Samoa · WS

Taumeasina Island

Taumeasina Island is a small, low-lying islet off the north coast of Upolu, just outside Samoa's capital Apia, and it carries one distinctive title: it is home to Samoa's only island resort. Roughly 14.8 acres (about 60,000 square metres) in size and partly reclaimed decades ago, the island is joined to the mainland by a single causeway, so you can feel tucked away on your own Pacific island while Apia's shops and restaurants remain only five minutes down the road. What makes the place special is its 360-degree geography. A calm, shallow lagoon laps one side, perfect for paddling and snorkelling, while open South Pacific swell and white sandy beach fringe the other, with the green mountains of Upolu rising behind. Day trips to Apia's museums and marine reserve, or longer drives to the south coast, all unfold easily from here.