Tui Tai Adventure Cruise

A unique 'eco' adventure cruise through Fiji's remote northern group of islands!

ENLARGE MAP

The A/S Tui Tai is a magnificent 140-foot sailing schooner which offers a unique ‘eco’ adventure cruise through Fiji’s remote northern group of islands. Originally designed to ferry passengers and freshwater to the outer islands, the Tui Tai has today been re-designed specifically for adventure cruising, providing you with the rare opportunity to visit remote beaches, snorkel and dive magnificent reefs, mountain bike to stunning waterfalls and kayak to local villages. Catering for a maximum of just 24 guests, Tui Tai will take you on a memorable journey through the breathtaking scenery of this little known region of Fiji.

All Tui Tai’s cabins are air-conditioned – and all have small ensuite bathrooms with showers. We recommend the Staterooms or Grand Staterooms which are more spacious and enjoy the best views. Yet – despite the ‘comfortable – though not luxurious’ accommodation, Tui Tai’s ‘raison d’etre’ is its truly unique Fijian experience.

Fully equipped with kayaks, mountain bikes and snorkelling equipment, each new day brings an opportunity to join interpretive guides on a variety of exhilarating activities… otherwise, just relax on deck and watch the beauty of unspoiled northern Fiji unfold before you!

The full 7 night itinerary (which we highly recommend) starts and finishes in Savusavu, but those with less time can choose the 5 night option which starts or finishes in the neighbouring island of Taveuni.

Sample Itinerary:

This is a sample itinerary because activities often arise spontaneously (a sudden invitation from a villager, dolphins or whales swimming by, the discovery of a new dive site, weather changes, etc), and because we don’t want anything carved in stone.  Though we can’t know all you might experience during your expedition, here’s some of what often occurs.

Monday: Natewa Bay, Vanua Levu

A scenic drive along pristine coastline takes you from Savusavu to Natewa Bay.  Upon boarding and checking in to your stateroom or cabin, enjoy a snack and a complimentary foot massage from our onboard spa therapist.

Then it’s time to get wet. The morning snorkelling and dive outings feature a chance to see a resident pod of spinner dolphins.  After lunch onboard it’s time for sea kayaking.  Paddle along the protected coastline of Natewa Bay (the second largest bay in the Southern Hemisphere).  Natewa Bay is a magically quiet location with no signs of development or visitors from the modern world.  The coastline varies from white sandy beaches to black volcanic cliffs, and a few stretches of mangroves.  Tui Tai will set sail around 5pm as the sun sets behind us.

Activities: Guided Snorkelling “Split Rock,” Dolphin Viewing, Sea Kayak “Natewa Bay Coastline”
Scuba Diving (1): “Natewa No Cry”

Tuesday: Tilagica Passage, The Great Sea Reef, Vanua Levu

Covered in mystery and scarcely known until a recent discovery on one of our exploratory trips; Tilagica Harbor is one of Fiji’s most remote destinations.

Our activities include exploring the large Nasavu River. We will kayak upriver into a dense valley of rainforest, passing several villages along the way. Watch for several rare bird species that have reportedly been seen in this area (parrots, silktail and the barking pigeon).

In the afternoon, we will explore a section of the “Great Sea Reef;” snorkelling and scuba diving on the second longest barrier reef in the Southern Hemisphere. Despite its size, this reef has barely been explored or documented, so our onboard marine biologist team will be with you to search for new information about what type of marine life it holds.

Activities:Guided Snorkelling “The Great Sea Reef,” River Kayaking “Nasavu River,”
Scuba Diving (3):“Great Sea Reef,” “Tilagica Passage,” “Kava Bowl”

Wednesday: Taveuni Island

Welcome to Taveuni, the Garden Island of Fiji.  Experience lush rainforests and gushing waterfalls as you visit the Bouma National Heritage Park.  One of Fiji’s best conservation and Ecotourism success stories, the National Heritage Park includes 3 sets of waterfalls where you can relax and swim.

After breakfast, set out on mountain bikes along Bouma Road.  You’ll pass several villages along the way (remember to smile, wave, and say “Bula!”).  The ride is approximately 45 minutes and includes several hills, making it moderately strenuous, so some guests opt to take a van transfer to the park instead of biking.  Once we reach the park, the first set of waterfalls is a short 10 minute walk along a nice trail.  There’s a huge pool for swimming, making it an ideal place to relax, enjoy a massage right in front of the pounding waterfalls!

In the afternoon, we have a short sail to the island of Qamea.  We will visit tiny and remote Togo Village for a tour and Melanesian cultural performance.

Activities: Mountain Biking “Bouma Road,” Hiking “Bouma National Heritage Park” and the “Tavoro Waterfalls,” Melanesian Village Visit “Togo Village”
Scuba Diving (2): “Purple Wall,” “Seven Bommies,” “Black Rock ”

Thursday, Cobia Island, Ringgolds

By now, you’ll be far away from any main islands, anchored alongside seven tiny atolls. Known as the Ringgold Isles, each is surrounded by a barrier reef that drops into the deep blue sea.  Within the reef is a magnificent lagoon, teeming with life and remarkable colours.

