Laurie on the Move

Oceania

Traditional totum statue in Honiara, Solomon Islands

Visiting Solomon Islands: What to actually do in Honiara

Honiara is not a polished destination. The internet is a battle, the heat is relentless, and there isn't a huge amount to do. But the WWII history is genuinely gripping and Solomon ...
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Top Rock viewpoint in Vanuatu, turquoise ocean with island in the background

Visiting Vanuatu: What is it actually like on Efate island

Vanuatu is one of the most underrated Pacific islands and also one of the easiest to visit from Australia. Here's what to do, where to stay, and how to have the best ...
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Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Apia, Samoa. A white cathedral with geometric designs and a blue roof

Visiting Samoa: Things to do on Upolu Island

Samoa is one of the most naturally beautiful islands in the Pacific. To Sua Ocean Trench lives up to every photo you've seen of it, Lalomanu Beach will make you want to ...
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Ha'amonga 'a Maui Trilithon - a large stone arch in Tonga

Things to do in Tonga that aren’t whale watching

Everyone goes to Tonga for the whales. I arrived two months after they'd left. Here's what to do in Tonga when you're outside whale season, and why it's still completely worth the ...
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Beautiful tropical beach in Tuvalu with clear turquoise waters and palm trees.

Is Tuvalu worth visiting? An honest answer for the curious

The world's least visited country isn't worth visiting for the sights. It's worth visiting for everything else - the runway at sunset, the community, and the specific feeling of watching your only ...
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Nauru rock formation with the national flag, located near the beach on a sunny day.

Visiting Nauru: What it’s actually like to walk around the world’s third smallest country

Nauru is the world's third smallest country. A single island, 21 kilometres around its perimeter, with a population of around 10,000 people and approximately zero tourist infrastructure. It is also one of ...
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Palm trees growing at an angle over a white sandy beach in Marshall Islands

Internet connectivity in the Pacific – Everything you need to know

I visited all 14 Pacific nations and tested internet connectivity in every single one. Some surprised me. Some were hopeless. Here's the definitive ranking from best to worst, and what to actually ...
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Clear turquoise lagoon surrounded by lush green tropical trees under a blue sky in Vanuatu

How to visit Vanuatu and Solomon Islands in one trip

Vanuatu and Solomon Islands back to back in a short timeframe sounds ambitious. It's actually very doabl, if you know which flights to take and what you're in for. Here's the honest ...
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Beautiful tropical island with lush greenery and clear blue waters in Kiribati

Visiting every country in the Pacific: Honest hot takes

Three trips. Fourteen countries. A lot of flights, some genuinely beautiful islands, a few that are best described as an acquired taste, and one that has a mandatory outdoor silence every evening ...
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Aerial view of tropical islands and ocean seen from an airplane window during flight.

An ultimate rating of the Pacific airlines

I flew 11 different airlines to complete every country in Oceania. Some were great. Some were genuinely chaotic. Here's the definitive ranking, from worst to best, based totally on personal experience ...
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Colorful Papua New Guinea tribal festival face paint and headdress showcasing cultural heritage.

The best things about Papua New Guinea’s tribal festivals

Papua New Guinea's tribal festivals - the Mount Hagen Festival and Goroka Show - are unlike anything else on earth. Here's what to expect, how to book, and why it's worth every ...
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Beautiful mountain lake in New Zealand with towering peaks and lush greenery.

New Zealand for Non-Hikers

New Zealand is marketed almost exclusively to hikers. I am not a hiker. Here's how to have an incredible time in New Zealand - Queenstown, Christchurch, Milford Sound, and Auckland - without ...
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Hidden Lagoon in Tonga with lush greenery and clear waters.

How to visit Tonga and Samoa: An honest itinerary

Tonga and Samoa are two of the most underrated islands in the Pacific, and you can visit both in three days if you plan it right. Here's the honest itinerary, including the ...
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two palm trees against a tropical pacific backdrop of blue skies and beach, with laundry hanging between the trees on a laundry line

How to visit Tuvalu: A practical guide to the world’s least visited country

Getting to Tuvalu takes planning, a Fiji connection, food planning, and a very clear understanding of what doesn't run on Sundays. Here's everything I learned from 48 hours on the world's least ...
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Recent Posts

From a cliff, the view is the town of Atar within the desert in Mauritania

Mauritania Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

Fewer than 5,000 tourists visit Mauritania each year. If you're planning to be one of them - for the infamous iron ore train, the ancient desert cities, or simply the adventure of going somewhere almost nobody goes - this is everything you need to know before you arrive.
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A yellow mosque in Nouadhbou

Nouadhibou: How to enjoy the end of the Ore Train

Nouadhibou sits at the very tip of a narrow peninsula jutting into the Atlantic, split down the middle by the Moroccan border. It's where you'll end up after riding Mauritania's Ore Train. It's not a destination in the conventional sense, but as a final stop on a Mauritania trip, it's a surprisingly good one.
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A stone mosque sits in the middle of sand dunes in Chinguetti

Chinguetti, Ouadane and the Adrar Region: Mauritania’s Ancient Desert Heart

Mauritania's Adrar region is unlike anywhere else on earth - and most people never make it here. Everything you need to know to visit the gems of this ancient heart of the desert, including Chinguetti, Atar, Ouadane, and the Eye of the Sahara.
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The Saudi Mosque in Nouakchott, taken from above, showing the sprawling city, under a blue sky

Visiting Nouakchott: An Honest Guide to Mauritania’s Surprising Capital

Most people pass through Nouakchott on the way to the iron ore train. They're missing out. Mauritania's capital is chaotic, fascinating, and - in parts - genuinely surprising. Here's what to know.
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A drone shot of Atauro island showing the beach and coast line

Atauro Island: How to Get There, What to Do, and What Nobody Tells You

Atauro Island, Timor-Leste, is home to the most biodiverse reef in the world, but almost entirely unknown to most people. It can also be a logistical headache. Here's how to actually get there and back, what to do while you're there, and everything you need to know about the Sunday shutdown.
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A white SUV sits in the middle of a desert road with sand all around on a Saudi Arabia Road Trip

Saudi Arabia Road Trip: How to Handle Fuel on a Cross-Country Drive

I drove 3,000km across Saudi Arabia solo. The thing everyone panicked about wasn't the driving - it was the fuel. Here's how to avoid getting stuck - practical tips to get through the cross-country drive.
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