Apolima island is even more remote and inaccessible than Manono. It lies in the Apolima Strait, west of Manono and just outside the reef that encircles Manono and 'Upolu. It's made up of volcanic leftovers and has only one tiny and difficult entrance from the sea through to the single village of 150 people. It's one of the most untouched places in Polynesia.Getting there is tricky but it can be done. Apolima island is outside the tourist loop so the best bet is to receive an invitation from one of the villagers on the island and then arrange special transportation from 'Upolu.

Lake Lanoto'o, or Goldfish Lake, in the interior of 'Upolu, is quite some way off the beaten track these days, although it wasn't always so. During the German occupation of Samoa it was a popular picnicking spot. Cavalcades of parasol-shaded young women were escorted to Lake Lanoto'o by German soldiers or courtly Europeans doing the wooing thing. Today, as back then, the lake is a strange pea-green colour and is full of wild goldfish that gather around the shores of the lake. Lake Lanoto'o has a spooky kind of charm, partly due to its strange green colour and hordes of goldfish, and partly due to the fact that the bottom of the lake has never been found.Getting there requires a bit of persistence. Take a taxi down Cross Island Road and ask the driver to drop you off at the Lanoto'o Rd turn off. You will then need to walk about 4km (2.5mi) in the direction of the microwave relay towers, and then slog down an overgrown track for 40 minutes. This will lead you to the lake in a volcanic crater.

Manono, lying in the stretch of water between 'Upolu and Savai'i, is almost entirely untouched by modern society. There are no dogs, no roads, no vehicles and no noise on this island. It's so quiet and peaceful that it makes 'Upolu look like a bustling metropolis. People live almost entirely in fale and enjoy a semi-subsistence lifestyle. Visitors are welcome on the island as long as respect is shown for the traditional way of life and an effort is made to help conserve the fragile ecosystem through environment-friendly activities.To get to Manono island take a bus from Apia to the western end of 'Upolu and then a launch across to the island. Outrigger and canoe trips can be arranged.