Overview

Join us in Papeete, a 10 minute taxi ride from the international airport,  as we complete our final preparations to set sail.  We will make the 160NM passage stopping off to explore the Society Islands,  possibly so named by the explorer James Cook in 1796 in honour of his sponsor the Royal Society.  These tropical islands are home to a great variety of rare animals and plants but perhaps  above all they are known for the strong smell of gardenia – the most fragrant of all flowers and one which is now protected.  The atolls surrounding the islands are covered in corals home to a wealth of marine life.  A snorkelers paradise.  From the Society Islands we head to Bora Bora where we meet up with other World Arc yachts and take the opportunity to experience all the island has to offer from hiking to quad biking, sitting on black sandy beaches or visiting a turtle centre. We then sail west on a 690 NM passage (4-6 days) to Suwarrow in the Cook Islands where we will have the opportunity for a brief 24hr-72hr stopover in order to explore.  Then onward to Nuie, one of the worlds largest raised coral atolls where once again we are afforded a 24hr to 72hr stopover.  This island does not boast long sandy beaches but rather dramatic limestone cliffs.  Explore the impressive caves, chasms and coral formations around the island before we complete our final 2 day sail to VaVa’u, Tonga.  There are many flight options when leaving VaVa’u dependant upon your final destination.