When it comes to cool paradise islands, The Mamanucas are up there with the most stunning. They are a group of islands in the South Pacific and one of these islands is the tiny uninhabited island of Monuriki (Castaway Island) which was the location for Tom Hanks’s movie Cast Away.
There are about 20 islands in the group, basking in a large lagoon formed by the Malolo Barrier Reef. Many of the islands take day-trippers from the mainland, who can enjoy the white sand beneath paradise coconut palms. The ocean around the islands has some excellent dive sites and surf spots. The snorkelling here is generally fantastic with the clear waters offering fascinating windows into the undersea world.
Most of the habitable islands support a tourist resort. If there is a resort but no village, it is usually because there is no natural source of water. Most resorts bring in their water from the mainland by barge. A few of the smaller islands, such as Monuriki, retain significant areas of forest with native birds and reptiles.
