Across the Pacific — We Went Together

Vanuatu · Days 3–6

Our First Pacific Island

Port Vila was the first proper stop of the trip. Between beach breakfasts and days on the water, the children began trying things they had never done before.

Breakfast outside in Vanuatu, the weather was ideal.

Sophie and George learning to kayak in Vanuatu — Sophie and George learning to kayak for the first time.

Samoa · Days 7–11

Natural Days

Samoa gave us several days of swimming and natural stops. With our own car, we had the freedom to explore at our own pace and discover places we would otherwise have missed.

Vanessa and the children in To-Sua Ocean Trench, Samoa — Vanessa and the children in To-Sua Ocean Trench.

Children resting with snacks after the climb from To-Sua — A snack and a rest after the climb out.

Children looking at a sea cucumber at Samoa’s Giant Clam Sanctuary — A close look at a sea cucumber.

The local chief’s son showing the children a turtle at the Giant Clam Sanctuary — The local chief’s son showed us around and caught a turtle.

Children weaving their own plates while learning local cooking — The children weaving their own plates while learning local cooking.

Dinner at the end of a day in Samoa — Dinner at the end of the day.

Funafuti, Tuvalu · Days 12–15

A Small, Friendly Atoll

Funafuti changed the scale completely. We moved through it on scooters, stopped at a small library and soon found out how friendly the people were.

Family boarding the flight to Tuvalu — The flight to Tuvalu.

Funafuti runway after the day’s flight — The runway in the evening becomes the community gathering area.

Map showing the narrow shape of Fongafale, Tuvalu — On Fongafale, the main island, the 1.5 km runway takes up much of the broadest stretch of land.

Sophie reading in a small local library in Tuvalu — Tuvalu’s library. Sophie spent time there every day, and the librarians grew fond of her.

Children from Tuvalu talking with the family

Family talking with local children on Funafuti runway

Fiji · Days 16–20

A Breather in Fiji

Fiji was deliberately simple: three quiet island days, a beach and nowhere else to be. After the movement of the Pacific stops, it gave everyone time to recover.

Children making tie-dye shirts in Fiji — Tie-dye shirts on the island.

Queenstown and Milford Sound · Days 21–27

Winter in Queenstown

From the Pacific we flew to Queenstown, New Zealand. We collected a car and stepped into winter. The kids had been looking forward to learning to ski. By the end of the first day on the slopes, they were hooked.

Children looking over Queenstown’s lake and mountains

Children resting after skiing — Post Skiing.

Cruise boat on Milford Sound — Day trip to Milford Sound.

Christchurch → Singapore · 24–26 June

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Thirty days · 29 nights · five countries