MELANESIA – CAIRNS TO LAUTOKA

Enjoy your free time to explore the city and surrounds. Transfer to the pier for embarkation and departure.

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

Alotau is the provincial capital of the Milne Bay Province located in the southeast bay of Papua New Guinea. The town and surrounding area has been an important staging ground during World War II and we will see remains and memorials dating back or referring to the war. On a tour of the town, visitors will appreciate lovely vistas of the bay and experience the markets, which are frequented not only by locals, but also by islanders selling their products or looking for produce to take back into Milne Bay. Alotau is an important port facility for the islands and attracts many vendors of handicrafts from different islands.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSION

Highlights of Alotau
Discover Alotau, the provincial capital of the Milne Bay Province located in the southeast bay of Papua New Guinea. The town and surrounding area served as an important staging ground during World War II. It is said that the Milne Bay people are regarded as the friendliest people in Papua New Guinea. Meet some of these welcoming locals at Boitunum village and see evidence of the military history of this place on this half day afternoon excursion.

Depart the wharf and travel the short distance to the Battle of Milne Bay monument. To the Australians, this battle was their first military victory outside of their home country. Learn about the monument and its significance to the Australians from a local guide before returning to the coach to drive to the next destination.

Head next to Boitunum village, where local traditional dance groups assemble to welcome the visitors to Alotau. The villagers will have prepared local fruits, serving them to you as a show of hospitality. On the way back from the village, there may be time to stop in the town center to visit the Alotau town market. Your guide walks you through the market to point out traditional crafts and produce unique to the region.

Return to the ship.

FERGUSSON ISLAND

Fergusson is one of the three biggest and mountainous islands in the Milne Bay Province, and part of the D’Entrecasteaux Islands. On Fergusson’s south side are the famous Dei Dei geysers — natural hot springs that periodically erupt with vapor steam next to mud pools and a warm stream. The hot springs are still used by locals to cook food in palm frond and pandanus leaf baskets placed into the boiling hot water. Birds in the area include Eclectus Parrots, Yellow-bellied Sunbirds and the endemic Curl-crested Manucode – a bird-of-paradise.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS

Expedition activities with Silversea Expedition team
Discover Deidei, the southern tip of Ferguson that was once an active volcanic area. While these days there are no actual volcanic eruption or lava flow in living memory in the area, the area is still active as far as underground thermal activities are concerned.

After a wet landing onto a white sandy beach, you will be able to discover this village while enjoying the beautiful scenery, hike to the geysers and hot springs, located in an area near the village where the super-heated water comes to surface in ponds and geysers. On the way look out for birds including Channel-Billed Cuckoo, Blyth’s Hornbill, Golden-Crowned Cisticola and Red-Capped Flowerpeckers.

For those not keen on the walk to the geysers, there is the option of an easier visit to the Budoya Catholic Mission Station. This is one of the oldest churches that was set up in the southern part of Papua New Guinea and has its own interesting history. If there is time and interest, visit the nearby primary school that is run by the Catholic church.

DOBU ISLAND

Dobu is a small island in the D’Entrecasteaux Group next to Fergusson Island and Normanby Island. The island was formerly feared because of black magic and the local “witch” doctors cursing the healthy or treating the sick. An anthropological study was done by Reo Fortune in the 1930s which resulted in the book “The Island of Sorcerers”. The island is also part of the famous Kula ring. Participants in the exchange system pride themselves with mwali and soulava (armbands and necklaces) that are given and received still today and it is interesting to see how the traditional objects have been adorned with modern paraphernalia. A stroll through the main village on the northwestern tip will show the school and church and trails leading along the shore passing traditionally thatched houses and gardens.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS

Snorkeling with Silversea Expedition team

Enjoy a day of snorkeling from a Zodiac platform into these beautiful waters with such unique flora and fauna, such as boulder and branching coral, soft coral, blue pullers, lionfish, crown of thorns starfish, blue linkia starfish, butterflyfish and sargent major damselfish.

