Nusa Roviana

Nusa Roviana is an island in the lagoon off Munda whose ridge carries the remains of a fortified settlement: stone walls, terraces, house platforms and shrines built by the Roviana chiefdom that dominated this coast in the nineteenth century. The walk up the ridge passes the defences and shrine sites, with skull shrines among them. A guide from the landowning families is required and explains the sequence.

What you actually see

• The ridge fortifications - stone walls and terraces along the spine.
• The house platforms - the levelled sites of the old settlement.
• The shrines - the ritual sites along the ridge, some holding skulls.
• The lagoon view - Roviana laid out from the top of the ridge.

When to go

May to October is the drier season and the path is more manageable. The wet season makes the ridge slippery. Visits are arranged from Munda.

Honest expectations

The walk up is steep, muddy and overgrown in places. Shrines are sacred and photography and behaviour rules apply. A guide is required and fees go to the landowners.

Nearby

Munda is on the mainland, and Roviana Lagoon is around it.