Stepping out of the aircraft at Faa'a airport in Tahiti is like being wrapped in a warm moist towel. With a year-round temperature of about 26 degrees Celsius it's a great escape from the New Zealand winter.

Stepping out of the aircraft at Faa'a airport in Tahiti is like being wrapped in a warm moist towel. With a year-round temperature of about 26 degrees Celsius it's a great escape from the New Zealand winter.

As the sun sets over a typical Samoan village, kids play touch and volleyball, men mow the lawns, women sweep the paths, and almost everyone says hello to the strange palagi running through.

As the sun sets over a typical Samoan village, kids play touch and volleyball, men mow the lawns, women sweep the paths, and almost everyone says hello to the strange palagi running through.

There are always two ways to tell any story. Here's how I would have reported my adventure in Fiji if I were writing news for a tabloid paper:

There are always two ways to tell any story. Here's how I would have reported my adventure in Fiji if I were writing news for a tabloid paper:

"So you wanna see my cave?" Clarke Mautairi may one day be the chief of his village but for now he's just its mechanic, resplendent in greasy, grey overalls, still stinking of busted sumps and year-old motor oil. You could call him a cave guide, too, b...

"So you wanna see my cave?" Clarke Mautairi may one day be the chief of his village but for now he's just its mechanic, resplendent in greasy, grey overalls, still stinking of busted sumps and year-old motor oil. You could call him a cave guide, too, b...

In the  early days of hot-air ballooning, it was customary to carry a bottle of champagne to give to local farmers as thanks for landing in their field. Today, we're carrying a bag of rice.

In the  early days of hot-air ballooning, it was customary to carry a bottle of champagne to give to local farmers as thanks for landing in their field. Today, we're carrying a bag of rice.

If you are freezing in New Zealand right now, you are probably going to hate me in about 30 seconds.

If you are freezing in New Zealand right now, you are probably going to hate me in about 30 seconds.

Some of the animals here in Rarotonga are enough to break my heart. 

Some of the animals here in Rarotonga are enough to break my heart. 

Air Pacific is threatening to take legal action against the NZ Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU) following reports a workers’ strike could disrupt flights between New Zealand and Fiji.