We left Wakaya and came across to Levuka  "known as the place where time stands still" - on the island of Ovalau. We had a great trip over -“ no wind and a very gentle swell. Levuka was the first capital of Fiji and is still very colonial. The shops, signs, buildings and surrounds are still as they were 50 years ago. The people are all so friendly and as we walked down the street they greet us with "œBula" and a big smile. We had a walk around town and every clock we saw in town didn'™t Read more...

We have been in a gorgeous anchorage at Wakaya Island, which we hadn'™t been to before. Unfortunately we couldn'™t get off and have a walk along the white sandy beach as it is a privately owned island and there are signs up everywhere "œPrivate Island. Strictly no landing". It is owned by a Canadian entrepreneur by the name of David Gilmour. We had a few dives there and it is a well known area for manta ray sightings, although we didn'™t see any, the dives were still really impressive and Read more...

Anchored at Namena marine reserve. Awesome diving here. Stayed here last year for three days and did lots of diving and the weather has allowed us to do the same again this year. There are so many dive sites and all wonderful diving - Tetons, Fantasy, The Mushsrooms, Rainbow, The Chimneys...... Lots of fish, large and small, soft corals, fan corals, christmas tree worms........ Great for photography, both macro and normal. Also a red footed booby bird colony. Lovely, cute fluffy chicks and birds Read more...

We are anchored in one of our favourite spots at the moment -“ Makogai. We always find lots to do here and time passes by too quickly. We went in to see Kamali and do our usual sevu sevu. He always remembers the boat and makes us welcome. We were sitting out the back last night having dinner and we could hear the kids laughing, squealing and playing onshore. They sound so happy. We always comment kids laughter, and tears, sound the same in any language. No computer games, play station or TV's here!!! Read more...

We made it!!! So wonderful to be back here again. It feels like 'home' for us. We were welcomed by all our friends here. Just a great feeling. Lovely and warm.

<p>Anchored just off Voli Voli Resort tonight. Left Vuda marina this morning after spending a night on a berth there. Certainly a different way of berthing than we are used to. Caught up with Paul and Jo (Yinka), Ian and Doreen (Seabride) and Bill &amp; Hazel (Liberation). Our plan is to head north to Savu Savu and then work our way South gradually with lots of diving along the way. Hoping to be in Savu Savu when Distracted arrive!!!</p>

We have thrown the mooring lines in Denerau and came out to Musket Cove today. It is too easy to spend money in Denerau with the good food and bars at our doorstep. We had a good sail over and dropped anchor just outside the mooring area. Tomorrow we will go explore all the new alterations to the Island Bar and surrounds. Our plans are to chill here for a few days and then may start moving slowly north to Savu Savu. We have no plans in concrete so it is just "see how we feel in the morning" scenario. Read more...

Moved around to the cove as weather good and met up with friends who are also divers. The cray hunt is on!!!

Anchored in bay ready to do Mt Hobson trek. We set off nice and early and took the South Fork Track over streams, swing bridges and kauri dam remains to reach DOC hut for a lunch break before making the final climb to the summit.   Talk about the 'Stairway to Heaven'.  We climbed flight after flight of stairs to climb above the tree tops to reach the summit.  Stunning view out to Mokohinau Islands, Hen & Chicks, Coromandel and we could even see Rangitoto.  After a rest and photo shoot Read more...

Anchored in Harris Bay, Kawau. Scallop dive out by the Beehive Island. Plentiful and easy to find. Silty bottom though. Back into Harris Bay and now waiting for weather to head out to the Barrier.

Always a favourite to come back to. This harbour is sheltered in any blow except easterlies. There is old whaling station ruins to wander around and a few walking tracks around the foreshore and up the hill toward the road back to Rawhiti. Great anchorage to chill out or do as much as you want.  

Lovely sheltered bay, beautiful scenery, rocks, cliffs, bush and lots of birdsong. Good fishing and bush walks to do.

We arrived at the Barrier on 27/12/13 and had a great trip over, although there was no wind!!!! Glassy calm and the sun shone gloriously. Alas, on arrival the weather turned to custard! The wind came in from the NE with heavy rain and has now changed to W, cloudy and just glimpses of sun through the clouds. Hope the weather improves in 2014!!!

We anchored off the Voli Voli resort again, just as we have done previous years. it was time to launch the dinghy and head into the bar for a beer or two. As usual we were welcomed by the owners, the Darling family, and enjoyed catching up with all their goings on over the last year. A great resort, great facilities and very welcoming to cruisers. we even watched the All Blacks thrash the Aussies in the Bledisloe Cup game!!!! We managed to get out for two dives, the Breath Taker and Dream Maker. Read more...

Anchored in a lovely horseshoe bay with clear water, white sand beach and swaying palm trees. There had been a wedding here recently as the arch was still standing with the woven foliage and hibiscus flowers. Tried to get Jock to renew our vows, but, no way was he going to participate!!!! Had barbeque dinner ashore with spanish mackerel Robert had caught on the way with Paul and Jo on 'Yinka'. A lovely evening until the mossies came around. Gorgeous sunset. No diving here as the next day wind Read more...

1/8/2013 said our farewells to all our old and new friends in savu savu for the last time this year and headed to namena. this is a well known diving haven and marine reserve and we have been trying to get there every year and it is critical the weather is right for this anchorage. our chance came and we arrived here wednesday lunch time along with steve and suzy (hiraeth) and paul and jo (yinka). the weather has been perfect since arriving. there has been absolutely no wind and glassy calm seas. Read more...

11/7/2013 namuka-i-lau we have now left fulaga and are now gradually, and i say gradually, making our way back to savu savu. our first big trip out of fulaga was 20 miles up to namuka-i-lau. trolled two lures all the way but no fish!! this is a very pretty anchorage with a nice sandy bay to anchor in. only enough room here for four boats, maybe five at the most. walked across to the village to do sevu sevu.
the walk was a good hour each way and the track quite overgrown.
good school Read more...

22/6/2013 southern lau anchored in fulaga in the southern lau along with 22 other boats!!!! this is certainly a lovely and very safe anchorage. white sandy beaches, swaying palm trees and clear blue water.
a well supplied boat is essential as there is no local store or market to visit. trading is certainly different here. we 'trade' 1,2,3 (or however many) cigarettes for crab, lobster, bananas etc. they also love magazines, playing cards, makeup, nail polish, scarves, medical supplies (band Read more...

22/7/2013 back in savu savu to restock with food, veges, beer, diesel and the most important of all, to repair our autopilot!!! this decided to pack up on our trip up from namuku-i-lau. at least the rough part of the trip was over and handsteering was done in the relatively calmer seas. a rather hair raising trip up with 40 knot winds, thunder and lightning and 3-4m swells.