Best australia & south pacific travel guides according to redditors

Here's the book to put on your reading list:

East Is a Big Bird: Navigation and Logic on Puluwat Atoll https://www.amazon.com/dp/0674224264/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_VlT7wbMXC54SX

Go enjoy yourself instead.

Also the same mental navigational system that the polynesians used to settle all of the islands in the pacific...

Basically if you "know" where 3 islands are relative to you (even if you cannot see them) you can triangulate your position to know exactly where you are and which direction you need to go to get somewhere else.

check this book out, it is amazing

http://www.amazon.com/East-Big-Bird-Navigation-Puluwat/dp/0674224264

Kauai is 'the garden island' and is definitely the quietest of them all. It's the most beautiful as well as it's the oldest of the 5 main islands and has the most lush/green/jungle vegetation and stuff. And the NaPali coast along the northern edge of the island is one of the most beautiful sights i've seen. It's illegal to build north past a certain point on Kauai so it's all natural and beautiful. A popular spot for filming movies. Lots of stuff from Jurassic park and 6 days 7 nights and others was filmed there.

If you're looking for a more diverse experience I would recommend the big island (Hawaii). It's pretty cool as it has all temperate zones in the world except for 1 present on the island (Artic temperate zone missing). IT has rainforest, jungle, forest, desert, even snow up on Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. Being that it is the biggest island there is SO much stuff to do and most of it isn't even touristy. If you're into hiking and/biking there is a ton of trails and hiking paths. If you plan it right you can go in at some places and hike a day or two to a secluded isolated beach (a lot of them black sand beaches) and camp overnight. Those are the best beaches as they're always the quietest. Obviously the beaches that are the hardest to get to are always the quietest and most enjoyable.


If you really want to go to hawaii I would recommend getting ahold of the Big Blue Book of Hawaii and sit down for a weekend and read through it. The book is great and works as an awesome tourguide book. You can literally look up a certain area that you are at in hawaii and it tells you whats there, who is there, any history in the area, tourist stuff to do in the area, non-tourist stuff to do in the area, activities, costs of activities (if any), where to eat in the area (also rates restaurants, etc). There is a book for every island and they're all good.

Keep in mind that it is expensive over there. There are obviously a lot of cool free/cheap things to do though. We spent a day going over to the cook monument (where Captain Cook died). The whole day cost us 40 bucks and that's only for the kayak rental. That day on the way over to the monument there was a school of about 30 dolphins slowly calmly swimming around the bay. At the actual site you can see the monument that's built there and the plaque of where he died (supposedly) and snorkel at the spot (may have to rent/buy snorkel gear if you don't have any). But yeah. That was a day itself and only cost 40 bucks to rent the kayak (plus whatever you have for lunch).

All the beaches are free to visit and hang out as well. Matter of fact every beach in hawaii whether it's private or not, it's state law that they have to allow public access to the beach. So you can go and tan/swim/frolick at the same beach that the Hilton hotel patrons use.

tldr; Hawaii is awesome.

Maui Revealed is a shoddy attempt at best with lack luster insight into Maui. If you want a real local Maui guide then get the Moon Maui Guidebook: http://www.amazon.com/Moon-Maui-Including-Molokai-Handbooks-ebook/dp/B00EGWFKH6/

Or even the cleverly organized and easily scan-able Discover Maui book by Lonely planet.
http://www.amazon.com/Lonely-Planet-Discover-Regional-Travel/dp/1742204481

There is also a treasure trove of local insight and in-depth information within the popular Maui guide sites.
http://www.prideofmaui.com/blog/
http://www.mauiinformationguide.com/
http://www.hawaii-guide.com/maui

Snorkel with Turtles -
Of course this is where we mention the Pride of Maui turtle snorkeling boat tour: http://www.prideofmaui.com/trips/turtlesnorkel/. But the truth is you can see turtles from many beaches. We are perfecting an app that lets users document recent turtle, marine, and wildlife activity on island in real-time. I'll post in /maui/ once its more developed.

Road to Hana -
If you are adventurous and have researched the spots to stop, have the Maui gps app pre-downloaded, know the Hana road edict, and are a good driver then Yes drive the Road to Hana. Rent a nice car as you don't want to traverse the road without a quality and regularly inspected car. Your safety and the safety of others may depend on it. That's why they made "I Survived the Road to Hana" tshirts (can buy in Hana).

If you aren't as adventurous or planned then go on a van tour with Valley Isle Excursions. They know all the great spots and can guide you along the way.
http://www.tourmaui.com

Regardless I still recommend renting a convertible to cruise the island. Just don't drive like everyone else is on vacation too. There are people trying to get to places, pick up their kids, get to work, catch the swell.

Luau -
They are quite fun I would actually go to Old Lahaina Luau and The Feast at Lele. Both are different enough to keep you entertained and engaged.

Unless you are a quasi experienced hiker or very researched I would recommend hiring a local hiking guide: http://www.hikemaui.com.

Be mindful of your thoughts and actions. The Aloha spirit is real and you can experience it too if you keep respectful of the island and those that live in it.

Have fun on your trip and don't forget that Maui is known to increase intuitive vibes, so within all the planning sometimes its just best to surf the waves.

This is the best book if you want to go to Easter Island:
http://www.amazon.com/Companion-Easter-Island-Guide-Rapa/dp/9563326415. I went in November for a week and had an incredible time. Lots of Moai, tons of hiking, some spelunking, three beaches, two craters, an abandoned NASA site, and good food for dinner. We stayed in a bungalow about a 15 min walk from Hanga Roa, the only town on the island. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a fun, adventurous trip.

I highly recommend reading (or unabridged audiobooking) ["In a Sunburned Country"] (http://www.amazon.ca/In-Sunburned-Country-Bill-Bryson/dp/0385259417) - By Bill Bryson. It is absolutely wonderful, charming, funny and interesting. All about Australia.

Kona airport is on the west side (the "dry" side) of the island. Its just north of a touristy area called Kailua. In addition there are some big box retail and a grocery stores in this area, if I remember correctly. I don't know your budget, but this is probably a cheaper place to stay as well.

We stayed at the Hapuna Beach Prince, which was great. I also know people who have stayed at the Hilton Waikaloa and loved it.

Restaurants: depends on your taste, but our favorite breakfast/lunch place was the Hawaiian Style cafe in Kamuela. For a more upscale dinner, we really liked Roy's.

More than anything, I would recommend you get this book - it was dead on about EVERYTHINg.

> Just a casual glance up at the stars destroys YEC


Really? Actually, it’s a much bigger problem for those who believe in billions of years.

Edit: lol yeah people hate when facts get in the way of their ideas