After we swam with whales in Ha’apai, Tonga, we sailed north to an island group called Vava’u. Vava’u is very different from the two other island groups, we have visited so far in Tonga, Niua and Ha’apai. Whereas they have quite low islands with sandy beaches, the Vava’u islands are mostly made of volcanic rock. This means that the coastline is jagged, and that most anchorages are quite deep.
Islands like these are scattered all around the Vava’u island group.
The islands are steep, and are eroded by the ocean at the bottom.
We hung around town for a bit (more about that in a later post) before we set off to explore some of the anchorages that this island group has to offer. Central to the exploration of Vava’u, are the many caves which can be found on the different islands. We went dinghy exploring, and visited a total of four different caves. Two of them we had to swim into, while two of them we could enter with the dinghy.
Exploring by dinghy.
The caves we visited were;
Swallow’s Cave, which we could drive into with lots of tags inside the cave
Mariner’s Cave, which we had to swim under water to get into
A small cave directly south of the Mariner’s cave with one of the largest bait ball we have ever seen
A’a cave with a huge bat colony and a bait ball inside
The captain brought his camera, and made a video of our experiences, which can also be viewed on our You Tube channel.
And here are some of the shots we got from our exploration.
Mariner’s Cave had a hole in the roof.The captain shooting the video in the huge bait ball in the small cave just south of Mariner’s Cave.
Inside the bait ball at the small cave just south of Mariner’s Cave.Pretty cool how the bait ball opens as we approached it.
A’a Cave from the outside.Bat colony on the roof of A’a cave.A’a cave – looking from inside and out.
We explored several other anchorages as well, some of them picturesque and beautiful in crystal clear waters, while others offered a social scene with other cruisers. We enjoyed the diversity of the anchorages, as well as some of the land exploration we did.
The small town of ‘Otea.A typical Tongan home. Although this seemed abandoned not too long ago.A shut down telecoms store – several have Starlink on the outer islands.The anchorage by Nuku island.
Pristine waters…-which the captain enjoyed!We found some beautiful corals.With some very cute inhabitants 🙂
Lots of fish life!Mounu Island ResortThe main building and restaurant at Mounu Island Resort.
Noxoma at the anchorage right besides the resort.
Kirsty, who runs Mounu Island Resort, she has inherited from her parents, who started it back in the eighties.Dinner at Mounu Island Resort, together with two cruisers from another boat as well two resort guests.Beautiful beach which we were allowed to explore (after having dinner at the resort the night before).
The captain caught the first lobster since we entered the Pacific 18 months ago!Enjoying our first Pacific lobster on Noxoma.
At another anchorage, by the Vaka ‘Eitu island, we were very lucky to attend a local family’s birthday party for their daughter who turned 2 years old. They had gathered 50 cruisers from 22 boats for a Tongan feast, with a grilled piglet and several local dishes. They also entertained us with a traditional Tongan dance.
Lots of dinghies on the beach for the Tongan feast and birthday party.Another sailboat has not been lucky, and was washed onshore during a storm some years ago.A total of 50 cruisers were gathered onshore for the Tongan feast.Dorothy, the mother who arranged the birthday for her daughter who turned 2 years old.Traditional Tongan dance, performed by Ana and two cruisers who had attended her dancing class.
The next day after the birthday party, the admiral went back onshore together with some other cruisers to attend a private dance lesson in traditional Tongan dancing.
Ready for our Tongan dancing lesson.The teacher, Ana, and the admiral with the proper hairdo for dancing.Ana’s sister was assisting with singing as well as covering the music player.The dance we learned was written about when Queen Elizabeth II came to visit Tonga many years ago.
After ten days exploring some of the different islands and anchorages in Vava’u, we returned to the main town, Neiafu – ready to stock up the boat with some more fresh produce, and hang out with friends yet again!
We saw some beautiful sunsets, with the outer islands as perfect silhouettes against the sky.
