South Seas – General information

South Seas – General Information

Interesting facts about French Polynesia French Polynesia, an overseas country of France (since 2004 with the status of “Collectivité d’outre-mer” and extended autonomy), consists of five archipelagos: the Society Islands (with Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora), the Tuamotu Islands, the Marquesas Islands, the Austral Islands and the Gambier Islands. The sea area of these 118 islands covers a sea area of around 4 million km², but the pure land area is only about 4,000 km².

Papeete Airport (Faa’a) is located on the main island of Tahiti, around 17,500 km from Europe; the flight time is usually around 24 hours, including stopover(s).

Entry requirements: EU citizens, including Germans, Austrians and Swiss, do not need a visa for a stay of up to 90 days. The following are required: – a valid return or onward flight ticket with the necessary travel documents, – a passport valid for at least 6 months at the time of entry (children’s entries in the parental passport are no longer accepted – each child needs its own passport), – proof of sufficient financial resources for the duration of the stay.

Currency: Central Pacific franc (Franc Pacifique, XPF). The XPF has been firmly pegged to the euro since its inception: 1,000 XPF = 8.38 EUR or 1 EUR ≈ 119.3 XPF – this rate has remained unchanged since 1999 and is therefore still valid today.

Money: Credit cards are now widespread almost everywhere in the South Seas and are the usual method of payment in hotels, larger restaurants and shops. Traveller’s cheques, on the other hand, play practically no role anymore and are accepted by fewer and fewer banks – it is not advisable to take them with you. On islands that are less touristy, cash (national currency or US dollar) remains indispensable, as ATMs and card terminals are rarely or not at all available there.

Mains voltage: In the Cook Islands, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji, the mains voltage is 240 volts/50 hertz, the connection is made via a three-pin flat plug – a multiple adapter (world travel plug) must be taken along. In French Polynesia, the mains voltage is 220 volts/50 hertz with European round plugs.

Time: The date line runs through the middle of the South Pacific: if you fly from west to east, you arrive one day earlier, and vice versa, you lose a day. It should also be noted that some island states (including Samoa) officially changed the date line in 2011 in order to align their time zone with their important trading partners Australia and New Zealand. Central European summer time shifts the respective time indications by another hour.

Post: Letters or postcards from the South Seas to Europe are usually on their way for one to two weeks, sometimes a little longer. If you want to have mail forwarded from Europe, you can have it sent to the General Post Office of the respective country with your own name on it, with the note “Poste restante” (post restante) – but this service is used less often today than in the past, as e-mail and mobile communication have largely replaced the classic poste restante use.

Vaccination & Health: In principle, no compulsory vaccination is required for direct entry from Germany. Nevertheless, the standard travel vaccinations and, depending on the destination and duration, hepatitis A, typhoid, tetanus and polio are recommended – an individual travel medical consultation before departure is recommended, as recommendations can change in detail.

Malaria prophylaxis is still indispensable when visiting Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands; the other destinations described here (Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Samoa, Tonga) are considered malaria-free. Dengue fever, which occurs in the South Seas, is transmitted by mosquitoes and usually occurs two to three weeks after infection with flu-like symptoms; effective mosquito protection is therefore generally recommended.

Medical care varies greatly on the individual South Sea islands: On the Cook Islands and Tahiti, you will usually find well-trained medical staff, while on more remote islands, care can be significantly limited. In the case of more serious illnesses, medical flights to Australia or New Zealand are often carried out. Efficient travel and repatriation insurance should therefore be taken out in any case.

A small first-aid kit (including remedies for diarrhoea and fever, disinfectants) and a mosquito net for the night is recommended, especially for simpler accommodations without air conditioning or fly screens.

Population: French Polynesia today has around 280,000 to 290,000 inhabitants (as of 2026), the majority of whom are Polynesians, as well as population groups of Asian (especially Chinese) and European origin.

Language

Cook Islands: The official language is English, but Cook Islands Māori is also widely spoken: Kia orana (hello), meitaki (thank you), tapu (entry prohibited).

Fiji: There are three official languages: Fijian, Hindi and English. In Fijian, they say: Bula (Hello), Ni sa yadra (Good morning), Vinaka (Thank you), Ni sa moce (Goodbye).

