FAQs
Q. How do I book with South Pacific By Design?
• It's easy! Contact our team of Travel Designers at sales@southpacificbydesign.com or phone toll free at 1-855-465-1030 and tell us about your dream trip. We'll come up with a quote based on what you share, and will work with you to make adjustments until it's absolutely perfect.
Q. What are your business hours?
• Our Travel Designer Team is available Monday through Friday from 08:00am to 16:00 and Saturday from 08:00am to 16:30 (Pacific Time).
Q. What are your booking policies and payment process?
• Please refer to our Booking Conditions page for full details
Q. Do you supply travelers with documentation?
• Yes, documentation can include a final itinerary, vouchers, guide book, destination maps and brochures. Self-Drive itineraries will have detailed driving instructions for that specific itinerary, and include the miles and travel time for route planning. Our Travel Designers recommend adding GPS in the car rental for the extra guidance and peace of mind that comes with it.
We send the package to the travelers’ first hotel in Australia or New Zealand (package can be sent to travelers’ preferred address – which may come at additional cost).
Q. Do I need a visa to enter the South Pacific?
Australia, New Zealand and Fiji each have their own set of entry requirements when it comes to visa applications. American and Canadian passport holders do not need a visa for New Zealand or Fiji if their trip does not exceed 90 days, but New Zealand does require a NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) as of October 1, 2019.
Travelers to Australia will need a visa, and you can discover which one is right for you with the Australian visa finder.
If your passport was issued by a country other than the US or Canada, please check the visa exempted countries lists for Fiji and New Zealand, or use the visa finder for Australia.
Q. Do you have an After-Hours phone number?
• Yes, while in the South Pacific travelers can contact our office toll-free at 1-855-465-1030; when calling outside of business hours travelers will be prompted to leave a voicemail or, for an emergency, transfer to the agent on-call.
Q. What associations do you have a membership with?
• For consumer confidence in regards to financial and service security we are registered with Consumer Protection BC #3590. We are also members in good standing with Tourism Vancouver and members of The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC).
Q. How long will it take for my booking to be confirmed?
• Booking confirmations will be advised within 24-48 hours of receipt, except on weekends or public holidays, where a response can be expected on the next business day.
Q. How do we know what the pick-up time is for day tours?
• All pick-up information for tours can be found in the remarks on the itinerary confirmation document sent to you.
Q. Do you offer Guides? And do you offer day tours in languages other than English?
• Scheduled day tours and excursions will have English speaking drivers-guides. Day tours can be booked in other languages as a private guided service on request and will be confirmed at the time of booking. Please send your request to our Travel Designer Team at time of enquiry and booking.
Q. What are the public holidays in Australia?
• New Year’s Day – January 1
• Australia Day – January 26
• Good Friday – according to Christian calendar each year
• Easter Monday – Monday following Easter Sunday
• Anzac Day – April 25
• Christmas Day – December 25
*Additional holidays are determined by individual states
Q. What are the public holidays in New Zealand?
• New Year’s Day – January 1
• Day After New Year's Day – January 2
• Waitangi Day – February 6
• Good Friday – according to Christian calendar each year
• Easter Monday – Monday following Easter Sunday
• Anzac Day – April 25
• Queen's Birthday – June 4
• Labour Day – October 22
• Christmas Day – December 25
• Boxing Day – December 26
Q. What are the public holidays in Fiji?
• New Year’s Day – January 1
• Good Friday – according to Christian calendar each year
• Easter Saturday – Saturday following Easter Friday
• Easter Monday – Monday following Easter Sunday
• National Sports and Wellness Day – date determined by the government each year
• Constitution Day – September 7
• Fiji Day – October 10
• Diwali – November 7
• Birthday of Prophet Muhammad – November 20
• Christmas Day – December 25
• Boxing Day – December 26
Q. What is the suggested gratuity amount in the South Pacific?
• There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to tipping in the South Pacific. In Australia, New Zealand and Fiji tipping is not customary nor is it required, though you can offer extra payment for outstanding service if you wish.
Q. What kind of weather can I expect in the South Pacific?
Climates can vary greatly in the South Pacific, particularly for Australia and New Zealand. The seasons here are the reverse of what they are in North America, with winter falling from June to August, spring from September to November, Summer from December to February and Autumn from March to May. Actual weather temperatures and patterns can also be very different from the North to the South.
Fiji enjoys a tropical climate year round, though the smaller islands typically receive less rainfall than the main islands. For a more in-depth look at the weather in these three destinations, check the tourism websites for Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.