September 19 – 23, 2013
While we looked forward to our next destination on the other side of Vanua Balavu, it was sad to leave the Bay of Islands. We’d visited many beautiful places, but this one was extra special.
I can sum it up best by mentioning a dinghy ride we took shortly after we arrived here. We’d spent the afternoon exploring and snorkeling and were headed back to the boat when Rich, noticing I seemed quiet and subdued, asked what was wrong. In fact there was nothing wrong, but the day’s scenery had somewhat overwhelmed me, taking me to that place beyond enthusiasm to feeling humbled and the need for quiet contemplation. It was a lot to take in, and I was glad to have some days ahead to do so.
During the days that followed, there were moments when I thought this might be the most beautiful place I’d ever seen. Rich felt the same way, and while it’s impossible to ever pick a favorite place; Rich and I were thinking if we had to pick right then, that this and Fatu Hiva (in the Marquesas) may well go in our top two.
What made this so extra gorgeous? I think it’s the tall hills and mountains around this bay, then the islets themselves with their electric bands of color beneath them and the gorgeous little worlds they create, and the tall motus covered with green vegetation that’s more Pacific Northwest in feel than the drier vegetation of the southern Lau. This is greener, wetter, and cooler than Fulaga, and more mountainous.
So to answer the question of which we liked better, the Northern or Southern Lau, we’d say for us, the Northern Lau was closest to our hearts. On the other hand, how do you compare a place like this to the thousand-shades-of-blue water and white beaches of Fulaga? You really just can’t.
We would advise any cruisers trying to chose between the two places to not take the word of the majority who’d pick Fulaga, but instead to look at photos of both places and see which calls to you more. Better yet, try to get to both if you can.
Below, a gallery of a few miscellaneous photos of Vanua Balavu’s Bay of Islands (you can click to enlarge and scroll though the gallery below).
By the time we pulled our anchor and headed to our next destination, I felt satisfied with all we’d experienced here and good about heading on. Still, this is a place I hoped to return to someday. –Cyndi
