The Vava'u group of islands in Tonga consists of about 60 islands spread across about 250 square miles. The largest island is 'Uta Vava'u on which the main city of Neiafu lies. This island is quite large, it takes up way more than half the land mass, but the only place we visited was Neiafu, primarily to get food and internet. The other islands are very small, many with beautiful sand beaches, small traditional villages (no stores), lots of coral rock, and lots of vegetation. We have been slowly exploring many of these small islands, and since they are so close together, you can explore a few in a day.
After a few days in town we went out to Hunga island. On the way we had our most successful fishing day. In about 1 hour we caught 2 small tuna, 1 mahi mahi and 1 wahoo. Enough to feed us and friends for many days.
The entrance to Hunga lagoon is very narrow, about 30 feet across, from a rock pinnacle that juts out of the water in the passage between the islands. Nirvana can only enter at mid to high tide, otherwise the reef we cross is too shallow. And as usual there is always current when entering passes like these. We entered no problem, but I nearly had a heart attack when we left as the depth sounder read 0 feet below the keel and the current was sweeping us out. We anchored off Fofoa Island where there are a handful of inhabitants. In the afternoon Harrison played his guitar for a group of Aussies that have a cottage there, and Axel played with a bunch of Aussie boys that lived next door.
At Vaka'eitu Island there is a Tongan family with 11 kids that lives on the beach in a hut made of branches and plastic tarps. We left Axel to play with their 9 years old boy named Kava, and when we came back they were having fun fighting with hammers. Next to this island we snorkeled in an area called the coral gardens. We saw indigo elk horn coral, a variety of other corals, a huge octopus, and many fish. On our second night here, we attended a traditional Tongan feast on Lape Island. Very yummy. The kids really liked the taro chips (like potato chips but made from taro). Gigi really didn't like the look of the suckling pig, it was too much for her to see the whole animal.
Off Eukafa Island we swam with humpback whales. We all jumped in the dinghy and followed the whales and got in and swam with a mother and her baby. It is incredible to be in the water with such large animals. On the island we had quite an adventurous hike. As there was no real trail, we had to bushwhack our way up to the lookout point and the Tongan princess' tomb. Axel climbed into the tomb. Made me think of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
In Neiafu we saw 2 traditional sailing canoes arrive from Hawaii. They were each about 60 feet long and either rowed or sailed all the way and were made in the traditional Polynesia style.
Ovalau Island had a huge beautiful white sand beach that we explored and met a local fisherman in this outrigger canoe.
Currently we are anchored off Tapana Island. We are planning on exploring the beach and going on a short hike as soon as the kids finish schoolwork for the day. Last night Gigi kayaked into some of the caves along the coast, but got eaten by mosquitoes.
Julie
No comments:
Post a Comment