Page 38 - Pacific Paradises 2019
P. 38

—
                                                      — 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.


           www.paradises.com                               –  36  –
   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43