Safe spots for a solitary snorkeller

Shark Reef's impressive soft corals and marine life make it a popular snorkelling site in Fiji. Photo / Michael O'Neill

I am an older woman, travelling alone, who loves snorkelling. Where would you recommend as a destination anywhere in the Pacific for snorkelling on my own, preferably from my accommodation, or with a group? Bev Frances

All the islands and resorts of the South Pacific offer snorkelling and diving, and everyone will give you a different opinion about where the best sites are, the most colourful fish, the most spectacular coral - or the biggest sharks!

Fiji is often at the top of travellers' lists for snorkelling opportunities. Among the best spots are Nananu-i-Ra off Viti Levu's northern coast, as well as the islands in the Mamanuca and Yasawa Groups. Taveuni is world-renowned among divers, and there is plenty for snorkellers here, too. If snorkelling right from your beach accommodation is more important, however, there are dozens of resorts in Fiji where this is possible.

In French Polynesia the coral reefs and coral outcrops dotted around the lagoons are perfect for snorkelling. Join a lagoon tour by boat or just head out to explore the lagoon yourself. If you wanted to really treat yourself, then explore the marine reserve off Hotel Bora Bora, one of the best hotels in the world.

The snorkelling is also excellent at Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu, while New Caledonia has the world's second-largest reef, so there's no shortage of snorkelling sites there either. To read what other snorkelling enthusiasts have to say about their best experiences in the South Pacific, go to the Thorn Tree travel forum.

If you decide on Fiji, make sure you read what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade (MFAT) has to say about safety in the country at safetravel.govt.nz.

Brazilian adventure

My son has qualified for the World Junior Powerlifting Championships held in Ribeirao Preto, Brazil, this coming September. While there we have organised further travel, but none of us knows much about Ribeirao Preto itself. We will be there for five days during the competition and would love some general advice about the place. Also, what precautions should we take generally while travelling around Brazil?
Laura Strachan

Ribeirao Preto is a city of around half a million and sits in the northeastern part of Sao Paolo state, about 300km north of Sao Paolo city itself. Ribeirao Preto doesn't really have much of a claim to fame, tourism-wise, and you're unlikely to find any information about it in travel guides to Brazil. It's probably most well-known for the excellent beer that's brewed here, Pinguim. The Teatro Pedro II dates from the 1920s and is the third-largest opera house in Brazil. It's home to the Ribeirao Preto Symphony Orchestra, one of the oldest in Brazil. You'll find a number of parks and gardens throughout the city and there's also a rather attractive university here. That's about all we can tell you.

A simple search of the internet will reveal a range of accommodation options, but Trip Advisor is probably the most helpful. When you arrive in Sao Paolo, if that is your jumping off point for Ribeirao Preto, you should visit a tourist information office for more information on the state of Sao Paolo. There's one at the airport and a number of kiosks dotted around town.

It's a fact of life that many tourists do get robbed while in Brazil. You can certainly minimise the risks of being robbed, however, by carrying only the minimum you need for each day, by not wearing shoulder bags or backpacks that can be easily snatched and not wearing obvious jewellery. Avoid wandering around at night - take taxis instead - and always ask where the no-go areas are so you can avoid them. It's also better to use ATMs inside buildings or foyers or in shopping centres than those on the street. For more information, have a look at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade's travel advisory for Brazil at smartraveller.gov.au (MFAT is not currently issuing an advisory for Brazil).

Reasons to go to Rarotonga

My partner and I are thinking about taking a seven to 10-day holiday in Rarotonga this year. Obviously we are hoping to go during our winter, but what is the best time of year to go? Also, my partner thinks he'd get bored in Rarotonga. Is there much to do there? What do you recommend?
Bronwen Newcombe

Rarotonga enjoys a pleasantly even climate year-round but the best time to visit is around September and October when there's a nice trade-off between warm temperatures and reduced humidity. In the winter months (May to October) you can expect temperatures ranging from 18C to 28C. Rarotonga is often quite wet, thanks to its inland mountains, but you'd be unlucky to suffer one of the rare week-long rainy spells that occur in summer.

There's plenty to do in Rarotonga. Besides the obvious - lying on beaches, snorkelling, diving, lagoon cruising, windsurfing and kayaking - there is a wonderful inland road to explore that will reveal the island's more tranquil side. The Ara Metua (Ancient Road) was originally built from coral blocks in around AD1000 by one of the island's first chiefs. It passes through farmland, taro plantations and rambling homesteads in the foothills of Rarotonga's mountainous centre.

If trekking is your thing, then the Cross-Island Track through the island's heart is the most popular walk on the island. There are several local guides who conduct tours along the track but it is possible to do it yourself. However, it's difficult after wet weather as it gets very slippery and, therefore, dangerous.

Other activities include tennis, squash, golf, horse-riding, sailing trips, four-wheel drive tours and scenic flights. So your partner really won't get bored. If you are there from July to October, you could be in for a treat: humpback whales visit the Cook Islands on their way to the colder waters of Antarctica. Some sea boat charters in Avarua run whale-watching excursions.

Finally, make sure you experience an island night. These spectacular shows, combining traditional dance and music with a lavish buffet of local food, are held all over Rarotonga, generally at the bigger resorts. You might also find fire-juggling and acrobatics thrown into the mix.