When people hear Pacific Islands, they often picture Fiji, Hawaiʻi, Tahiti or Bora Bora.

But the Pacific is enormous and some of its most fascinating islands barely make it onto the average travel list.

If you’re looking for somewhere different, here are four islands worth putting on your radar.

🌋 Niuafoʻou, Tonga

Ready for an island with a lake inside a volcano?

Niuafoʻou is one of Tonga’s northernmost islands and is sometimes called “Tin Can Island” because of the unusual way mail was historically delivered by passing ships.

The island is volcanic, with a crater containing a series of lakes. Tonga Tourism describes the Niuas as remote islands where visitors can experience traditional village life and volcanic landscapes.

This isn’t a resort vacation. It’s an adventure.

🏝️ Niuatoputapu, Tonga

Also part of Tonga’s remote Niuas, Niuatoputapu offers something many travelers are searching for: a slower pace.

Expect beaches, village life and a chance to experience Tonga away from its better known tourist areas.

The Niuas are among Tonga’s least-visited islands, making them particularly interesting for travelers who want to get beyond the usual Pacific itinerary.

🌋 Tanna, Vanuatu

Want your island vacation with a little drama?

Head to Tanna.

The island is famous for Mount Yasur, one of the world’s most accessible active volcanoes. But that’s only the beginning. Tanna also offers Blue Cave, hot springs, traditional villages, beaches and opportunities to learn about local kastom traditions.

Imagine spending the afternoon swimming and ending the day watching a volcano glow against the night sky.

Not exactly your average beach trip.

🐠 Kadavu, Fiji

Fiji has plenty of famous islands, but Kadavu offers a very different experience.

Located south of Fiji’s main island, Kadavu has few roads and is surrounded by the Great Astrolabe Reef, making it a destination for diving, snorkeling, kayaking and exploring nature. Fiji’s tourism office specifically highlights Kadavu as an off-the-beaten-path destination.

It’s Fiji without the feeling that you’ve seen it all before.

The Pacific Is Bigger Than the Postcard

That’s the fun of exploring the Pacific.

There are islands where you can swim in volcanic caves, explore crater lakes, watch an active volcano or spend days surrounded by reef and rainforest.

And the best part?

You may have to explain to your friends where you went.

That sounds like a pretty good vacation to us.