Samoa is the land of plenty - in human terms at least. There are, almost unbelievably, more than 630 Pacific Islanders playing professionally worldwide.

With the All Blacks playing in Samoa this week, the Herald's Pacific Affairs reporter, Vaimoana Tapaleao, selects her top things to do on the islands.

Megan Singleton has a fine time on Castaway Island, where cocktails come with umbrellas.

Party of one Helen van Berkel boards an ocean liner for a Pacific cruise and learns that being on your own is far from lonesome.

Diana Balham comes face to face with a very angry - but very pretty - volcano on the Vanuatu island of Tanna.

The Jurassic-like landscape and quirky flora and fauna of the island of New Caledonia captivates Liz Light.

Aitutaki casts its beautiful and restful spell over Carly Flynn, who discovers a destination better than any brochure could promote.

Listening to the gentle breeze in the palm trees and the lazy waves gently turning, time slows for Liz Light.

At one of the world's most active volcanoes, Paul Davies witnesses the work of Pele, the Hawaiian fire goddess up close.

To inspire us with ideas for a winter break, Rick Felderhof from Our World shares the five most popular Pacific escapes for Kiwis.

Patricia Greig looks at the best spots to get eyeball-to-eyeball with fish on your next visit to the islands of the South Pacific.

Tropical beaches, fine dining, cooking and dance lessons – Lynley Bilby finds her every whim is catered for on a Pacific island cruise.

Nicky Park stays at a beachside hotel near the New Caledonia capital.

Good food, waterfalls and gorgeous beaches are great reasons to visit Vanuatu, writes Megan Singleton.

The tourist mecca's restaurants are fast becoming a culinary force with their focus on fresh, local ingredients and indigenous dishes, discovers Delaney Mes.

Rachel Grunwell finds serenity, seals and Shiva on Oahu.

The west coast of Hawaii's Big Island is home to magnificent marlin, titanic tuna and merry mantas, writes Paul Davies.

A terrifying mule ride delivers Judy Bailey safely into Kalaupapa, a park with a dark past, now a place of saintly seclusion.

James Henderson packs his clubs and hopes to beat his handicap on some of Hawaii's world-class golf courses.

"Just the thought of people dating the same culture, Polynesians dating other Polynesians. You never see it nowadays. It's always been kind of like ... a taboo."

Liz Light checks out the delights of Noumea and finds plenty to catch the eye in the lush capital of French territory New Caledonia.

Paul Rush samples the simple pleasures of Robert Louis Stevenson's Samoa.

As the explorer noted, the islands of Tonga are truly the 'Friendly Isles'. Jane Jeffries is captivated on her visit.

To the people of Beqa Island sharks are friends. Nicholas Jones tested that trust.

Paul Davies stays at a full-service lifestyle hotel close to Waikiki Beach.

Go local when it comes to food, Nicholas Jones discovers at a cooking school in Fiji.

Paul Rush discovers the enigmatic beauty and brilliance of black pearls in the waters of Fiji.pacific

Whale watching in Tonga goes extreme when Jane Jeffries hops in with the cetaceans.