French Polynesia: French and Tahitian are official languages, and English is also easy to use on the tourist islands. In Tahitian, people say: Ia orana (Hello), Maeva (Welcome), Māuruuru roa (Thank you).

Samoa: English is the official language, Samoan is closely related to the Polynesian languages of Tahitis, the Cook Islands and Tongas. Talofa (hello), Afio mai (welcome), Tofā (goodbye), Manuia (good luck), Fiafia (festival), Palagi (white-skinned).

Tonga: Tongan is the national language, and English is also taught in schools. In Tongan, people say: Mālō e lelei (Good day), Mālō ‘aupito (Thank you), ‘Ofa atu (Cheers), Fale (house).

Travel time: The best time to travel to the South Seas is between May and October, in the South Seas “winter”; on the Cook Islands, Tonga or French Polynesia, it can still be cool enough for a sweater late in the evening.

In July and August, many Australians and New Zealanders spend their holidays on the sunny islands, and Tahiti is also a bit more crowded due to visitors from France, especially during the summer holidays there.

Between November and April, in the rainy season with mostly short but heavy rainfall, the climate is hot and humid (especially in Samoa and Fiji); in addition, the risk of cyclones increases significantly during this time. In the South Seas winter, daytime temperatures are usually around 23–25 degrees.

Security: On all the islands described here, the crime rate is low by international standards, and hospitality is highly valued. Nevertheless, as in many touristy regions, occasional thefts occasionally occur, especially on beaches – the usual precautions (do not leave valuables unattended, use a hotel safe) are recommended. For Fiji, it is also worthwhile to take a look at the current travel and security advice of the Federal Foreign Office before travelling, as the country has gone through politically unstable phases several times in its recent history (see history section).

Car traffic

Cook Islands: Left-hand traffic, compulsory seat belts, maximum speed 50 km/h – watch out for dogs and pigs on the road.

Fiji: Left-hand traffic, compulsory seat belts, maximum speed on country roads 80 km/h, in villages 50 km/h or less with traffic-calming speed bumps.

French Polynesia: Right-hand traffic, seat belts compulsory, maximum speed 40 km/h in villages, 80 km/h on country roads.

Samoa: Important correction: Samoa switched from right-hand to left-hand traffic in 2009 (in order to be able to import used vehicles from Australia, New Zealand and Japan more easily) – the former reference to right-hand traffic is thus obsolete. Roads off the main routes are sometimes bumpy, villages are often traffic-calmed with speed bumps.

Tonga: Left-hand traffic, maximum speed 65 km/h, in villages 40 km/h. If you meet the king in his column, you must stop. Hitchhiking is undesirable in Tonga. To rent a vehicle, a local driver’s license must be applied for in Tongatapu for a small fee.

Rental cars, buses & taxis: The individual prices for rental cars, bus rides and taxis mentioned in the original article clearly originated in the early 2000s and are no longer reliable in their absolute level today. However, the relative classification remains mostly accurate: rental cars and taxis are comparatively expensive in French Polynesia and Fiji, but more moderate in the Cook Islands and Samoa; buses or local shared taxis are the cheapest way to get around practically everywhere. For current prices, it is advisable to research local providers or tour operators shortly before starting your trip.

Diving: Equipment for dives can be rented on site. One of the most popular diving areas is the Astrolabe Lagoon near the island of Kadavu (Fiji).

Fishing, Golf & Water Sports: Many of the larger resorts offer deep-sea fishing, water skiing, horse riding and golf; in Fiji, the Fiji Golf Club in Suva and several resort golf courses are among the more well-known courses.

Tips: Tipping is traditionally not customary in restaurants or hotels in the South Seas and is even perceived as inappropriate in some places – an exception is Micronesian islands, which are strongly influenced by Japan and the USA in terms of tourism. In large international hotel chains, this reluctance has loosened in some cases in recent years; in case of doubt, it is best to follow the local customs or the instructions of the respective hotel.

Embassy (France) in Germany: French Embassy, Pariser Platz 5, 10117 Berlin (the address “Alexanderplatz 5” mentioned in the original article is outdated).

Honorary Consulate of Germany in French Polynesia: For up-to-date contact details, it is recommended to check the website of the Federal Foreign Office, as addresses and contact persons of honorary consulates change occasionally.

