Budd Reef

At Budd Reef there are 7 islands and 1 village. We got to go in the school bus to the village and back (the school bus is a boat). The driver went super fast but he knew where every reef and rock was. We joined in for the sports day at the Qilo Primary School.  There are 24 pupils and 4 teachers at the school.  We played soccer, frizbee, rugby, netball, cricket and the best was riding plywood down a sloop (luge!).  We also visited an extinct volcano and zoomed around in the crater.

Waisali Rain Forest

We drove over to Labasa (the biggest town on Vanua Levu) and on the way stopped at Waisali Rain Forest.  The rain forest is in the mountains but was still hot and sticky.  I saw lots of different plants that you can't see in New Zealand.  I also saw a dead centipede

on the path and a waterfall.

Nanai

The  Nanai is a native animal to Fiji. It starts as a worm, then is fish like thing, next the nani is an insect and it goes into a hole for two days. Finally it flies away. This  only happens once a year so if you see the Nanai it is very amazing.

Bula Fiji!!

On Thursday we arrived in Fiji after a 3 day sail from Tonga. As we arrived in Fijian waters we were greeted by pilot whales.  Now we are in Savusavu.  This photo is of a seven dollar note which you can only get in Fiji.  Its to celebrate Fiji winning the Olympic Rugby Sevens.  Its hard to get one of these notes.

Coconuts

Coconuts are yum. My favourite part of a coconut is the milk. In coconuts there is also flesh (white stuff inside).  The flesh has a lot of fat in it. It can be soft or hard depending on the stage of the coconut.  I like it when its softish. Some people think sprouting coconuts are yum - I don't! Sprouting coconuts are the start of a new tree.  I have also made a bowl from the shell.  Is the coconut a nut a fruit

Humpback Whales

I have been seeing a lot of Humpback Whales. Humpbacks migrate from Antarctica to the Pacific Islands. When they are in the the Pacific Islands Humpback Whales to not eat at all!!! But when they are in Antarctica Humpbacks eat 10 tonne of krill and plankton a day!!! We have seen whales breaching, tail smacking and flipper smacking.

Yahoo A Wahoo

Today we caught our first Wahoo.  It was approximately 60cm, Wahoo can grow up to 2-3m. The Wahoo can swim 196 km. It is the fastest fish in the ocean. Yum we are having it for dinner!

Nomuka iki

We are anchored off Nomuka iki were the ship "Bounty" anchored 229 years ago. The day after Bounty left here there was a famous mutiny.  Captain Bligh along with 19 men were put in a long boat.  They sailed it to Timor Leste (near Indonesia) setting the longest voyage ever in an open boat.  It was 3500 nautical miles.  Captain Cook and Abel Tasman also came here.

Pangaimotu Ship Wreak

On Pangaimotu there is a ship wreak. The wreak is scattered with crabs. It is not new and it has been there over 10 years. The ship wreak has been repainted and a new flag put on it. I think it is Coastal Ship, interested to here your thoughts?

Ha'amonga a Maui - The Mysterious Stones of Tonga

I was really looking forward to seeing Ha'amonga a Maui after I read about it last year in a School Journal.  These stones are much taller than I thought they would be.  It took about 40 minutes to get to the stones.  It doesn't look like stone but is more like coral.  It was amazing but not amazing at the same time.

Captain Cook's Landing Place

Today I visited Captain Cook's Landing Place. He visited  in 1777, on his final Pacific voyage, to see his friend, the King Fatafehi Paulaho. Cook took a sleep under a tree, now there is a head stone to mark him visiting.  This is me standing where Captain Cook landed.

Tongan School

Today I went to a Primary School to give the clothes we collected at St Martins to some Tongan children.  Two classrooms had been destroyed in the cyclone so the kids were learning in tents.  Everyone seemed very happy to receive some clothes.  The kids read out together the poster Room 4 made.  The Principal and Year 4 teacher were really pleased with the Junior Journal about Ha'amonga a Maui.  The kids also sang us a song.

                                                             

Tongan King

Yesterday I saw the King of Tonga on an Australian navy landing craft. The King was visiting Pangaimotu to meet the Captain of the navy ship. Tonga is the only country in the Pacific to have a Royal Family.

Tongan/Australian Navy

This morning I was woken by the Australian and Tongan Navy buzzying all around us.  At 10 minutes to 8 (NZST) the navy invaded Pangai Motu (the island we are anchored off).  They were in about 10 little inflatable boats with eight people in each one.  We waved to one boat and someone waved back and then fell in the water in all their clothes because they weren't holding on! It was very funny.

Flying to Tonga

Yesterday I went on one of Air New Zealand's Dreamliners to Auckland. They own 12 in total. Then I went on a smaller plane to Tonga after a 4 hour transit.

Also I saw Jean Batten's plane that she flew across the Atlantic at the Auckland International Airport.

Rapaki leaves for Tonga via Minerva Reef

Today Dad, Ailie and George left for Minerva Reef.  Minerva Reef is the top of a sea volcano with an entrance so that boats can get in.  They will take about 5 days to get there. You can follow their progres on yits https://www.yit.nz/yacht/rapaki