kayaking the pacific islands. - Canoe & Kayak

Sensational Samoa
by Richard Saysell
Approaching Namua Island
A flyer for a 4 night, 5 day, tropical Samoan Kayaking
holiday came the way of Yakity Yak North Shore member
Lesley. She and Richard, with Sue and Ian, and Jane from
North Shore, and Andrea and Nick from Auckland jumped
at the chance.
We arrived in Apia at the end of March. Here we spent a day shopping
and frolicking at the Papassea sliding rocks before going on the water at
Mutiahehele. Mutiahehele overlooks the Aleipata islands at the Eastern end
of the main island, Upolu. Our guide Morti, a ‘Samoanised’ Dane, provided a
fleet of Penguins and accommodation at a different resort for each night.
Sliding Rocks.
In temperatures which never dropped below 28C we experienced Samoan life,
Fale living in resorts which ranged from ‘the pipe through the wall showers
of Namua Is’ to the up market Virgin Cove Resort with its beautiful white
beaches. The coral formations at Lalomanu and the family atmosphere on
Manono Island were memorable.
And the food! Heaps of it, all locally produced. Beautifully prepared pork,
chicken, fish, coconuts, tropical fruits and vegetables formed the bulk of our
diet, washed down with coconut milk, Valima beer and duty free spirits and
liquors! Twice meals were cooked in an Umu, an above ground Hangi.
Kayaking kept the wow factor going. We will never forget a pod of 100 Spinner
Dolphins which surrounded us, or approaching the elusive turtles. And fish –
everywhere you looked, all shapes sizes and colours. Surfing through a small
opening in a reef as waves crashed on both sides was terrifying for some and
“lets do it again” for others. But just paddling through crystal clear water in
balmy tropical breezes, stopping to swim and snorkel amongst the stunning
coral, was a superb holiday.
We said “goodbye” to Morti and took a short ferry trip to the other main Island,
Savaii, hired a van and based ourselves at the beautiful resort of Tanu Beach on
the Northern Coast. A highlight was a traditional Fia Fia (Fire) dance show.
Touring around the Island we visited the tree hut in a huge Banyan tree
at Papa, marvelled at the south coast Lava arches, were awestruck by the
dozens of blowholes at Alofaaga, and experienced swimming with the Turtles
at Satoalepai.
We had a final fling at Aggie Greys, the 5 star resort, and it was back to NZ.
Was it worth it You bet it was, and by doing all the bookings ourselves
surprisingly cheap.
Would we do it again No way, not yet anyway – too many other Islands to
explore first.
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