Expedition activities with Silversea Expedition team
After a wet landing onto a white sandy beach, you will witness a welcome ceremony to Dobu Island. After this you are welcome to explore the island on your own, maybe purchase some souvenirs or enjoy a day of swimming or taking one of our Zodiacs out to the snorkeling platform.

Visit Dobu, a small island next to Fergusson Island in the D’Entrecasteaux Islands in the Pacific Ring of Fire. Explore the rich culture of the island, where the Kula Ring system of ceremonial trade is still practiced by exchanging mwali (armbands) and soulava (necklaces) throughout the Milne Bay region and among thousands of people. Hear from a Kula trader how Kula objects are traded among the islands in the ring.

Stroll through the main village on the northwestern tip of the island. See the historic church built by the London Missionary Society. Dobu was chosen because of its reputation for the use of what was seen as black magic and ”witch doctors.” The once feared islanders have gone on to hold key roles in government and business in independent Papua New Guinea. Walk the trails along the shore to see traditionally thatched houses and gardens.

Experience local life on the grounds of the Dobu primary school, including a cooking demonstration of a local dish which you may choose to sample.

Kuiawa (Kuyau) is one of the Trobriand Islands, the northernmost islands in the Milne Bay Province. Kuiawa is found some 200 kilometers from the province’s capital and to the southwest of Kiriwina, the largest and best known of the islands. The Trobriand Islands are of uplifted limestone and gardening is not that easy –but Trobriand Islanders are known for their magic to improve the growth of yam, a highly desired plant for ceremonial reasons and as food. Certain islands and villages have yam houses where the larger yams are stored and displayed. Houses are strung along the main road through the village and beach almond, casuarina and frangipani trees give shade. Trobriand Islanders are famous carvers and dancers and local groups and school classes love to compete dancing or playing their version of cricket, especially during harvest time.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS

Snorkeling with Silversea Expedition team
Enjoy a day of snorkeling from our Zodiac platforms into these waters offering us a great variey of corals and fish: Table Coral, Bran Coral, Leather Coral, Porites, Pocillopora, Surgeonfish, Rabbitfish, Clownfish, Damselfish, Snappers and Wrasses.

Expedition activities with Silversea Expedition team
After a wet landing onto a sandy beach, be greeted by the islanders with garlands and songs of welcome, and immerse yourself in the island culture.

At the Kuiawa Primary School learn more about the island’s culture and experience the traditional dances. Kuiawa is a part of the Kula Ring ceremonial trade and islanders are well-known for their handicraft skills, as well as their abundant gardens.

Explore the market in the main village where handicrafts and produce are available. See the specially built yam houses that dot the island. Yam harvests are a special source of cultural pride and are celebrated by festivals and competitions. Wander freely around this small island that can be walked in about two hours.

Jacquinot Bay is a large open bay on the eastern coast of the island of New Britain. It is a tranquil place with white sandy beaches and tropical palm trees all around. There is also a well-known beautiful waterfall that flows out of the mountainside with freezing cold water right onto the beach. But during WWII, however, it was not a quiet place. It was, in fact, an important base for the Australian Army who liberated it in November 1944. This base was used to support Australian operations near Rabaul which were conducted in early 1945 in conjunction with advances on the northern side of New Britain.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS

Jacquinot Bay
Spend the day at Jacquinot Bay, a large open bay on the eastern coast of the island of New Britain. It is a tranquil place with white sandy beaches surrounded by tropical palm trees that served as an important base for the Australian Army during WWII.

Depart the ship by Zodiac and land at the pebbled Wara Kalap waterfall beach to be welcomed by local villagers doing traditional dances. Then enjoy some swimming in the strong flow of the cool river coming from the waterfall.

Be adventurous and take one of two hiking options from the village. The shorter and easier hike is in the nearby forest that is filled with regrowth from old gardens. The longer hike, which requires a moderate level of physical fitness, leads up into the hills and will appeal to seasoned hikers. Those not keen on any walks can relax on the beach and enjoy a conversation with the friendly locals.

