Silver Explorer - September 30, 2023

Cairns was founded in 1876 as a port for the inland gold mines of Queensland. It is now the heart of the Tropical North of Queensland, and is one of Australia's most welcoming cities. Stroll, relax, fly a kite, or have a barbecue on the Esplanade, a popular gathering area. Enjoy several great beaches just north of the city. Cairns is also a great place to watch migratory birds.

Rabaul was Papua New Guinea's most spectacularly-sited city - and perhaps its most beautiful - before it was destroyed by the September 1994 eruption of Tuvurvur. Today Rabaul is a weird wasteland buried to the waist in black volcanic ash. The broken frames of its buildings poke out of the mud like the wings of a dead bird. The town looks like a movie set for an apocalypse film or the X-files, and rubble and ruined buildings recede in every direction.

Yasawa is a tropical majesty set on the exotic Fiji Islands. If action and adventure are on your list, you've got it made: Yasawa features limitless hiking, biking, kayaking, and windsurfing, all set on the pristine waterfront. Of course, there is always an opportunity to snorkel and scuba dive beneath the gently rolling waves.

Lautoka is a very clean city and environmental concerned. It has a wonderful botanical garden and children's park. The main street of the city, Vitogo Parade, has been decorated with the planting of royal palm trees on one side. The city's municipal market, which has a floor area of about 58,000m, is another attraction for both residents and tourists.