Yasawa Islands

Saturday, July 18, 2015 48 Hours Bay of Plenty Times 9 Journeytoparadise Richard Moore slips off his shoes and dips his toes intothe Yasawas PHOTOS/RICHARD MOORE LOT of people spend There is almost every their lives waiting to European nationality here, go to heaven, yet giving the island aUnited only three hours Nations feel. Aaway from Meal times are communal Auckland by plane —and affairs in the meeting/ another couple of hours on a restaurant area and the food is ferry —isatropical paradise pretty good. you’ll not easily forget. Accommodation on Manta It is the Yasawa Islands to ranges from older bures that the northwestofFiji’s main are very basic to more modern island of Viti Levu, an area versions, dormitories and tent filled with stunning white-sand bures with en suites. beaches and tropical These are the bee’s knees as landscapes,beautiful coral the tents —styled on African reefs and blue waters calling safari shelters —have mesh for you to bathe in their sides that can be covered for warmth. privacy,big comfortable beds, The island group not only electricity and ceiling fans that offers afeast for your eyes, but are godsends on sultry nights. also relaxation for body and The en suite is an open-to- soul as Fiji time kicks in for the-elements shower and a even the most stressed. covered loo. Taking atop-deck spot while Permanent guests found at cruising out of Port Denarau on all resorts are the bure geckos the Yasawa Flyer is agreat way that chirp to you at irregular to start your journeyfrom intervals. tense to calm. North to south, Drawaqa As the main island slips Island has two distinctive lower on the horizon, the small weathersides. If the winds are resort isles of the Mamanuca blowing hard from the sunrise Islands fill you with asense of side then activities are held on excitementabout what is in the sheltered side and when the store afew hours away. winds come from the sunset Then, quite suddenly,you swinging awooden club and cool expanse of lawn between point of the island from which side the opposite is true. are in open ocean, heading shouting achallenge. the large, comfortable bures he tried to do away with himself Both sides have good towards craggy mountains and, Barefoot Kuata is ahub for and the main dining area. and his watery cave lies near it. snorkelling spots just off the as the swells increase, so do scuba divers. The resort offers Perfect for agame of cricket, or Ravinasaga tells how he told off beaches. From Manta you can thoughts that you are leaving solid wooden huts and dorms footy. aperson who landed in his snorkel with manta rays or on the modern world behind. just back from alovely sandy Wayalailai has a helicopter, later discovering it various reefs ,goscuba diving, On awarm, clear-blue-sky beach with great views of the wonderfully laidback charm was Hanks himself. sunbathe, join the hunt for day there can be few nicer trips surrounding island peaks. and Ifelt at ease as soon as Iput He still laughs about that. crown of thorn starfish, relax or to go on. The major offering on Kuata my bags down. When Igoback to swim. You can add abit of is diving or swimming with The locals are terrific — Wayalailai I’ll take ascuba You will quicklyclock on to adventure as you embarkand sharks —afantastic activity very approachable and quite refreshercourse with him to be Fiji time at Barefoot Manta. disembark the ferry. that will likely end up being the inquisitive —they will want to able to enjoy the beautiful Our two days went far too Few, if any, of the resorts highlight of your stay. The know everything about you. waters even more. quickly —very much like the have even asemblance of a shark reef is a40-minuteboat Saukarasa Ravinasaga owns From Waya Island it is rest of our time in the Yasawas. wharf or jetty, so tenders trip from Kuata and is in about the dive shop and runs Yasawa another hour on to Paradise They are awonderful collect and drop off passengers. 20m of clear water with plenty Tropical Diver trips out to dive Cove, Mantaray Island Resort destination if you like to get That means being ready to of coral and sea life to enjoy. spots when he is not working in and Barefoot Manta Resort on back to nature on your either take off your shoes and If serenity and complete Switzerland. He says he knows DrawaqaIsland. holidays. Forget your mobile socks, or get them wet as you relaxation are what you are all the good spots —including Barefoot Manta was our and wave the internet goodbye, head for dry sands. after, then Iwould recommend ones no one else does —and his home for two days and is home instead chill out in aplace that Not easy to do with 12 plus Wayalailai, just across the confidence tells you if you want to ahost of visitors and can easily be called aparadise. kilos of camera gear on your channel from Kuata. The resort to visit the best sites he is the volunteers who are working on back. has been around for 20 years man to sign on with. the Vinaka Fiji programme, to Richard Moore was in Fiji The first island resort is and has superb views over the Some of Tom Hanks movie create sustainable courtesyofAwesome Kuata, where awarrior greets ocean. It is on afertile island Cast Away was filmed across on communities, and helping with Adventures Fiji and Vinaka you from atop agiant rock, and this may be why it has a Kuata. You can see the high educationorconservation. Fiji..

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