South Seas – Climate

Tahiti has a refreshing South Sea wind all year round. There are two seasons: the hot season from November to March, with average temperatures of around 27 °C, and a cooler season, from April to October, with average temperatures of around 25 °C. The water temperature is constantly around 26 °C.

The best time to travel to the South Seas is between May and October, in the South Seas “winter”. In July and August, many Australians and New Zealanders spend their holidays on the sunny islands, and it is also a bit more crowded in Tahiti due to French holidaymakers.

Between November and April, in the rainy season with mostly short but heavy rainfall, the climate is hot and humid (especially in Samoa and Fiji), and the risk of cyclones increases significantly. In winter, daytime temperatures are usually around 23–25 degrees.

South Seas – Fauna

Pacific Flying Fox The fruit bat or the flying fox is often found in Koroyanitu National Park. These animals are usually spotted in the evening when they leave their camps. The flying fox flies long distances in search of fruits or flowers and can be heard loudly during the night. Female animals carry their young hanging from their bellies.

Another flying fox, the Samoan flying fox (Bekwa Lulu), can also be found in Koroyanitu National Park. It has a less intense coloration and flies alone rather than in groups; this species can also be observed in flight during the day.

Wild boars The wild boar was brought to Fiji and other South Sea islands by the first settlers. Most of the animals are black in colour, but there are also white, brown and piebald specimens. They like to plunder the gardens of the villagers before retreating back into the forests. Hunting wild boars is not without danger, as male boars with their sharp tusks can be a defensive opponent, especially when cornered.

Barn Owl Widespread, but only active at night, the barn owl feeds almost exclusively on rodents. Its unmistakable call is often heard during flight.

Barking Pigeon The barking pigeon is a large wood pigeon that is particularly found in Fiji. It is often seen sitting on highly visible branches; it is known for its loud, barking calls. It feeds on large fruits such as nutmeg and the fruits of the sago palm.

Red Avadavat Small groups of Red Avadavat are often found in grassy plains. The breeding plumage of the male is characterized by dark burgundy red with white dots; outside the breeding season, males and females are dull brown.

Pacific Golden Plover Fiji’s most frequent winter visitor from the north is this wader, which usually arrives in large numbers from September and leaves again at the end of March/beginning of April. It can be observed regularly on mud and sandy areas of the islands.

Yellow-breasted musk parrot This large, conspicuous parrot lives only in the forests of Viti Levu (Fiji) and often emits loud cries. Due to the progressive clearing of the rainforest, its continued existence is still severely endangered; corresponding protection programs are running in Fiji.

South Seas – Flora

Carnivorous plants In the nutrient-poor jungle, particularly tricky strategies have been developed, for example in pitcher plants: their trapping organs consist of pitcher-like shaped leaves that attract insects through their nectar scent and colour. The smooth, slippery inner walls allow the prey to slide off; at the bottom of the pitcher, insects and occasionally larger prey animals such as tree frogs or millipedes are dissolved by digestive juices and provide the plant with important sources of nitrogen.

Orchids Orchids belong to the largest family of flower-bearing plants. Their size varies from 1 cm to over 5 m, the majority grow epiphytically, and there are also terrestrial and rock-growing species. Each flower has three sepals and three petals, one of which is shaped into a lip on which pollinating insects land – the variety of shapes of the flowers is correspondingly enormous.

Taro Taro plants thrive mainly in tropical and subtropical regions and were first cultivated over 2,000 years ago. The tubers contain around 20% starch and about 3% protein, plus plenty of provitamin A and vitamin C. There are around 1,000 different varieties of taro; the tubers are washed after peeling and can be cooked, grilled, baked or fried in a similar way to potatoes – the cooking water should be changed once to remove the calcium oxalate it contains.

Yams An important source of starch in all markets in the region; individual tubers can weigh up to 50 kg.

Breadfruit The breadfruit tree grows up to 20 m high and stores starch in green fruits weighing up to 2 kg; the leaves reach sizes of up to 80 x 50 cm.

Jackfruit The jackfruit tree is similar to breadfruit, but bears even larger fruits, up to one metre long and 50 kg in weight, which grow directly on the trunk and on older branches (trunk flowers). The tree grows up to 25 m high.

