Find your island

Tell us when, who’s going and what matters. We rank 26 islands on decades of weather records, flight times from your city and cost, and name the catch for each.

When, and from where
Who’s going
What matters most

Pick up to three.

Budget

Compared with a holiday in New Zealand

Getting there

26 islands · Top pick: Viti LevuSee results

26 islands for July, from Auckland

Family with under-12s · Beaches · About NZ prices · Any journey time

“See stays” links go to Booking.com. They are partner links: we may earn a commission, and it never changes the ranking. How we make money

  1. Viti Levu

    Fiji · Best Jun–Oct

    85 Excellent match

    For families, Fiji’s easiest resort trip from NZ: pick Denarau for short transfers or the Coral Coast for reef, and book July early.

    • Excellent conditions in July: 96/100
    • Direct from Auckland, about 3 hours
    • About NZ prices, in line with your budget

    See stays in Denarau Island Read the guide

  2. Rarotonga

    Cook Islands · Best May–Nov

    85 Excellent match

    The easiest tropical island from NZ: under four hours from Auckland, NZ dollars, 90 days on arrival. Just don’t expect bargains.

    • Very good for beaches
    • Excellent conditions in July: 84/100
    • Direct from Auckland, about 4 hours
    • About NZ prices, in line with your budget

    See stays in Muri Read the guide

  3. Mamanuca Islands

    Fiji · Best May–Oct

    85 Excellent match

    Reef-sheltered resorts a short boat ride from Nadi: Fiji’s easiest island escape, priced like resorts and sometimes reached with wet feet.

    • One of the best for beaches
    • Excellent conditions in July: 97/100
    • No direct flight from Auckland: about 4 hours 45 minutes with connections
    • Above NZ prices, a step above your budget

    See stays in Malolo and Malolo Lailai Read the guide

  4. Upolu

    Samoa · Best Jun–Sep

    82 Excellent match

    Living Samoan culture, south-coast beaches and cheap beach fales, under four hours from Auckland. Sundays need working around.

    • Very good for beaches
    • Excellent conditions in July: 93/100
    • Direct from Auckland, about 4 hours
    • About NZ prices, in line with your budget

    See stays in Apia Read the guide

  5. Aitutaki

    Cook Islands · Best Jun–Nov

    80 Excellent match

    Best for couples: the Cook Islands’ lagoon island, a short hop from Rarotonga, with an extra flight to pay for.

    • One of the best for beaches
    • Excellent conditions in July: 95/100
    • No direct flight from Auckland: about 5 hours 45 minutes with connections
    • Above NZ prices, a step above your budget

    See stays in Amuri and the sunset side Read the guide

  6. Efate

    Vanuatu · Best Jul–Oct

    78 Good match

    Vanuatu made easy: non-stop from Auckland in 3 hours 15, no visa and a real town as a base. Flights are few.

    • Excellent conditions in July: 94/100
    • Direct from Auckland, about 3 hours 15 minutes
    • About NZ prices, in line with your budget

    See stays in Port Vila town and harbour Read the guide

  7. Oʻahu

    Hawaiʻi · Good all but Sep

    74 Good match

    The Hawaiʻi most Kiwis picture, one non-stop flight from Auckland. Plenty to do, but US prices and an ESTA to sort before you book.

    • Very good for beaches
    • Excellent conditions in July: 94/100
    • Direct from Auckland, about 8 hours 30 minutes
    • Above NZ prices, a step above your budget

    See stays in Waikīkī Read the guide

  8. Yasawa Islands

    Fiji · Best Jun–Oct

    74 Good match

    Island-hopping by catamaran, manta rays from May to October and simple beach bures, with long boat days and no banks on the islands.

    • Very good for beaches
    • Excellent conditions in July: 96/100
    • No direct flight from Auckland: about 6 hours 45 minutes with connections
    • Above NZ prices, a step above your budget

    See stays in the southern Yasawas Read the guide

  9. Tongatapu

    Tonga · Best May–Nov

    72 Good match

    Culture and whales in Tonga, under three hours direct from Auckland, no advance visa needed. Almost everything closes on Sunday.

    • Excellent conditions in July: 88/100
    • Direct from Auckland, about 3 hours
    • About NZ prices, in line with your budget

    See stays in Nukuʻalofa Read the guide

  10. Savaiʻi

    Samoa · Best Jun–Sep

    71 Good match

    The biggest, quietest island in Samoa: lava fields, beach fales and village life, for travellers happy with a ferry, cash and still Sundays.

    • Excellent conditions in July: 93/100
    • About NZ prices, in line with your budget
    • No direct flight from Auckland: about 6 hours 15 minutes with connections

    See stays in Salelologa Read the guide

How the ranking works

Fit, 40%

How well the island suits who’s going and what you picked, from the 0–5 ratings in each guide. They compare islands with each other, so a 5 means one of the best we cover for that.

The month, 30%

The month’s conditions score: warmth, sea temperature, rain, sunshine and cyclone records, out of 100. How the score works

Cost, 15%

How the island’s prices compare with your budget. Pricier costs more than cheaper.

Getting there, 15%

Scheduled flight and ferry time from your city in that month, plus connections: time to change planes, or to get from an airport to a boat, when there is no direct way.

Islands that break a must-have, or take longer than your limit, are listed under “Not shown” with the reason. No island pays to be listed or ranked.