Solomons & Vanuatu ISLAND TRAILS OF THE - 2020 VOYAGES - Coral Expeditions
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2020 VOYAGES ISLAND TRAILS OF THE Solomons & Vanuatu > A Passage to the Solomons > Battles & Beaches: The 75th Anniversary of WWII Expedition
Paradise islands
Of the south pacific
FOR TRUE EXPLORERS
Melanesia, from Papua New Guinea to the Solomons, Vanuatu,
and New Caledonia, is an area of stunning diversity, home to over
1,000 languages and a multitude of unique customs.
Our voyages take you through this string of island civilisations to
encounter ancient tribal cultures, magnificent volcanic islands and
idyllic white beaches. Snorkel or dive over vibrant coral reefs and
sunken wreckage from WWII. These in-depth journeys explore
hard to reach islands and immerse you in the wild beauty, varied
traditions, and wartime history of these regions.
Our special voyage with the Australian Geographic Society
Battles & Beaches of the South Pacific visits significant battlefield
locations and commemorates the 75th Anniversary of the end of
World War II in the Pacific Theatre.
1
The Expedition Experience
We explore remote locations that are hard to get to or not
often touched by tourists, with shore excursions that promote
adventure and environmental and cultural appreciation. Our
small group size ensures that your experience is personal, with
minimal impact on the communities and environments we visit.
Enjoy excursions or activities each day. Expedition leaders
and lecturers who are experts in the region accompany every
voyage, providing commentary on culture, conservation,
history, and the region’s unique geology, plants and wildlife to
help you connect with these special places.
Snorkelling & Scuba
The opportunity to snorkel and scuba dive over spectacular
coral gardens and WWII wrecks, and come face to face with
brightly coloured tropical fish is a highlight of these cruises.
Beginners can snorkel or experience introductory and resort-
style dives, while more challenging dives are available to
experienced divers. Our Dive Instructor accompanies you
every step of the way. Snorkelling equipment is assigned to
each guest at the start of your cruise. Scuba diving is subject
2 to medical clearance and medical certificate. See our website
for more information.
INCLUSIONS WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED Expedition Note:
› All excursions and sightseeing › Pre and post flights, These are expedition itineraries covering remote regions. Your
› Use of Xplorer, Zodiacs, kayaks accommodation & travel Master and Expedition Team will make changes to the daily
and glass bottom boat insurance
schedule when necessary to maximise guest experience. These
› Snorkelling and Scuba introduction › Entry visas to Australia
itineraries are indicative - some variation may occur due to
› Daily lectures and briefings › Alcoholic beverages outside
weather conditions, safety or local community requirements.
of lunch and dinner service
› All meals, chef-prepared on board
› Telephone and Internet We recommend that you do not arrive to the embarkation port
› Selected wines, selected beers, services on the day of boarding or depart on the day of disembarkation
juices, and soft drinks served
with lunch and dinner › Laundry due to unexpected changes that may occur in scheduling.
› Coffee and selection of teas › Scuba diving
› All entrance fees to
National Parks and Ports IMAGES ∏ 1 The Solomons is home to many endemic bird species
› Tips and gratuities
∏ 2 Child paddling an outrigger canoe, Solomon Islands
Island trails of
The Solomons
& Vanuatu
1
Expedition Highlights
> Snorkel and dive almost every day (diving optional extra) over
vivid coral gardens and relax on white-sand beaches at Egum
Atoll, Marovo Lagoon and Mangalonga
> See the rich tradition of canoe-building at Budibudi
> Experience the famous water music at Marau Sound
> Enjoy enriching cultural visits to remote island communities
and learn about ‘kastom’ and the Kula Ring
> Spot and interact with wildlife, including Hawksbill turtles,
dolphins, and pygmy parrots at important conservation areas 2
> Visit historic WWII wrecks and significant sites such as the
sunken SS President Coolidge at Million Dollar Point, Kennedy
Island, Iron Bottom Sound, Tulagi, and Havannah Harbour
> Cruise into the cone of a sunken volcano at Ureparapara
> Visit Torokina in Bougainville, site of the Japanese surrender
> Cruise Iron Bottom Sound and pause to pay tribute to lost
seamen at wreck sites like the HMAS Canberra
DEPARTURE & FARES
11 Nights - Departs: 12 Oct 2020 from Cairns aboard Coral Discoverer
Bridge Deck Promenade Promenade Main Deck Main Deck
Stateroom Deck Cat A Deck Cat B Cat A Cat B
Twin Share $14,190 $12,170 n/a $10,650 $10,140 3
Sole Use n/a n/a $16,725* n/a n/a
13 Nights - Departs: 23 Oct 2020 from Honiara aboard Coral Discoverer
Bridge Deck Promenade Promenade Main Deck Main Deck
Stateroom Deck Cat A Deck Cat B Cat A Cat B
Twin Share $14,480 $12,410 n/a $10,860 $10,340
Sole Use n/a n/a $17,055* n/a n/a
Prices are per person, listed in Australian Dollars (AUD) and include GST.