If surreal and unique experiences are your thing, then the Papua New Guinean town of Rabaul should tick your travel boxes. Found on the north eastern tip of New Britain Island (the largest island off mainland PNG) Rabaul, the former provincial capital, has quite a remarkable location. The town is inside the flooded caldera of a giant volcano and several sub-vents are still quite active today! The lively city was almost entirely devastated by Mount Tavurvur in 1994, covering the city in ash fall, but thankfully costing no lives. Since then, thanks to Rabaul’s deep-water port, commerce has been on the up, and a few shops and hotels have managed to find an audience. However, Rabaul’s remote location together with the volcano still being one of the most active and dangerous in Papua New Guinea means tourism in not rife. Rabaul has an impressive WWII history which includes a 300-mile network of tunnels dug by Japanese POW designed to conceal munitions and stores. After the Pearl Harbour bombings, the Japanese used Rabaul as their South Pacific base for the last four years of WWII, and by 1943 there were about 110,000 Japanese troops based in Rabaul. Post war, the island was returned to Australia, before it was granted independence in 1975. It should be noted that patience is a virtue here. However, that is not all bad. The slow pace of transportation allows travelers to marvels at the quite astonishing landscape. Divers will also be richly rewarded – the marine life of the island is extraordinary.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS

Baining Fire Dance
See the spectacular Fire Dance performance, a nocturnal sacred dance presented in the traditional manner by the men only. Disembark the ship at the Rabaul pier and board the tour bus for the one-hour nighttime drive to Baining village at Kainagunan in the province of New Britain. The Baining tribe are the first people to settle the eastern part of New Britain.

From the bus drop-off take the short walk to the performance venue. Enjoy the performance, with costumes that are utterly unique, found nowhere else in Papua New Guinea. Legend has it that the movements of the Fire Dance imitate the spirits the of the forest. The fire represents the first volcanic eruption witnessed by man.

Watch as the performers dance around the bonfire and then into it without being burned. The ceremony lasts for about an hour and a half.

Rabaul Sights and History
Learn Rabaul history and see panoramic views of the surrounding islands and bay on this half-day excursion. Disembark the ship at the Rabaul pier and board a tour bus for your driving tour, with distances between the four sites on this tour varying from three kilometers to just meters.

Visit the national Volcano Observatory Station that monitors activity of the 14 active and 23 dormant volcano’s in Papua New Guinea. Rabaul is situated inside the flooded caldera of a giant volcano with several sub-vents still active today.

Drive to a WWII barge tunnel, part of at least 300 kilometers of tunnels built beneath Rabaul to hide and protect Japanese Imperial forces and materials from Allied air-raids. An engineering feat of the Japanese, the barge tunnels were built mostly by the forced labor of POWs and local Tolai people. Next, take the tour bus to the Yamamoto Bunker, named for WWII Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. From here he directed the Japanese Pacific campaign. Naval charts can still be seen drawn in the ceiling of the bunker.

Walk to the Rabaul Museum located opposite the Yamamoto Bunker and see exhibits related to Rabaul’s history from the 19th century to Papua New Guinea’s independence in the 1970s.

If time allows, take in the super-heated volcanic hot springs frequented by Japanese military during WWII. They are still used by the local owners to cook traditional foods. Alternately, take a walking tour from the pier into nearby Rabaul Township to explore the colorful town market and mingle with the local community.

Return to the ship.

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

NJARI ISLAND

Njari is a small island almost entirely covered in trees with just a small sand spit at its eastern end. A labyrinth of reefs and coral heads make an approach quite difficult. Recently a small wooden jetty has been built on the southern side. The small beaches invite one to relax, but swimming from the beach is almost impossible as the corals are too close. To enjoy the underwater world one has to enter the water from Zodiac snorkel platforms, a short distance from the shore, where an amazing array of fish and coral will be visible. Two hundred and seventy nine different fish species have been seen during a single dive; the fourth-highest fish count ever recorded. An indication of why this island is considered a top spot for snorkeling in the Solomon Islands.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS

Hiking with Silversea Expedition team

Relax on the beach or go bird watching, as there are many species to see on land during a relaxed nature walk. Your Expedition guides will help you spot the surrounding wildlife that includes Osprey, Lesser Frigate, Pigeons, Sand Pipers, Son Curlew and many more birds. Learn about this tropical island and the botany including the casarina and coconut trees and what they have to offer.

