Levuka, on the little island of Ovalau, was the first capital of Fiji, and it was here that the Deed of Cession was signed in 1874, formalising the British annexation of Fiji. The port’s historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a number of well-preserved buildings dating back to the late 19th century.

Leleuvia is a small coral island, home to a laid-back resort and not much else. The colourful reef is easily accessible from the island’s western beach, home to marine life including tuna, barracuda, manta rays and turtles, while bird species recorded here include sacred kingfishers, swallows and orange-breasted honeyeaters.

The Lau Islands are found at the eastern edge of Fiji, a string of some 60 largely undeveloped islands and islets with a culture strongly influenced by neighbouring Tonga. Just off the coast of Vanua Balavu is the beautiful Bay of Islands, where you can enjoy fantastic snorkelling in the turquoise lagoon.

Close your eyes, imagine a South Pacific island, and you’re probably picturing somewhere like Uoleva. This quintessential desert island has no roads and no shops, just dazzling white sands, gently swaying coconut palms and shallow turquoise waters where you can snorkel amongst the thriving reefs.

Neiafu is the second largest city in Tonga and the capital of the Vava’u group of islands, situated next to the deep water Port of Refuge. Humpback whales pass through here between June and November, while on land the ‘Ene’io Botanical Garden is well worth a visit.

The sleepy island of Aitutaki is big on natural beauty, thanks to its stunning reef-enclosed lagoon. It’s also a deeply spiritual place: in the village of Arutanga you’ll find the oldest church in the Cook Islands, dating back to 1829, and services here are a spellbinding spectacle, with hymns featuring unaccompanied four-part harmonies.

Palmerston is a sleepy coral atoll with an unusual history, home to just three families, all descended from a single man. William Marsters, a ship’s carpenter from Gloucestershire, arrived on the island in 1863, and fathered a number of children with three different Polynesian wives.

Bora Bora is the very definition of idyllic, a diminutive Polynesian island dominated by rainforest-clad volcanic peaks, overlooking an electric blue lagoon ringed by coral reefs. The beaches and over-water bungalows are particularly popular with honeymooners, and the clear waters of the lagoon are perfect for snorkelling.

Raiatea, the second largest of the Society Islands, played a vital role in the development of Polynesian culture; it was from this island that settlers departed for Hawaii and New Zealand over a millennium ago. The island feels wilder than Tahiti, with steep, jungle-covered mountains, cascading waterfalls and ancient Polynesian temples.