Traveloscopy

Mix Me a Tui Tai, Darling

// February 6th, 2013 // No Comments » // Cruise, South Pacific, Travel

Fiji does hedonistic ‘escape’ packages up there with the best, but what about something that wraps all facets of these fascinating islands into one irresistible bundle? Roderick Eime disappears off the tourist map to find out.

Beyond the manicured lawns, swimming pools and cocktail bars of Denarau Island, there exists another Fiji; one of remote, deserted beaches, hundreds of uninhabited islands, unspoiled coral reefs and vivid cultural encounters. Many of these outer locations are easily accessible by light aircraft, but to voyage by small ship from a secret anchorage out into the tropical heaven is the sort experience you would only expect to read about in some flowery novel.

As our travel tastes mature and our expectations more sophisticated, the mundane and predictable “brochure” offerings become less alluring, hence the concept of small ship cruising. Niche, intimate and enriching, travel by vessels with as few as a couple of dozen guests enjoying superior service, cuisine and activities in a sustainable and culturally respectful manner is more and more appealing.

One of the best examples of this type of experience is that of Savusavu-based Tui Tai Expeditions. Tui Tai’s delightful three-masted design and generous interior space made her an ideal conversion for boutique itineraries. She was acquired by current owners Tige and Morika Young in 2002 and refitted to carry just 24 guests in comfortable cabins. In 2006, Tui Tai she was remodeled again with more luxurious refinements like a massage/spa studio, private cabanas and deluxe staterooms. There’s plenty of space to flop and relax with a book or just snooze and guests are free to be as active or as lazy as they want.

Tui Tai offers a catalogue of activities that encompasses every possible aspect of tropical island excitement. Scuba diving, kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, snorkeling, village visits and traditional dancing all pack into either a 5- or 7-night all-inclusive itinerary.

On board, you can enjoy private cabanas on the sun deck, spa treatments and marine biology lectures from the biologist travelling with you.

Dining is open air on the back deck and just superb under a brilliant star-lit sky on a balmy evening. A couple hundred metres from shore, your meal is undisturbed by mosquitoes or other flying pests. Alternatively, meals are served inside if it rains, which it will do occasionally in these parts.

Tui Tai’s playground is the gorgeous waters to the east of homeport, Savsavu on Vanua Levu. Each expedition cruise visits the lush garden island of Taveuni and its sublime Bouma Falls Reserve, the anomalous cultural enclaves of Rabi and Kioa, the uninhabited Ringgold Atolls and the eco-reserve of Qamea. National Geographic Adventure were impressed enough to list Tui Tai among their 25 best trips for 2009.

Visits to the islands of Rabi and Kioa deliver a particularly unique Fijian experience. The communities on these islands were moved to their present location from other islands in the Pacific.

My personal passion is scuba diving and Fiji is renowned the world over for its superb underwater opportunities. The outer reefs attract magnificent manta rays, dolphins and giant pelagic fish all against a backdrop of some of the most beautiful hard and soft corals anywhere. Divers of all experience can enjoy these waters and it’s even possible to acquire your PADI Open Water certification with the onboard instructor.

Relaxing in one of voluminous lounges on the deck, a satisfying lunch on top of my morning exercise, it’s easy to drift off into a carefree, fantasy slumber filled with reefs of colourful fish, secluded atolls the gentle flap of a sail in the breeze.

Fact File:

Tui Tai Expeditions offer 5- or 7-night all-inclusive itineraries ex-Savasavu. Fares begin at US$2493 per person, twin share for five nights and $2990 for seven. Suitable for all styles of traveller, but best enjoyed by the more active.

Further information: www.tuitai.com

Air Pacific flies daily from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne direct to Nadi with daily connections to Savusavu with Pacific Sun.

www.airpacific.com www.pacificsun.com.fj

Fiji Adventure Cruise: Tui Tai

// October 3rd, 2010 // No Comments » // South Pacific, Travel

Australians have reaffirmed their deep affection for Fiji with record numbers travelling to the islands despite outcry from some quarters about the controversial political situation. This tourism surge from Down Under has filled any vacuum left by diminishing arrivals from the US or UK even though those numbers are on the turn too.

