern through wild plants made it a particularly cryptic concealing spot. Upon appearance to the caverns, it is of most extreme significance to look for the Bete (priest) 's authorization, the cavern's conventional caretaker. A common myth surrounding this place is that you should avoid this cave, or if you enter the cavern without consent, you will be caught there forever!

Udre Udre Grave: Viti Levu, one of the previously nicknamed Cannibal Islands, was likewise home to the notorious barbarian Udre. Holding the Guinness World Record for 'most productive savage,' Udre supposedly ate more than 800 of his adversaries, keeping a stone from every casualty. These stones beautify his gravesite today. The conviction was that, had he burned-through his 1000th body, he would have gotten eternal.

Museums

Melanesia is a region that holds a lot of historical importance. This region is divided into countries of superior ancient cultures and historical strife. The countries are home to different museums. These museums are home to several ancient artifacts and historical knowledge. The museums hold ancient knowledge of the former culture that used to reside in the region and from cultures all around the globe.

Here is the list of some of the top museums in Melanesia that attract tourists worldwide.

Papua New Guinea National Museum and Art Gallery

Tjibaou Cultural Center

Fijis Museum
Proposed Girmit Museum of Fiji (Nausori)
Fiji Culture Village
National War Memorial Grounds
Levuka museum
Lomolomo Guns
Willie Besi War Museum
Vilu Military Museum
WWII Museum
Honiara Botanical Gardens
Tetere Beach

Fiji Museum

Eat

In the higher areas of Melanesia, individuals accept sweet potato and yam as their staple food. Pork is the go-to food of their eating routine, extraordinarily eaten during significant festivals. Be that as it may, the individuals in the lower locales have high respect for the sago palm tree. They even utilize this tree's substance to make hotcakes that taste like tortillas, which are delicate in nature.

The food in the different countries in the Melanesia region may not be as varying as one might guess. But each country adds a little pinch of their culture in their food. As said earlier, pork dishes are a common food that residents enjoy, and tourists always get their experience when they visit such a place.

Here are some of the famous dishes one must try.

Lovo: Lovo is a conventional Fijian dinner prepared on an underground stove, like New Zealand's hangi. The lovo pit is set up by diving an opening in the ground and warming exceptional stones on the base layer. These warmed stones will be what helps cook the supper. For example, meat and fish are enclosed by banana leaves just as different root crops layered previously. The opening, loaded up with food, is then covered with earth until it is smoking hot when the prepared food is revealed and shared. The cooking cycle can require a few hours.

Kokoda: Kokoda is a Fijian interpretation of the crude fish dish, ceviche. Kokoda is made with new fish absorbed lemon or lime juice, which 'cooks' the fish. Spring onions, red onion, chilies, capsicum, and tomatoes are ordinary augmentations, with the blend at that point absorbed coconut milk for a reviving nearby fish dish. Kokoda is normally filled in as a starter and can come conveyed in a coconut shell, bamboo, or even a pineapple.

Cassava chips: Cassava is a typical root vegetable in Fiji, filling in many spots through the islands and structures, a staple piece of the neighborhood diet. It is a boring vegetable like the potato, yet more fibrous. In eateries, it is frequently cut and bubbled before being made into hot chips.

Drink

Lager or beer is delighted in by numerous Melanesia, with the most mainstream-brand being Fiji Bitter, also known as "Stubbie." A lighter rendition, Fiji Gold is also a popular beer brand. Wine, in Melanesia, though not produced there, is promptly accessible from both Australia and New Zealand. The region likewise makes their own honor winning rum known as Bounty, a result of the sugar stick handle, this rum comes in both dull and white assortments.

The most customary beverage in Melanesia is Yaqona, also known as "grog." Generally served in a coconut shell, grog is produced using the foundation of pepper plants and, in that capacity, has a peppery, gritty taste. It tends to be somewhat inebriating and is known for the desensitizing sensation it produces in the tongue and lips. Utilization of grog equals that of brew and is exceptionally well known all through Melanesia.

Tap-water

In a few places of the world, drinking tap water is encouraged to be avoided. This is because of the high level of water contamination and the substances that are found in them. Yet, this isn't the situation in the region of Melanesia. Occupants and travelers who have visited countries in Melanesia or stay there have frequently said that the region's water that comes from the tap is drinkable. Even though there is no affirmed explanation from WHO, individuals accept this assertion to be valid. This assertion gets satisfactory as the water contamination level of the countries is low. The countries water is generally spotless, and individuals have been utilizing water from the tap for drinking for quite a long while.

