Vailima Botanical Garden

It is a wonderful chance for visitors to take a tour of the famed Scottish author's residence in Samoa, where he spent his final years. Vailima, his magnificent estate, has been converted into a museum with gorgeous gardens that is open to the public. Visit his cemetery near the top of Mt Vaea, along a hiking track known as "The Road of Loving Hearts" by locals.

The Vailima Botanical Garden covers around 12 hectares (30 acres) and protects a diverse range of native, introduced, and naturalized species representative of the archipelago and Pacific basin flora. It's a great area to go for a day trip to unwind and appreciate nature's tranquility. Visitors can enjoy a stroll through the Vailima Botanical Gardens, stop by the Information Centre to learn about the Reserve's biodiversity, and cool off in the Loimata o Apaula stream's freshwater pool and waterfall, where Robert Louis Stevenson once swam.

The short hike to Robert Louis Stevenson's Tomb atop Mt Veaa takes around 30 minutes, but the terrain is rather steep and slippery when wet. A 50-minute trek through lush tropical rainforest and past a spectacular Banyan tree is the alternative way to the peak. Water and appropriate footwear are recommended in either case.

Location: Apia