Coconut Coconut meat is used, among other things, in the production of cosmetic products, the coconut water is considered refreshing and rich in electrolytes in traditional use.

South Seas – History, Culture, Art

1502: Christopher Columbus learns from indigenous informants that an ocean stretches beyond the Central American isthmus, but misinterprets the message.

1520: Ferdinand Magellan enters the South Pacific on the western route to the Moluccas through the strait named after him and calls the ocean “Mar Pacifico”.

1521: Magellan lands on Guam and calls the archipelago “Islas de los Ladrones” (Mariana Islands, Micronesia).

1616: Willem Schouten and Jacob Le Maire reach the north of the Tonga Islands, discover the Hoorn Group and New Ireland (Melanesia).

1642/43: Abel Janszoon Tasman discovers the centre of the Tonga Islands on his voyage from Batavia, New Zealand, and touches the Fiji Islands and New Britain.

1722: Jacob Roggeveen discovers Easter Island and the Samoa Archipelago.

1764–66: John Byron’s South Seas voyage leads via the Tuamotus, the Tokelau Islands and the Gilbert Islands to the Mariana Islands.

1766–69: First scientifically accompanied South Seas expedition under Louis Antoine de Bougainville, rediscovery of the Samoa Archipelago, the New Hebrides and the Solomon Islands, discovery of the Louisiades. During the same period, Samuel Wallis discovers Tahiti, Philip Carteret rediscovers the Santa Cruz Islands and the Solomon Islands and discovers the strait between New Ireland and New Britain named after him.

1768–71: James Cook’s first Pacific Circles: Discovery of the Austral Group and the Cook Strait, rediscovery of the Torres Strait.

1772–75: James Cook’s second Pacific Circles: discovery of the Cook Islands, visits to Tonga and the Marquesas, discovery of New Caledonia.

1776–80: British expedition under James Cook (until 1779): discovery of the Hawaiian Archipelago; Cook died in Hawaii on 14 February 1779.

1789: Captain William Bligh, abandoned in an open boat after the mutiny on the Bounty, crosses the Fiji group and discovers its main island Viti Levu. In the same year, Nauru is sighted by an American whaling captain.

1835: Charles Darwin travels Oceania with the “Beagle” expedition and bases his theory on the formation of coral reefs on the basis of his observations on the Tuamotus, Tahiti and in New Zealand.

1838/1843: Tahiti first becomes a French protectorate, and in 1843 a French colony.

1874: The Fiji Islands become a British colony.

1888: Nauru becomes part of German New Guinea, Chile annexes Easter Island, Great Britain declares the Cook Group a protectorate (from 1901 New Zealand territory).

1897/1898: The last Hawaiian queen Liliʻuokalani is overthrown in 1893, and in 1898 the USA formally annexes Hawaii.

1898–1900: In the wake of the Spanish-American War, Guam falls to the United States. The German Empire acquires the remaining Mariana Islands, the Caroline Islands and Palau from Spain and the Marshall Islands and parts of Samoa.

1914–1918: Germany loses its Pacific colonies in the First World War, which are distributed to Japan, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand in 1919/20 as League of Nations mandates.

1941–45: Japanese troops conquer large parts of Micronesia and Melanesia, but are repulsed by Allied forces by 1945.

1959: Hawaii becomes the 50th state of the USA.

1962: Western Samoa (now Samoa) becomes the first Pacific state to gain independence.

1970: Tonga and Fiji become independent.

1980: The New Hebrides become independent as Vanuatu.

1987: Two military coups take place in Fiji, as a result of which the country leaves the Commonwealth and becomes a republic.

1994: Palau becomes the 185th member of the UN.

1995/96: After years of internationally criticized nuclear tests in the South Pacific (Mururoa, Fangataufa), France conducts a final series of tests and in 1996, after fierce international and regional protests, decides to finally stop all nuclear tests.

2000: Another ethnically motivated coup shakes Fiji (Speight Putsch); the democratically elected prime minister is briefly taken hostage.

2006: A third military coup under the leadership of Commodore Frank Bainimarama overthrows the Fijian government again; a military government of several years follows.

2009: Samoa switches road traffic from right-hand to left-hand traffic.

2010: France passes a compensation law (Loi Morin) for victims of nuclear tests in French Polynesia and the Sahara; the concrete implementation and recognition of compensation claims has remained politically controversial since then and has been improved several times in the following years.