The Australian experience in Fiji has often been one of fully-contained, somewhat insulated resort packages that do little to expose us to the wider cultural panorama. Sure, Fiji does hedonistic ‘escape’ packages up there with the best, but what about something that wraps all facets of these fascinating islands into one irresistible bundle?

It’s hard to imagine a more complete Fijian experience than that aboard a Tui Tai cruise. Yes, there is a premium pricetag attached (from A$550pp/day twinshare) but the inclusions are generous and the scope of the expedition astonishing. Diving is a big drawcard for TuiTai and packages can also include full PADI certification courses in some of the best diving locations in the Pacific. Add snorkelling, light trekking, mountain biking, village visits and cultural displays all aboard a vessel not much bigger than Cook’s Endeavour.

The motor-schooner Tui Tai began life in 1980 as a modest steel-hulled passenger ferry between the islands often carrying up to 300 souls. But her delightful three-masted design and generous interior space made her an ideal conversion for more boutique itineraries.

She was acquired by current owners Tige and Morika Young in 2002 and refitted to carry just 24 in comfortable cabins. In 2006, Tui Tai she was remodelled again with more luxurious refinements like a massage/spa, private cabanas and deluxe staterooms. Dining is under the stars on the rear deck or inside in the large common room. There’s plenty of space to flop and relax with a book or just snooze. Any itinerary can be made as active or lazy as you like.

Tui Tai’s playground is the rich waters to the east of its homeport of Savsavu on Vanua Levu. Tick off the lush garden island of Taveuni and its Bouma Falls Reserve, the anomalous cultural enclaves of Rabi and Kioa, the uninhabited Ringgold Atolls and the eco-reserve of Qamea and you have some idea of what’s in store for the adventure traveller. National Geographic Adventure listed Tui Tai among their 25 best trips for 2009.

Beyond simply carrying well-heeled eco-travellers into delirious destinations, Tui Tai also operates a charitable fund that supports the many tiny and remote communities visited with medical, educational, logistic and infrastructure support. Driven by guests’ desire to give back to the communities visited, the project played a crucial role in delivery of relief supplies to cyclone-ravaged villages after March’s devastating Cyclone Tomas. Two Fijian crewmembers from TuiTai received civilian bravery awards for the rescue of two crew members from the sinking yacht, Siga Na Vanua, during that severe Category 4 storm in March 2010.

For more information on Tui Tai Adventure Cruises, see www.tuitai.com

What is Expedition Cruising?

// March 10th, 2010 // No Comments » // Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America, South Pacific, Travel

The terms ‘expedition’ or ‘adventure’ has been more frequently attached to cruise products in an attempt to give them a romantic, out-of-the-way appeal. The danger is that the original expedition cruise concept is being diluted and misconstrued.

A true expedition cruise consists of a voyage plan and itinerary that has inbuilt flexibility and redundancy. In the capricious Antarctic waters, all activities and sight-seeing is weather and ice dependent. Passengers are reminded of this time and time again and it is quite common for completely unscheduled landings to take place in fallback planning. The same exists in tropical waters.

As weather, currents and tides play out in the dense South Sea archipelagos, an expedition leader and his/her captain must ‘massage’ the itinerary constantly to capitalise on emerging opportunities and avoid those closing out.

A proper expedition vessel is more than just a smaller ship with Zodiacs piled up on deck. A true expedition vessel is designed for the intended conditions and equipped to deliver the experience upon arrival, whether it be weaving through disintegrating pack ice or creeping past vivid coral atolls.

Passengers aboard expedition vessels have come to expect expert guides and lecturers to help them interpret the rich cultural and natural histories these exotic destinations deliver. Academics, researchers and authors are common both as lecturers and passengers, adding to healthy discussions and enrapturing dinner conversation.

As a niche travel genre, expedition cruising is not for everybody. Don’t be “sold” by an uninformed travel consultant, you’ll know immediately whether this type of travel appeals to you or not. Speak to an experienced agent or specialist operator direct an ask lots of questions.

Served by traveloscopy.com