French Polynesia to NZ - the logical route

Created by sue. Last modified on 2008-12-11 13:23:28
Topic: Pacific Ocean West
Countries: Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu

Dear noonsite,
What is the logical route from French Polynesia to New Zealand: via Tonga, Samoa, Fiji or even Vanuatu? And in what order?

The best (and logical) route is after you stopped in the Cooks to go first to Tonga, then to Samoa and from there to Fiji.

You should leave for NZ from either Tonga or Fiji before the end of October, and not continue to Vanuatu as that would mean getting the prevailing SE winds on the nose on the subsequent passage to NZ.

Normally it is better to visit Vanuatu the following season, after NZ - and sail first from NZ to New Caledonia and from there to Vanuatu.

Jimmy Cornell
noonsite