Page 38 - Pacific Paradises 2019
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— Fiji — Fiji —
MAMANUCA AND YASAWA ISLANDS
The Mamanuca Islands lie in a offering bure accommodation, a relaxing kilometres in a northeast direction off
majestic arc only a short distance holiday atmosphere and a range of water the west coast of Viti Levu. They are
from the mainland of Viti Levu, activities. There are boat excursions, special because their beautiful, isolated
curving to the northwest, and fishing trips, and watersports including beaches, cliffs, bays and reefs and are less
almost touching the Yasawa surfing, SUP, jet ski safaris, parsailing, commercialised than the neighbouring
chain of islands. kiteboarding, kayaking and coral Mamanuca Islands.
viewing for the kids. The islands of
There are 20 islands and they all share in Malolo are the centre for most tourism Islands in the group include Waya,
common pristine white sandy beaches, to and from the Mamanucas. It has safe the highest with amazing scenery and
waving palms, crystal blue waters and, anchorage, a cosmopolitan community Tavewa, a strikingly beautiful, small
at night, the cooling influence of the and an airstrip. The movie Castaway island that is about two kilometres long.
trade winds. The Mamanuca Islands was also shot on Monuriki Island in In 1972 Richard Evanson bought Turtle
(pronounced Mah-mahnoo-tha) are the Mamanucas. Island while others in the group include
essentially volcanic outcrops pushed Sawa-i- Lau Island with ancient limestone
up from the ocean floor in a gigantic At the southern end of the chain, Cloud caves and Yasawa Island that has small
earthquake thousands of years ago. Some 9 is a world-class wave that hosts the villages and a five-star resort. Naviti
are especially significant in Fijian folklore. Fiji Pro International Surf Competition is the largest island while Viwa is the
and recently hosted the World most remote, sitting alone 25 kilometres
From the air you can see that the Stand-Up Paddle and Paddleboard northwest of Waya. The Blue Lagoon
Mamanucas islands are two clusters Championships. Here there is also a movie was filmed in the Yasawas.
known as Mamanuca-i-ra and two-tier floating bar off Malolo Island The limestone caves of Sawa-i-lau is
Mamanucai-cake. Within the on stunning RoRo Reef. a very popular day trip as are diving
Mamanucas is the Malolo group, five The Yasawa Islands have a different with manta rays and snorkelling
kilometres inside the barrier reef, ambience and are dotted with small with sharks. There are also multi-day
extending in a curve for 120 kilometres.
resorts and backpackers accommodation. island-hopping small ship cruises to the
A number of resort islands are scattered They are a chain of 16 volcanic islands Mamanucas and Yasawas with three and
throughout the Malolo group, each and dozens of tiny islets stretching 80 seven day itineraries.
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