2013/2014: Fiji adopts a new constitution, and democratic elections are held in 2014 for the first time since the 2006 coup; Fiji returns to the Commonwealth.

2017: The Marae Taputapuātea on Raʻiātea (Society Islands) is the first site in French Polynesia to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List – as an important spiritual and cultural center of ancient Polynesia.

Since the 2020s , the question of further autonomy or independence of French Polynesia from France has remained politically present, without a clear majority for a complete sovereignty step emerging so far; the extended autonomy introduced in 2004 remains the current status.

South Seas – Food & Drink

The hotels and restaurants mainly offer French cuisine, but there are also some Chinese restaurants and pizzerias. The typical Polynesian food, on the other hand, is mainly served in families, less often in restaurants.

What is offered is what the respective island offers – the ingredients are usually freshly caught and natural. These include poisson cru (raw fish marinated in lime juice and coconut milk), the national dish of the Tahitians, as well as baked and grilled fish with homemade mayonnaise and tasty lobsters. Octopus and large mussels are also considered a delicacy. Meat dishes usually consist of chicken, less often fried seabirds.

Homemade bread, rice and crispy pastries serve as side dishes, often also breadfruit, taro and sweet potatoes. For dessert, fruit salads or crêpe polynésie – tender pancakes sprinkled with sugar – are common. There is also often vanilla-flavoured coffee, and coconut cream is often served instead of cream.

Traditionally, many Polynesians eat with their fingers; cutlery is less common in families and is mainly served in restaurants. In many families, it is customary to perform music and singing with the ukulele after eating.

A special speciality is the tamaara’a: a coconuts-fed pig is wrapped in banana leaves and cooked for several hours on hot stones in an earth oven together with breadfruit, taro and sweet potatoes. Raw fish is often served as an appetizer.

For dessert, there is often poe, a thick porridge made from bananas, papaya, mango and coconut milk.

South Seas – Accommodation

Bungalows in the style of traditional huts are called “bures” in Fiji and “fales” in Polynesia; depending on the design, they offer space for two to four people, and up to six people in the Cook Islands. In principle, money can often be saved if you book accommodation together with your flight via airlines from Australia or New Zealand; it is also worthwhile to ask for special fares locally.

For backpackers, the infrastructure in the South Seas has improved noticeably in recent years: On Tahiti, Samoa, the Cook Islands and Fiji, there are now significantly more inexpensive accommodations, hostels and campsites than in the past, similar to the backpacker standard widespread in Australia and New Zealand – however, concrete prices have increased noticeably since the early 2000s and should be researched up-to-date before travelling.

Cook Islands: Since many guests come from New Zealand and Australia, many rooms and bungalows are equipped with their own kitchen, but air conditioning is often missing. Holiday homes are usually rented out by the week; current prices should be researched directly with local landlords or via common booking platforms.

Fiji: Luxury island resorts are comparatively expensive, but there is also a wide range of cheaper family accommodations, which are mainly aimed at the Australian and New Zealand markets. Backpackers will continue to find a good range of simple, acceptable accommodation in Fiji.

French Polynesia: In Tahiti, usually only larger hotels have air conditioning, rooms with their own kitchen are rather rare. Bora Bora is one of the most expensive destinations in the South Seas, especially at the well-known overwater bungalow resorts; if you book early or choose package deals (flight/accommodation/transfer), you can save noticeably.

Samoa: Outside the capital Apia, the hotel offer is limited, not every accommodation has its own beach access. If you want to camp, you should always ask the Matai (village chief) for permission in advance – this traditional rule still applies.

Tonga: The standard of many hotels, apart from a few island resorts, is still rather simple. Camping holidays are not planned in Tonga; overnight stays on uninhabited islands are only possible with official permission, information can be obtained from the Tonga Visitors Bureau.

Camping in general: Designated campsites in the European sense are still rare in the South Seas. However, after consultation with the respective property owner, camping on private property is possible in many places.

Note: All information on population figures, political history, prices and entry requirements is subject to change and has been researched to the best of our knowledge as of August 2026. For up-to-date, binding information, it is advisable to take a look at the travel and safety advice of the Federal Foreign Office and the respective official tourism websites of the island states before travelling.