Subsequently, the response to if the water of countries in Melanesia coming from the tap is drinkable is straightforward. The tap water is drinkable, yet one should utilize different alternatives whenever the situation allows.

Activities

As a region, Melanesia is well known for its free-spirited people who party and enjoy their life to their fullest potential. They live their life doing fun activities and sports. There are several activities that residents and tourists both enjoy while visiting Melanesia. Here is a list of some of them.

Bunjee Jumping: Bungee hopping was developed in Vanuatu. This is the place where AJ Hacket got his motivation. Land jumping (as they called it) is a significant custom in Vanuatu. Youngsters hurl themselves from precarious wooden pinnacles in tree plants, head first in a row towards the ground. It's an entry for youngsters to demonstrate their masculinity. The thought is to bounce from as high up as could be expected and come as near the ground as could be expected (ideally, contact the ground gently with your head).

Swimming in jellyfish lake: A long period prior, jellyfish were caught in the Palau Lake after a lowered reef rose from the ocean, making a saltwater lake. In this lake, the jellyfish have adjusted to the new conditions by losing their sting (since they didn't require it). During the day, the jellyfish follow the sun and stay at the surface, so when you go swimming, you can discover them surrounding you.

Visiting active volcanoes: The Yasur Volcano on Tanna Island in Vanuatu is perhaps the most dynamic volcanoes on the planet; it has been ejecting regularly throughout the previous 800 years.

Accommodation

Since Melanesia's region is filled with tourists throughout the year, government officials have allowed the construction of several hotels and resorts for tourists to stay in. Other than these hotels, there are also several other means to plan their stay in the Melanesia region.

Green Hotels

The people who live in Melanesia are very conscious of the environment. They keep their surroundings clean and always try to maintain the superior level of the environment. Therefore, due to many tourists coming to this region, people have installed several green hotels to stay. These hotels dispose of waste generated by tourists in an eco-friendly way and try to bring as little harm to the environment.

Here is the list of some of the top green hotels in the Melanesia region.

Royal Davui Island Resort
Likuliku Lagoon Resort
Jean-Micheal Cousteau Resort
King Solomon Hotel
Coral Sea Resort
Agnes Lodge
Canale Apartments

Hostels and Guest Houses

Here is the list of some of the best hostels and guest houses in the Melanesia region that one can stay in.

Bamboo Beach
Horizon Backpackers
Sunrise Lagoon Homestay
Rendezvous Beach Resort
Rekona Lodge
Port Villa

Apartments

These days, a few people are moving to the Melanesia region to travel and spend a vacation there or start a business there. In such a situation, individuals desire to lease an apartment to remain in to save the overabundance cost they need to pay if they stay in lodgings and guest houses.

On the off chance that you intend to live in countries like Fiji or Solomon Islands for a sensibly long amount of time and might want to save money on hotel convenience, you could pick a private apartment to stay in. You will have numerous such alternatives accessible to you. Nonetheless, not all loft owners may be eager to the idea of opening to leasing their properties to outsiders, yet things are evolving. There are a few issues or safeguards present that one should take before leasing an apartment. These safety measures include:

Looking at the entire place before affirming any instance of past harm.
Taking on an agreement to forestall any legitimate questions.
Choosing the loft of the correct size depending on one's financial plan and prerequisites.
Making some standard procedures when living with different occupants.

Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is another and creative method of remaining at a spot you know nothing about. This method of convenience has seen a rise in the region of Melanesia. There are numerous locales online that offer individuals the choice of Couchsurfing in different countries in the Melanesia region. Have that, yet the occupants are additionally living in on these destinations are required to give their homes to Couchsurfing purposes.

A few online networks permit individuals to live in their homes on the off chance that they are a part of that local community.

Camping

Often when visiting countries like Fiji, Solomon Islands, or Vanuatu in the Melanesia region, you will see people camping and spending time with their friends and family under the open sky. Camping is a practice that people enjoy in Melanesia. So if you want a enjoy camping, here is the list of some of Melanesia's top camping grounds.

USP Ground 2 JT
Fiji Scouts Association Camp
Top of Form
Waitabu Marine Park
Isa Lei Glampsite - Yasawa (Fiji)
Sabeto Christian Camp
Bottom of Form

Regions

Fiji
A major island tourist destination. Resorts, coral reefs and beaches.

New Caledonia (France)
France in the tropics but at twice the price. A short flight from Australia.

Solomon Islands
Site of major Second World War battles that involved, among others, JFK. Its main island is Guadalcanal.

