Matafonua Lodge Ha'apai

We flew to the Vava'u Islands on a tiny airplane, like a flying cigar tube. Lots of beeping noises from the cockpit which were a bit alarming until we got used to it. The views down on the reefs and islands were stunning. We picked up our yacht Finvarra, an Oceanis 331, she's a bit older than we had expected and has a number of peculiar quirks which we have had to get used to, but she sails OK - here ...

After l*st nights shen*****ns we *ll felt pretty hung over this morning *nd w*s not up for doing much so we w*lked into town *nd *sked *round to find * be*ch resort to go to. Lis* *t Tropic*n* set us up with * t*xi for Tong*n Be*ch Resort on Ut*ng*ke isl*nd. This isl*nd is *ccessible by ro*d, *nd so we just l*zed there for the whole d*y. It w*s quiet drizzily ...

... We wandered back through town in the pouring rain (thankgod i packed my umberella...thanks adele) and ended up at Tropicana, the main internet cafe in town. We had some breakfast and then headed back to the apartment where we met Josie and Billy. josie and Billy are an English couple who are staying next door to us at Island Explorer. They normally live in a tepee on an island somewhere in Va'vau but have been rained off this week and are ...

... had an even better view over Tongatapu than we had when we arrived....but little did we know it was about to get a thousand times better!!! 40minutes later we begun our descent and Va'vau came into view....it appeared as a spray of islands scattered within a beautiful sea of blues and greens, with sweeping sand banks, and small waves visible at the edge of each island! It was even more impressive than Tongatapu ...

... of midnight the heavens opened and the most torrential rain I have ever seen or heard drummed on the corregated tin roof until 7 am when we had o get up for the fishing trip. Depite concerns that the weather would wreck the day (if not the boat) we left with Henk (Dutch/Kiwi skipper of Target One); Te'O (the local crew with 4 teeth) and picked up Mark (NZ lawyer/fellow tourist). Once we left port the skies cleared and we went looking for fish ...

A night of dancing and countless ikale, Andy being smooth with the locals and an astonishing day of swimming with Whales. Pacific Humpback whales come to Tonga - not for the cheap beer, but for the warm waters in which they give birth to and nurse their calves. We took a trip out on a rickety boat and within an hour had found our ...

Little Plane to Vava'U... View from little plane: azure sea broken by hairline surf highlighted reefs and tiny beach ringed atols, this is truly the stuff holiday brochures are made of (no photo sorry)... friendly Australian girl on transfer (no photo sorry).. more accomodation confusion... found alternative lodgings in the craziest little house ...

For now, just a quick word... Every Friday night in Vava'u, anyone who is eager can enter their boat in the weekly race held in the Port of Refuge. If you are without sail, you can hop aboard a boat that is entered and help crew, or just be the onbard cheer squad. It's a great way to start the night...with awards and drinks after.

... get to Dry land. it was a bit of a mission not to drop our bags and supply's in the sea but we all manage some how.

We had to bring all of our supply's with us during the 3 days we were on the island all of our clothes, sleeping equipment, water and food. I had brought a mixture of noodles, chocolate, reiteration sachets which came in very handy and other snack food that I would need to survive.

Once on dry land we all searched for a place to pitch ...