Vavau, Tonga to Fiji
The local Immigration Company Vehicle
Our time in Vavau was spent trying to keep
warm as the temperature had dropped and crazy as it may seem, after coming from
Panama, Tahiti and the like, Vavau was cold to us at 15 degrees.
The cruising there is great with many
sheltered Anchorages around the various Islands and plenty of depth close in,
but the cost of Food etc was not cheap. We found the township in Vavau to be
pretty rundown and its obvious there is not a lot of money around.
Sourcing provisions is a challenge here as
the supermarkets don’t have a lot of stock and you have to pay close attention
to the use by dates on a lot of stuff.
Unfortunately we were too early in the season
to see any Whales that come in close to the inner waters to breed. It’s a
tourist attraction that many people come to see and there are a lot of charter
groups based here for that reason.
Inside one of the many caves
hanging out with 'Cathy and Sandy'
Beautiful Anchorages everywhere
After loading up the Chart plotter with 90
uncharted reefs, we charted our course through various waypoints setting a
course to avoid them for our leg to Fiji.
Fish for Dinner enroute to Fiji !
We had a good sail over from Tonga, sea
conditions were a vast improvement from the Niue to Tonga leg and we had 10-15
knots South easterlies all the way.
We got inside the reef system at the bottom
west side of Vitu Levu just before dark
where we anchored for the night before going into Vuda Point the next morning.
We had the Health official come on board
and spray the boat for Insects and then proceeded into the Marina there and
tied up to the day Jetty for Immigration, where we were greeted by some
friendly locals singing their welcome song. It was a great welcome and made us
feel at home straight away.
Immigration Dock at Vuda Point
Whilst we have been here in Fiji, so far we
have had visits from our youngest daughter Tori and our oldest Fallan, who
joined us along with her husband and our 3 year old Grandson. It was fantastic
to catch up with them after not seeing them for 18 months.
Happy Hour with Tori at the Island Bar in Musket Cove
Fooling around in boats
Cloud 9 for lunch
Just stunning
Sunset at 'Dicks Place'
Tori leaves today... :(
Zanders arrive :)
My Mini-Me!!
Refusing to grow up-haha
Loves his Coconuts
Boys 'just hanging out'
Day tripping at Castaway Island Resort
Having Kaiden on board has meant to having lack of sleep for shelly
and I. He wakes at 4 in the morning and is in our Bed for cuddles and then he
wants breakfast staright away. He’s a machine, hes either running around at 100
mph or eating and for a three year old, boy can he put it away!
But we wouldn't want it any other way :)
We’ve booked a buoy out at Musket Cove and
are enjoying the time in the sun here and the use of the facilities at both
Musket Cove and Plantation Resorts.
We have done some local cruising with the
family up to the Yasawas and back and around the Manamanucas where you have to navigate visually as there
are reefs everywhere and the charting is not good around Fiji, buts it been
great so far.
We went out to Cloud 9 Pizza Restaraunt for the day and Kaiden blew everybody away out there by jumping off the Top Floor Hand rail into the sea. He just loves the water, not bad for three years old!
We went out to Cloud 9 Pizza Restaraunt for the day and Kaiden blew everybody away out there by jumping off the Top Floor Hand rail into the sea. He just loves the water, not bad for three years old!
Not sure what the plan is next, but one
thing for sure is we are hanging out here for a bit and spending some time
enjoying the friendly Fijian lifestyle, although all the Fiji Gold I’m drinking
is starting to show around the waistline now!