Vanuatu
Rewarding destination of very disparate islands with a relatively well-developed tourist infrastructure. As the New Hebrides, was a British-French Condominium until 1980.

Geographically, the Australian island territory Norfolk Island is situated in Melanesia, although no Melanesian people ever settled there:

Norfolk Island (Australia)
A small island home to about 2,000 people.

Cities

Suva: It is the biggest city in Fiji and is also the capital city of Fiji. This capital city is situated on the biggest island, Viti Levu; Suva holds practically a large portion of the number of inhabitants in Fiji. Suva is a harbor city with a mixture of societies, and with that, an immense exhibit of stores and diners – so head to Guide to the Best Eats and Restaurants in Suva for more data. Concerning activities in the city, Suva is renowned for holding the public exhibition hall, the Fiji Museum, and being in nearness to the Colo-I-Suva Forest Park. Just as the general population socially city, this different compositionally has a jigsaw of pilgrim structures, current malls, bountiful restaurants, and a breezy esplanade all structure the minimal focal business region. Little roads of this best city in Fiji are fixed with curry houses, sari shops, and bric-a-brac dealers. You will likewise get some Bollywood and Hollywood square off at the neighborhood film. Around the same time, you're probably going to see financial specialists in a customary sulu (sarong) and understudy trendy people from across the Pacific district shaking the most recent styles in this significant city in Fiji.

Nadi: Most worldwide guests who result in these present circumstances celebrated city in Fiji to see the and third-biggest city, Nadi. Home to the Nadi International Airport is where around 95% of internationals start their vacation in Fiji. For a few, this is twice over and over again, and numerous individuals guarantee their Nadi openness is as brief as could be expected: this feeble town doesn't offer a lot. However, it's a decent spot to load up on provisions, plan outings and utilize offices that might be missing somewhere else. Between the mosque and the Nadi River, only north of downtown Narewa Rd drives west to Denarau island, where you'll locate Nadi's top-end resorts.

Honiara — the capital of the Solomon Islands

Luganville — the second city of Vanuatu.

Nouméa — the capital of New Caledonia.

Nadi ー Fiji's main tourist hub.

Port-Vila — Vanuatu's capital.

Suva — the large capital of Fiji.

Getting There and Moving Around

Melanesia is a location that is located somewhat secluded from the rest of the world. The country of Vanuatu is closing to the country of Australia and New Zealand. Therefore the region's travel options are scarce. But that does not mean that one will face a lot of trouble reaching there. Here in this section, we shall see how to get to this region and its countries.

Air

In Melanesia, the biggest country is Fiji. In Fiji, there are only two airports. These are the Nadi International Airport and the Nausori Airport. Flights from all over the world come to these airports and mainly the Nadi International Airport.

Five carriers as of now offer customary planned services into Honiara. Solomon Airlines, Virgin Australia, Fiji Airways, Air Niugini, and Air Vanuatu all give worldwide trips to the Solomons. Solomon Airlines is the public transporter and flies to Honiara from Brisbane four times each week and gives week after week departures from Nadi, Port Vila, and Port Moresby. The Port Moresby administration is related to Air Niugini and Air Vanuatu as a codeshare arrangement flying an Air Niugini airplane. Virgin Australia likewise flies direct from Brisbane.

Vanuatu is roughly 4 hours via plane from the east shore of Australia. Getting to Vanuatu is simple and reasonable gratitude to the incredible scope of modest flights worked by Virgin Australia and Air Vanuatu. Non-stop flights are accessible from Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne to Port Vila, with corresponding flights accessible from most Australian capital urban communities.

For moving around purposes, there are several inter-island flights available. These flights are specific to each country. Most inter-island flights operate in the country of Vanuatu.

Duty free at the Nadi International Airport

Bus

There are no bus operators in the entire region of Melanesia. Since each country is small and some countries are even further divided into small islands, having a bus service provider becomes meaningless. Most in-land transportation is done by foot.

[[File:La_Tontouta_bus_stop.jpg|center|900px|thumb|Bus stop in New Caledonia]

Train

Just like bus services, the train services are also null in the Melanesia region. The countries are small and cannot support an operational railway service.

Hitchhiking

Hitchhiking is a hazardous travel mode for the individual requesting a ride and the individual contributing a ride. Individuals are frequently careful about such individuals and don't desire to offer a ride to such individuals. A few people do offer rides to such drifters; however, even they try not to take on drifters around evening time.

