Ureparapara

Ureparapara in the Banks Islands is an old volcanic cone breached by the sea on its east side, so boats sail straight into the drowned crater, Divers' Bay, called Löyöp in the language spoken around it, with the rim rising steeply on three sides around the water. The island had 437 people in 2009 in three villages, the main one Lear, no road worth the name and a strong string band and custom dance tradition.

The landscape

• The breached crater - a volcano the sea runs into, navigable by ship.
• The rim - steep walls rising on three sides of the anchorage.
• Divers' Bay - the drowned crater, Löyöp in the local language.
• The isolation - 437 people in 2009, with almost no infrastructure.

When to go

April to October is the dry season and calmest for the crossings. November to March is wet with cyclone risk. Transport is infrequent in any season.

Practical notes

Getting there is genuinely difficult: small flights to Sola then an open boat crossing, both frequently cancelled. Accommodation is very basic village guesthouses. There is no reliable communication or medical facility.

Nearby

Sola is southeast, and Vanua Lava is south.

Key facts