Vanua Balavu

Sea Topaz
Duncan Briggs
Wed 8 Sep 2010 01:26
 
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Subject: Vanua Balavu

17.13.140 S 178.57.400 W
 
Vanua Balavu in the Lau Group of Islands has been amazing. Two nights off Daliconi Village, three nights in the Bay of Islands as I described in the last blog.
After a couple of hours motoring with a lookout on the bow and the Maxsea helping us, we arrived in Batavu Harbour, a stunning bay with high cliffs on both sides. We climbed up the hill to pay our respects to the cocopalm plantation owner. The manager made us very welcome and suggested we walked to the other side of the plantation to see the view of the Bay of Islands. A fantastic view, and we thought, when we were there, that nobody could see us. We met Misa and Maria, some of the staff, who gave us the visitors book to sign. We gave them kava.
The next morning we snorkeled and having enjoyed the bay all by ourselves we were joined by an Italian super yacht. Very nice people, who could not get over the fact that we had lived on such a small boat for five years!! On a small beach on the outside of the bay we collected our first Fiji shells, just a few.
After two nights in Bavatu Harbour we moved further up the coast to a small bay recommended by "Moasie", another cruiser. Small but beautiful, if it had not been recommended we would not have found it. This bay has beaches to explore at low tide. After two nights in Rabi Rabi Bay we motored back to the bay of islands, where we discovered another beautiful area for snorkeling, the current was strong so we got into the water at one end and drifted to the other end. A beautiful sunset with our sundowners, flat calm water and again the bay to ourselves; what more does one want.
This time we stayed just one night and went back to Daliconi Village. The plan is to walk to the main village on the other side and get some fruit and eggs, we are running out of everything except tins.
 
                       
 
        The Bay of Islands, Vanua Balavu                                                Bavatu Harbour with Sea Topaz                                        Rabi rabi Bay, again on our own