Snorkeling with Silversea Expedition team
Njari is one of the smallest of the Solomon Islands and is a snorkeler’s dream, boasting one of the highest species counts of fish and coral species ever recorded in a single dive. The small island is almost entirely covered in trees, with small beaches that invite one to relax (unfortunately swimming from the beach is almost impossible as the corals are too close).

This diverse underwater world has to be entered via Zodiac from a snorkel platform a short distance from the shore, where an amazing array of fish and coral are visible. Two hundred and seventy-nine different fish species have been seen during a single dive; the fourth-highest fish count ever recorded.

Enjoy snorkeling straight from the Zodiac into the tropical waters of Njari Island. Take in breathtaking views as you snorkel along the coral gardens and admire the abundance of reef fish. Among many others, you may spot spot blacktip reef sharks, garfish, damselfish, octopus, Christmas tree worms and so much more. The underwater world is just spectacular, and the crystal clear waters offer great visibility.

KENNEDY ISLAND

Hiking with Silversea Expedition team

Join an Expedition member on a birding walk on Kennedy Island. This is a relaxed walk to spot the wonderful selection of birds that this island has to offer, such as Petrels, Reef Egret, Frigatebirds,Terns, Wagtails and so much more.

Snorkeling with Silversea Expedition team

Enjoy a short Zodiac transfer to the beach for a wet landing directly onto the soft white tropical sand of Kennedy Island. Start snorkeling directly from the beach and enjoy the marine life and corals.

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

Port Mary is the name of the bay adjacent to Ghupuna, the main village in Santa Ana. A bright white sand beach with huge shade-giving trees runs along the shoreline in front of the tidy village. The houses here are made with local materials and most are built on stilts. Islanders generally welcome visitors with traditional songs and dances performed by members of the three different villages on Santa Ana. Some local people will also set up stands offering souvenirs for purchase. The Solomons are best known for strings of traditional shell money and elegant carvings based on local stories and legends.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS

Hiking with Silversea Expedition team

After admiring the cultural performance and singing, you can follow your Expedition guide who will lead you on a 3km (each way) village walk. Follow a gentle track through the village with their food gardens and patches of forest. At the top of the 150m elevation enjoy the opportunity to bird watch and see the local village activities.

Snorkeling with Silversea Expedition team

Getting into the water in Santa Ana is a must for everyone. Seeing the reef at the entrance itself is spectacular. Looking upwards, you will see the different shades of the water created by a layer of fresh water on the surface.

Expedition Activities with Silversea Expedition team

Arrive ashore to visit Ghupuna, the main village in Santa Ana. A bright white sand beach with huge shade-giving trees runs along the shoreline in front of the tidy village. These islanders generally welcome visitors with traditional songs and dances performed by members of the three different villages on Santa Ana.

Enjoy a welcome of a display of the Warrior Challenge (Mara-mara-tafa), a performance of the panpipers, several women’s traditional dances (including Mao-nifita, Afuri and Mwabe Mwabe dances), a men’s traditional dance, and a performance of the so-called Mudmen (Ai-matawa-Aifono-fono). Participate in a demonstration of traditional food preparation.

After your cultural programs, join the expedition team for a walk across the island, through shady forest where orchids grow, to view the schoolhouse and the traditional ”spirit houses” where ancestral relics reside, and browse for souvenirs and visit with the locals.

