Vanua Balavu Bay of Islands

The northern end of Vanua Balavu in the Lau group holds a bay full of small limestone islands undercut at the waterline into mushroom shapes, with clear water between them and caves at the edges. It is one of the classic anchorages of the Pacific for cruising yachts, and the village of Daliconi holds the customary rights: boats present sevusevu there before going in. Access for anyone without a yacht means flying to the island and arranging a boat.

What you actually see

• The undercut islets - limestone islands eaten away at the waterline into mushroom forms.
• The anchorage - the sheltered bay that draws cruising yachts across the Pacific.
• The caves - openings in the limestone at the water's edge, entered by dinghy.
• The clear water - protected shallows between the islands.

When to go

May to October is the cruising season and the drier weather. Cyclone season from November to April empties the anchorage. Flights to Vanua Balavu are infrequent.

Honest expectations

Getting there without a boat is genuinely difficult: flights are irregular and there is little accommodation. Sevusevu at Daliconi is required before entering the bay. There are no facilities anywhere in the anchorage.

Nearby

Lomaloma is the main village on Vanua Balavu, and the rest of the Lau group lies south.