We like to spend most of the day near the stunning island of Cobia, a sunken volcanic crater, the inside of which has filled with sea water, forming a mystic lagoon.  In the morning we will hike to the summit of the crater.  The trail is an interesting terrain of natural steps formed by large tree roots.  The island is home to a handful of wild goats and a dense population of fruit bats.

In the afternoon, you can explore the inside of the crater on a kayak.  Many guests describe the feeling of floating around the inside of the crater as sublime, experiencing a mix of geologic power and supernatural superstition.  The crater edges drop steeply from the summit down to the sea level and the coast varies from mangrove to black rock.

Throughout this day, you’ll have excellent opportunities for snorkelling and scuba diving.  This location usually offers some of the clearest ocean waters on earth.  Since the islands are small and positioned in the middle of the deep sea, the visibility often exceeds 120 feet (36 meters).  We’ll eat lunch on one of the best beaches in the world, one that only Tui Tai passengers get to enjoy.  There are 4 beaches on Cobia Island, lovely places to walk, and you can even enjoy a massage as we set up a spa right on the island.

Activities: Hiking “Cobia Crater Summit,” Guided Snorkelling “True Blue,” Sea Kayaking “Cobia Crater and Ringgold Atolls” Scuba Diving (3): “Kokoda Point,” “Wall Street,” “Eel Diamond”

Friday, Rabi Island

Rabi Island is another of Northern Fiji’s hidden treasures, rich in history and natural beauty.  It is now inhabited by Micronesian people located from the equatorial islands of Kiribati after World War II.  In the afternoon, you can meet these unusual people, hear their stories and experience their culture.  Micronesians are famous for elaborate and powerful dances.

From the village settlement of Tabiang, you can set out on mountain bikes for a scenic ride that includes a beautiful view of the Tunuloa Peninsula and the mouth of Natewa Bay.

In the afternoon, settle in on one of the best white sand beaches in all of Fiji.  Enjoy great snorkelling right from the beach, take a sea kayak over to tranquil Albert Cove, enjoy a beach volleyball challenge, or, as always, relax.  Weather permitting (which we could say about everything), dinner will be served on this beach in true Pacific Islander style.  Watch as the underground oven is created by the chefs.

Activities: Guided Snorkelling “Dolphin Bay,” Micronesian Dance Performance, Mountain Biking “Tabiang to Nuku”
Scuba Diving (3): “Kesteven’s Corner,” “Yellowstone,” “Purple Haze”

Saturday: Kioa Island

Welcome to the island of Kioa, the only island in Fiji whose people are Polynesian. 

Originally from the island nation of Tuvalu, the Kioans are masters of handicrafts and fishing.  We’ll typically see Kioan fisherman wave to us as they paddle out to sea in their hand-made outrigger canoes.  Around midday, we’ll usually visit the village and learn from their elders how these people came to live in Fiji.

This is a great day to get wet!  Both the snorkelling and scuba diving sites are considered the best in all of Fiji.  Divers will explore the renowned “Rainbow Reef” region of dive sites, within the Somosomo Straits.  Snorkellers will visit prolific, healthy gardens of coral at “The Farm” and “Nakawa Point.”  Today also provides great opportunities for non-divers to try a “Discover Scuba Dive” with our Dive Instructor.

In the afternoon, we’ll explore the Tunuloa Peninsula on mountain bikes.  You can expect to meet people from villages we pass by (and usually a few kids waving and yelling “BULA!). 

Bird lovers might spot the rare and beautiful Silktail.  This small black bird is endemic to the islands of Taveuni and Vanua Levu, and has recently been classified as a “Near Threatened” species.

Activities: Guided Snorkelling “The Farm,” Mountain Biking “Buca Bay Coastal Trail,”

Polynesian Village Visit “Salia Village”
Scuba Diving (4): “Great White Wall (weather and tide permitting),” “Rainbow Passage,” “Black Magic,” “Black Magic (Night Dive)

Sunday: Albert Cove, Rabi Island

We return to the island of Rabi, but this time to a different side. Albert Cove is a beautifully protected harbor featuring one of the best white sand beaches in all of Fiji.

This is a great spot to enjoy an idyllic tropical playground. Imagine you were stranded on a deserted tropical island and all you had was…well, everything! You can kayak, snorkel, scuba dive…or just take in a private, remote beach. Swim, relax, play volleyball, have a massage on the beach.

Activities:Guided Snorkeling “Albert Cove,” Sea Kayaking “Albert Cove”
Scuba Diving (3):“Albert’s Wall,” “Fat Albert,” “Hard Coral Cafe”

Monday, Savusavu

Time to say goodbye. Here are a few words from the farewell song: “i levu tu na ua…mai na Tui Tai, nanuma tiko ga.”  This means “Soon you’ll be sailing far across the sea; but please sometime just try and remember us and remember the Tui Tai.”
Activities: Singing of the farewell song “Isa Lei”

Schedule:

The full 7 night itinerary departs Savusavu on Mondays (with the option to board at either 10:30am or 4:30pm) and returns to Savusavu the following Monday. For those opting for a 5 night itinerary, there are two options available. Either board in Savusavu on a Monday (as per the 7 night itinerary) and disembark on Saturday morning in Taveuni - or alternatively, board in Taveuni on Wednesday (at either 10:30am or 4:30pm) and disembark the following Monday in Savusavu.