Vanikoro is part of the Solomon Islands’ Temotu Province. Although Vanikoro is usually considered as one entity, there are two major inhabited and several smaller uninhabited islands almost entirely surrounded by a reef. Vanikoro’s population has two distinct origins: the majority is Melanesian and lives mainly on Teanu and Banie’s northern shore, the Polynesian inhabitants live along Banie’s south coast. One of the most famous French expeditions in the Pacific saw its two ships wrecked on the southwestern reef of Vanikoro in 1788 and a cenotaph has been erected in Manevai Bay to honour La Perouse and his team of officers, sailors and scientists.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS

Snorkeling with Silversea Expedition team

Snorkel with your Expedition guides who will point out the vast amount of underwater activity. The wide variety of fish species will certainly take your breath away. Highlights of the snorkel could include Black-tipped Reef Sharks.

Expedition Activities with Silversea Expedition team

Visit Usili village on Vanikoro Island, part of the Solomon Islands’ Temotu Province. Be welcomed by the Chief upon your arrival, and meet your tour guide who leads you through the day’s activities, which include a village walk, the option to take part in community craft activities such as making baskets and mats, cooking breadfruit, sewing palm leaves and even making bows and arrows.

Enjoy two traditional dances, the Butu Bula Oketo and the Tepapa before browsing the locally made handcrafts for sale, joining the expedition team on a walk through the jungle of the in searchof the Vanikoro Monarch, Flycatcher and White-eye birds, or enjoy free time for snorkeling, swimming and relaxing on the beach.

As world famous beaches go, Champagne Beach is one of the big hitters. In 2003, CNN ranked it number nine in its list of top 100 beaches and independent travel specialists permanently include it on their list of 50 best beaches worldwide. It’s one of the world’s greatest natural beauties: picture-perfect beach white sand, turquoise water and nothing – save for the occasional cow or curious turtle – around. With only coconut plantations and a few friendly locals to keep you company, this might just be the island of your dreams. The glorious name “Champagne Beach” was given to the island in the 17th century, when Pedro de Quirós believed he had reached the famous unknown southern land or the “Tierra Australis Incognita” (or Australia as we now know it). He believed the effervescent bubbles of volcanic origin that bubble up from the crystal clear waters were reminiscent of the bubbles of Champagne. Additionally, the coastline is shaped like an art deco Champagne saucer, so the name stuck! The beach is located on the largest yet least populated island in the 40-island Vanuatu archipelago, near the village of Hog Harbor on Espiritu Santo Island. If you want to venture beyond the beach, then Espiritu Santu is also famed for its blue holes. The island is home to some of the clearest waters on Earth, benefiting from natural filtering from underground limestone caves. Ride or paddle your way through emerald green rain forest amid the sound of birdsong for an experience that will make your soul sing.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS

Expedition Activities with Silversea Expedition team

Swim the sparkling clear waters of Champagne beach where fresh water bubbles up through the denser saltwater. The name ”Champagne Beach” comes from effervescent bubbles of volcanic origin occasionally found in the waters of this exquisite spot in Hog Harbor on Espiritu Santo Island in Vanuatu.

The island was given its European name in the early 17th century by Pedro de Quiroz, who believed he had reached the famous unknown southern land, calling Vanuatu’s largest island, ”La Austrialia del Espiritu Santo.”

Come ashore and spend time swimming, snorkeling or relaxing on the tree-shaded, picture-perfect beach with crystal clear water.

Watch traditional cultural groups perform in a truly unique display of local culture.

Unlike Espiritu Santo with its raised coral reefs and white sand, Ambrym is a volcanically active island with dark sand beaches. Ambrym is known as the island of magic and is the source of five local languages that all evolved on Ambrym. This handful of languages contributes to the well over 100 languages of Vanuatu. Some of Ambrym’s magic takes place in the lush greenery of the local community of Ranon. Here the people perform a very special and traditional ‘Rom’ dance. Participants prepare their masks and costumes in secrecy and the dance is reserved for special occasions.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS

Rom Dance and Fanla Cultural Village Hike

Arrive to the magical island of Ambrym, a sacred place to visit. Ambrym is a volcanic island known for its black sand beaches and the traditional Rom dance.

