This morning we entered an enchanting realm of deep blue channels arcing among an array of vibrant green islands in the Vava’u archipelago in the Kingdom of Tonga. We docked beside the bustling town of Neiafu on the main island of Uta Vava’u. After breakfast we ventured ashore. Beside the pier were a gathering of local people selling a variety of carvings, baskets, and tapa cloth designs. Nearby, the island’s main outdoor market was thriving with activity as sellers and buyers bartered over colorful stacks of fruits and vegetables.
For the morning’s outing, many people chose to visit the Ene’io Botanical Garden for an introduction to the ethno-botany of the islands, with demonstrations of various local plants and their different uses. From there, a short ride continued onto the shore to see demonstrations of weaving and traditional dances. A group of eager hikers headed off by foot from the ship through the edges of the town to reach a trailhead at Mount Talua National Park. There a long and steep line of cement stairs ascended through lush forest to the summit of the low mountain that is the center of this small yet important park protecting woodland habitat for native plants and wildlife. From the top of this raised coral hill there were stunning views of the surrounding islands, bays, and the Port of Refuge where our ship lay quietly beside the town.
After lunch we repositioned a few miles southwest in the Vava’u group, and anchored in a scenic channel between Utungake and Kapa Islands. In front of us, shallow turquoise waters spread enticingly across sand bars and coral reefs spanning the waters around smaller Mala Island and several adjacent offshore rocks and islets. We spent the afternoon enjoying this alluring region; snorkeling amongst multitudes of tropical fishes swarming the coral heads, or watching them from above via the glass-bottom Zodiac, and kayaking along the shores of these islands. Divers headed out farther afield to explore the magic of Swallow’s Cave, a magnificent fissure eroded from high limestone cliffs. As the sun eased low over the crest of Kapa Island, we returned to the ship for another delicious dinner as we made our way farther eastward across the vast Pacific.