*Limited sole use occupancy available.
IMAGES ∏ 1 Beach-side house at Egum Atoll | 2 Wreck diving opportunities abound
3 Woman weaving palm fronds, Solomon Is | 4 Coral gardens at Mangalonga Reef 4
A PASSAGE TO THE SOLOMONS BATTLES & BEACHES: 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF WWII
ITINERARY: 11 NIGHTS CAIRNS TO HONIARA ITINERARY: 13 NIGHTS HONIARA TO PORT VILA
DAY 1: DEPART CAIRNS DAY 1: DEPART HONIARA
S
Board the Coral Discoverer at 8:00am for a 9:00am departure. Enjoy the optional tour to key sites of the Guadalcanal campaign.
Board the Coral Discoverer at 4:00pm for a 5:00pm departure.
DAY 2: CROSSING THE CORAL SEA
Join the Expedition Team for an introduction to your voyage. DAY 2: RENDOVA ISLAND
This island is home to significant WWII history. Be welcomed to a
DAY 3: SAMARAI & NUAKATA ISLAND
small village, and swim and snorkel in Roviana Lagoon.
Enter Papua New Guinea at Samarai, before we spend the
afternoon at Nuakata in the Daiwari Islands to experience cultural DAY 3: GHIZO ISLAND & KENNEDY ISLAND
demonstrations, hike to skull caves, or snorkel over coral reefs. Visit Kennedy Island, where John F. Kennedy swam ashore after his
PT-109 patrol boat sank. Stroll through Gizo’s open-air markets and
DAY 4: FERGUSSON ISLAND & DOBU ISLAND
see the region’s legendary carvings. Optional extra: dive over the
Visit Dei Dei Hot Springs and hear the mythical tales of this
wreck of Toa Maru, a Japanese merchant ship.
fascinating place. Later, learn the history of the Kula Ring at Dobu
Island and snorkel over the Bubbling Springs Reef. DAY 4: BUIN & KANGU BEACH, BOUGAINVILLE
During WWII, Japanese forces fortified this jungle coast. Here, the
DAY 5: EGUM ATOLL
destroyer Hatsuyuki was sunk, and Admiral Yamamoto’s plane was
Enjoy an unforgettable experience at remote Egum Atoll. Enjoy
shot down by US fighters. Relax and swim from the peaceful beach.
opportunities for snorkelling, scuba diving and glass-bottom boat
tours over colourful reef systems, and visit the local village. DAY 5: CAPE TOROKINA, BOUGAINVILLE
The Japanese surrendered at Bougainville in 1945 aboard HMAS
DAY 6: LAUGHLAN ISLANDS
Diamantina. Go back in time with a guided tour of the village and the
Laughlan Islanders specialise in canoe building, and here we find
former Allied airstrip bombed by the Japanese.
seagoing canoes under construction. At Bodaluna, locals share
their way of life, then we enjoy the opportunity to swim or snorkel. DAY 6: TETEPARE ISLAND
This uninhabited island is protected by a conservation project and is
DAY 7: GHIZO ISLAND & NJARI REEF
an important nesting site for turtles. Enjoy snorkelling in the lagoon
Visit Gizo’s open-air markets and see the region’s legendary
or join local rangers on a turtle tagging program.
carvings. Optional Extra: Scuba dive over Japanese ship wrecks.
Later, snorkel at Njari Reef to admire the rainbows of tropical fish. DAY 7: TASSAFARONGA POINT & IRON BOTTOM SOUND
Snorkel at the site of a Japanese transport ship and pause to pay
DAY 8: ARNAVON ISLANDS
tribute above the wreck of HMAS Canberra in Iron Bottom Sound.
This marine reserve is home to the largest rookery of endangered
Hawksbill Turtles in the South Pacific. At Kerihikapa Island, there is DAY 8: TULAGI & GHAVUTU ISLAND
a chance to see turtle hatchlings emerging from their nests. Later, Tulagi is a significant site of wartime history. Be greeted by a
visit the remote villages of Kia or Boeboe for dance and singing. traditional warrior welcome, take a township tour, and enjoy
magnificent diving opportunities in the nearby harbour.