Ambrym is known as the island of magic and of the 113 local language of Vanuatu – five of these languages are spoken on Ambrym in addition to Bislama, one of the three official languages of the country.

Go ashore near Ranon to take a tour of the local community and see the very unique Rom dance. Normally these dances are only shown during grade-taking ceremonies or men’s secret society meetings and on those occasions the participants actually prepare their masks and costumes in secrecy. The dance, which involves chanting and men in ornate costume, is mesmerizing to behold. Also enjoy entertainment by one of the local string bands.

Conditions permitting, see some of Vanuatu’s sand drawings. Although some might simply see them as aesthetically pleasing drawings, UNESCO has recognized them as a local ”writing” system and inscribed them on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

With sufficient time and interest, there may be a hike to Fanla to visit the cultural village. Make your return hike and return to the ship.

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

Nabukeru is the largest village on Yasawa, located within the grouping of the roughly 20 volcanic islands that make up the Yasawa Islands in Fiji. Until 1987 these islands were closed to land-based tourism and could only be viewed from aboard a vessel. With their clear, aquamarine waters and ecologically diverse tropical, mountainous landscapes, these islands were the location for the filming of the romantic adventure film The Blue Lagoon (both the 1949 and 1980 versions). Opposite Nabukeru is Sawa-i-Lau, an island famous for the limestone caves of the same name. The Sawa-i-Lau caves can only be accessed by climbing stairs from the beach, passing a small door and then jumping into the larger cave’s pool. The second cave and pool can only be reached by swimming at low tide through an underwater tunnel. Nabukeru villagers assert that the cave is the heart of the Yasawas.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS

Expedition Activities with Silversea Expedition Team

Experience the warmth, friendliness and traditions of the local Fijian people. Village life and family are central to the overall Fijian culture and this day transports you back in time to witness and experience customs that have remained in place for hundreds of years. Some villagers still live in traditional thatched roof bures or simple dwellings that provide shade, shelter and protection to each family. Learn up close the extent to which these villagers still rely heavily on nature to sustain their daily food needs and comforts.

Arrive into Nabukeru and receive a warm welcome. Take a guided village tour and enjoy a cultural presentation by some of the villagers. There is time to relax on the beach, swim or snorkel before returning to the ship via Zodiac.

It doesn’t get much sweeter than arriving on the sun-soaked shores of the Sugar City. Fiji’s second-biggest settlement opens up a world of blissful beaches and turquoise seascapes, while its dense jungle lures the adventurous deep into its embrace. Step ashore where the first Fijians landed, and you’ll understand instantly why they chose to make this island paradise their heavenly home. Experience rich Fijian life, and see dramatic displays like warrior dances, and remarkable local practices like firewalks, which kick up burning embers into the night’s sky. Legend says the city took its name after two chiefs faced each other in a duel. A spear pierced one of the chiefs, leading to the shout of ’lautoka!’ or ’spear hit!’ Sugar is Lautoka’s main trade, but its botanical gardens are a sweet insight into the tropical plant life that thrives here – from pearl white lilies to tall, fragrant orchids. Explore temples, charming cafes and mills – or barter for some of the juiciest mangoes you’ll ever taste at the city’s lively market. You’ll only be able to resist the beaches for so long, and it doesn’t get much more stunning than the Blue Lagoon – a heavenly blend of woven together turquoise shades. Remote, wild and unspoiled, these are some of the best tropical beaches in the world. There’s more rejuvenating relaxation at the mineral-rich mud pools and spas, fueled by the volcanic activity below. Savala Island is a teardrop of sand offshore, and another beautiful place to wander with the soft powder between your toes – along sandy spits that peter out into the water. Or swim and snorkel among its envied reefs, thronging with fish life.

Depart for home, plan to stay a day or two, or travel on to other areas of Fiji, or South Pacific.

Pre- and post-cruise programs are available.