There is no possibility of hitchhiking in Melanesia as there are no long strays of the open road. Each settlement is only a few kilometers apart that one can easily cross via walking.

Others

The main way of reaching the countries in the Melanesia region is via sea. When planning on visiting countries like Fiji, Solomon Islands, or more often, they include a cruise trip while reaching there. Taking a cruise ride might sound costly, but it gives you the full experience when traveling to countries like.

The countries are divided into islands, so you have to avail yourself a boat ride when traveling there at the end of the day. Waterway travel is most convenient in such parts of the world, and even residents use this mode over any other for traveling purposes.

[[File:Yacht_Fiji_Islands.jpg|center|900px|thumb|Small Yacht in Fiji]]

Sustainable Shopping

As a region, Melanesia may be small, but the number of residents it is home to is quite large. Because of this, there are many methods for shopping that is accessible there. The country is loaded up with food and flea markets. There are additionally a few attire stores and recycled stores.

In particular, Fiji is a highly populated country where individuals carry on with an essential way of life. As opposed to purchasing food on the web, individuals are inclined to purchase from a few food markets accessible in the cities.

Thrift shops and flea markets are a beautiful normal thing in countries like Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. These flea markets bring in goods that are uncommon and cheap in these countries.

Recycling

As said many times earlier, the Melanesia region's pollution control is one of the world's finest. The biggest reason behind this is that the people there are aware of recycling and follow it unconditionally. Each plastic or other recyclable product used in countries like Fiji, Solomon Islands, or others is always further recycled into new products. Recycling is the act that is followed by all, and the residents there even utilize the recyclable waste that the tourists leave behind.

Waste

In the region of Melanesia, different kinds of wastes are generated. Some of these wastes are recyclable, and others are not. The region’s population deals with each waste appropriately.

People take care of recyclable wastes like plastic, glass, and others by using them for other purposes and recycling. They reuse these wastes in a different way to keep the environment clean

In non-recyclable waste, the residents deal with this huge ton of waste by putting them in large landfills. These landfills take care of tons of waste by each country annually. These landfills are mostly located on the outskirts of the city and harm no other nature or beings.

Work and Study Abroad

Studying in countries in the Melanesia region may not be exceptional but satisfactory. But people from abroad won't feel that they will be learning extraordinary things there. There are schools and universities in countries there that accept exchange students, but they are not many.

The countries in the Melanesia region are mostly dependent on tourism as the main source of income. There are different job opportunities there, but they lack in demand.

Exchange Student

Studying in the Melanesia region like Fiji, Solomon Islands, or others may not be as advisable as one may think. But even so, if one wishes to do so regardless, then there many schools and universities one can enroll in as an exchange student.

Fiji National University
American International Christian School / APT Bible College
International School Nadi
International Secondary School
Fiji School Of Medicine
Woodford International School
Solomon Islands National University
Solomon Islands National University - Panatina Campus
Solomon Islands National University - Ranadi Campus
University of the South Pacific
Port Vila International School
The University of the South Pacific USP - Santo Centre
Université Nationale de Vanuatu
The University of South Pacific
National University of Vanuatu / Université Nationale de Vanuatu
Vanuatu Institute Of Teacher Education

Au Pair

The concept of au pair has not yet reached the region of Melanesia properly. There are no opportunities available for au pair jobs to involve themselves in countries like Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and others.

Volunteering

The people residing in the Melanesia region are well-known for their hospitality. People are living from all fields of life living in the countries in Melanesia. The wealthy often try to help the poor, and the poor contribute their time and work to better society. The hospitality of the people in countries like Fiji, Solomon Islands, and others is an example to be given to the rest of the world. People there have even formed several nor-profitable organizations for improving living conditions in their respective countries. Here is the list of some of these non-government organizations.

Vinaka Fiji
Fiji Red Cross Society - Rakiraki Branch
Save The Children Fiji
UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji
Foundation for the Education of the Needy Children in Fiji
Marine Reach Fiji
Homes Of Hope
Habitat for Humanity Fiji
NatureFiji - MareqetiViti
Fiji Red Cross Society, Lautoka Branch
Fiji Women's Crisis Centre
Australian Volunteers Program (AVP) Fiji and Central & North Pacific Office (AVI)
UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office
Labasa Women's Crisis Centre
Save the Children Solomon Islands
World Vision International - Solomon Islands Country Office
Vanuatu Red Cross Society
SIL - Hilltop
Vanuatu Society for Disabled People
World Vision Vanuatu
Save the Children
Tranquility Turtle Sanctuary
Oxfam
Involvement Volunteers International