DAY 9: MAROVO LAGOON
One of the world’s natural wonders, this isolated lagoon has been DAY 9: MBOLI PASSAGE
proposed for World Heritage listing. Enjoy the opportunity to sit This narrow waterway was a water supply point for Allied forces.
down with locals, learn about village life, and admire their intricate Cruise the channel in Xplorer and spot shipwrecks.
carvings of ebony and mother-of-pearl inlay.
DAY 10: AT SEA
DAY 10: MANGALONGA & SANDFLY PASSAGE
DAY 11: UREPARAPARA
Visit Mangalonga Island to snorkel and dive on the reef. We may
Cruise into the cone of this extinct stratovolcano, surrounded on
also enjoy a birdwatching walk on the island . This afternoon, enjoy
three sides by 300 metre cliffs. Be warmly welcomed by the locals
a scenic cruise through the island passages to spot shipwrecks.
and witness the women perform water music in the sea.
DAY 11: MARAU SOUND
DAY 12: LUGANVILLE & MILLION DOLLAR POINT
This area of verdant tropical islands is a geographical crossroad.
Million Dollar Point offers diving and snorkelling over a vast dumping
We may hear the panpipes played and watch the women perform
ground of Allied war machinery. Close by, the wreck of SS President
water music. There are five protected marine reserves established
Coolidge is an extraordinary dive site.
here, and we will snorkel in the turquoise waters.
DAY 13: HAVANNAH HARBOUR
DAY 12: ARRIVE HONIARA
Visit the township and explore the harbour, a notable war anchorage.
Disembark in Honiara at 8:00 am.
DAY 14: ARRIVE PORT VILA
Arrive in Port Vila at 7:00am to disembark at 8:00am.
PAPUA
PAPUA
NEW GUINEA
NEW GUINEA
Cape Torokina
SOLOMON ISLANDS Buin
Arnavon Is Ghizo Tulagi
Fergusson Is Ghizo Marovo Lagoon Mboli Passage
Rendova
Laughlan Is Tetepare
Mangalonga Tassafaronga
Egum Marau Sound HONIARA
Samarai Atoll
HONIARA SOLOMON
ISLANDS
Ureparapara
VANUATU
Million Dollar Point Havannah
Harbour
CAIRNS
PORT VILA
CORAL DISCOVERER
Sundeck Bar SUN DECK
Bridge Deck Bar
A05 A03 A01
Bridge
Lounge BRIDGE DECK
A06 A04 A02
WC
B21 B19 B17 B15 B11 B09 B07 B05 B03 B01
Workout Area
PROMENADE
DECK
B22 B20 B18 B16 B14 B12 B10 B08 B06 B04 B02
Classic small ship Coral Discoverer is built
for environmentally responsible small-ship
cruising, with refined steering capabilities, Galley
C09 C07 C05 C03 C01
active stabilisers, shallow draught, and a nimble Xplorer
Boarding Dining Room MAIN DECK
Xplorer tender to bring you close to remote
Reception C08 C06 C04 C02
destinations with ease.
With only 72 guests, an intimate atmosphere
and warm Australian hospitality make you feel STATEROOM CATEGORIES SHIP SPECIFICATIONS
at home. Spacious lounge areas, communal Bridge Deck Balcony Length 63 metres
dining and open decks provide the opportunity Bridge Deck
Main DeckBalcony
CategoryStaterooms
B Features 13 metres
Beam
• 20sqm • Private Balcony Draught 3 metres
to relax or spend time with old and new friends. Main Deck Category A
Promenade Deck Cat A Staterooms • One Xplorer tender
Staterooms 36 & two Zodiacs
Promenade Deck Category B
• 18sqm • Picture Window • Open Bridge 72
Guests
Promenade Deck
Promenade Cat
Deck B Staterooms
Category A Top Speed 14 knots
• 15sqm • Picture Window
• Single seat dining
Main Deck Cat A Staterooms • Three cocktail bars
• 18sqm • Porthole Windows • Panoramic Sun Deck with daybeds
Main Deck Cat B Staterooms • Spacious lounge and deck areas
• 15sqm • Porthole Windows
5
IMAGE ∏ Man wearing head-dress at Ureparapara
EXPERIENCE CORAL ASSURANCE WHEN BOOKING DIRECT
WE CARE: Our team is motivated solely to ensure you have the trip of a lifetime.
WE KNOW: Our knowledge of our ships and itineraries ensure you get the best advice.
WE COMMIT: You will not get a better price elsewhere.
Contact us today or speak with your travel agent.
Online www.coralexpeditions.com
Email explore@coralexpeditions.com
Free call (Australia) 1800 079 545
Outside Australia +61 7 4040 9999
UK Sales Office +44 0203 934 7170
Head office PO Box 2093 Cairns 4870 QLD Australia
ABN 51 010 809 417 Issued October 2019
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