Dominated by Mt Garet, which
puffs steam, ash, sulphur and smoke into the air, Gaua Island is renowned
for its natural beauty. Lake Letas lies on an ash plain at the top
of the mountain, and the lake's extraordinary ability to carry the
reflection of passing ships hundreds of metres below has earned it the
more prosaic name of Lake Reflection. At 7km (4.3mi) long, it is one of
the largest freshwater lakes in the South Pacific, although volcanic
sulphur has stained the waters orange-brown. Thousands of birds come here
to feed, and incubator birds lay their eggs close by, abandoning
them to incubate in the warm mud.
De Quiros estimated that 200,000 people lived on
Gaua, most likely a gross exaggeration to impress the Spanish king, but
dozens of stone ruins and dry stone walls reclaimed by forest attest to a
time when Gaua supported a larger population than the 1300 it does today.
Trekking on Gaua is strenuous, but the lake and Siri Falls are
worth it. The falls drop away into dense forest shrouded in mist. The
Banks Group, of which Gaua is the second largest, is serviced by air from
Luganville, and speedboats ply between the islands. Small trading ships
also service it from Luganville.
Torres Islands
When the South-East Trade
Winds are blowing in the far north of the archipelago the surf is
up in the Torres Islands, and even if it's not, the brilliant white beaches
are still worth a laze. Only four of the six main islands are populated,
and the Polynesian influence is at its strongest here. They get so few
visitors this way that the shops are not geared up to tourists, so you'd
be wise to bring some of your own supplies. Coconut crabs, elsewhere a
delicacy, constitute an important part of the local diet and you can pick
them up cheaply.
On Toga Island, children as young as seven
smoke tobacco, using coconut crab claws as pipes. Hand stencils are
visible on the walls at Yeyenwu Caves on Hiu Island, the
northernmost island in the group, and they will keep stalactite and
stalacmite buffs entertained for hours. You can see Vanikolo in the
Solomons from Mt Wonvaraon on Hiu. Flights leave from Luganville
for Linua, and from there you can get around in outrigger canoes or
speedboats.
Pacific Island Travel has 3 offices
in the Netherlands, in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Eindhoven. Please
make an appointment for a talk to our salesstaff. Our offices are
opened from monday to friday between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm and on
saturday between 10.00am and 4.00 pm.
