Melanesia, May 2025

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Photo Gallery for Vanuatu and Solomons

This was the infamous Gate 11A at Melbourne Airport, when a nightmare had played out and because of an unfortunate misunderstanding of airport announcements, I missed my flight to Fiji.

I stayed at a back-packer hotel in Melbourne and the following morning booked a new flight online.
It was a nice flight on the superb carrier, Fiji Airways, on one of their new Airbus A350 aircraft.

A view out to sea from within Shangri La Resort near Sigatoka, Fiji.
I arrived there a day late on Monday 19th May, having missed my flight the previous day at Melbourne.
This time I wasn't jet lagged, but spent the rest of the day walking around the resort.

On Tuesday 20th May we were bussed to Lautoka to board our ship, Silversea's expedition ship the 'Silver Cloud'.
My suite (not cabin) was bigger than that I'd had on the Island Sky 6 years ago.
I had my own balcony and walk-in wardrobe, not only that, I had the services of a butler called Jordan.

Three visits to islands in the Vanuatu archipelago.

Wednesday 21st May
Abrym Island, Vanuatu
This island has with twin, active volcanoes is the home of the traditional Rom dance.
The plan today was a beach landing to see the dance, followed later in the afternoon by snorkelling.

A Zodiac heads out to the northern shore of Ambryn.

A village strung along the coast of Ambrym near our landing beach.

We watch as men from the village take part in the ceremonial Rom dance.

This is the first of several snorkelling sessions we had on the cruise.
The coast was rocky, with the sea bed dropping off suddenly near to the water's edge.
Not a lot to see but it allowed me to get used to my snorkelling gear for the days to come.

With the brief snorkelling activity over, our zodiac heads back to the ship.

The very attractive 'Silver Cloud'.
We would board and disembark the zodiac boats from a platform on the starboard side.

Thursday 22nd May
Pentecost Island, Vanuatu
The ship anchored off the west coast of Pentecost Island.

I zoomed in on the slope on which the land diving tower sits (see red arrow).
As far as I can tell, this was the same location that I visited back in 2019.
I decided to stay on the ship in the morning while everyone else watched the diving spectacle.

The afternoon zodiac landing on Pentecost Island for the short trek to the waterfall, which was the afternoon activity.

The waterfall north of the diving site.
The walk to this refreshing feature was muddy, I decided not to wade right up to the falls as the outflow was a bit too deep.

A shot of the stream outflow from the waterfall.

Saturday 24th May
Champagne Beach, Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu
A view from my zodiac trip from the ship.

The group of women who did a performance of their renowned water music, I witnessed this back in 2019 at another location on Espiritu Santo island.

Another view of Champagne Beach, with islands in the background.
There was food and drinks, including champagne available on this morning visit.
There was also snorkelling, which I participated in.

Sunday 25th May
Nendo Island, Solomon Islands
Formerly the Santa Cruz islands, this archipelago to the far east of the Solomons now represents Temotu Province.

Sunday 25th May
Malo Island, Solomon Islands
Activities:
Afternoon visit for snorkelling, custom dances and walks from the village.
At anchor in Graciosa Bay off Malo Island, which is northwest of Nendo Island.
The people of Malo village gave us a warm welcome.
I chatted to a young couple, Michael and Ruth, who had two small children.
Most people on the island live a simple subsistence life, with little employment available, though there is a fish farm in the lagoon to the south of Malo Island.

In size, Nendo is about 25 miles wide and 14 miles from north to south.
This shot is probably Malo Island, a bit less than 2 miles long by a mile wide.

More of the island's profile in this view.

We made our Zodiac landing on the south east coast, then walked up towards the village clearing, where the custom dances would take place.
Women from the village did their dance.

The men and a boy did their performance, the boy climbing a pole as the finale.

A rainbow displays itself over Graciosa Bay as we walked near the village, guided by Michael.

Monday 26th May
Santa Ana, Solomon Islands
Activities:
Morning custom dances, Afternoon went ashore to make donations to school and bamboo band.

The local people of Santa Ana always come up with a variety of custom dancing, even when it rains.

At anchor off Santa Ana.

The land mass on the horizon is likely to be the island of Santa Catalina.

Given that this photo is on the other side of the ship, I'd say this is the peninsula at the end of the large island of Makira.

Santa Ana.
Wednesday 28th May
Njari Island, near Gizo Island, Western Solomon Islands
In the morning we snorkelled, I also did a final session kayaking, with Jennifer taking the photos and I doing most of the paddling!
Here, the snorkelling base zodiacs are being set up ready for us.

This was a pleasant surprise.
Honiara now has a brewery producing this excellent blond beer called Solbrew.
There was an esky full of these, provided by the ship - cold and refreshing.
I had one myself, a nice beer.

The ship and the snorkelling end zodiac viewed from the ranger's verandah.

Much of this tiny island is jungle, under conservation and care, hence the ranger who is the only human living on the island.

My last outing in a kayak.

Jennifer was a good person to know, one of several people on the ship travelling alone.
Although her tandem kayaking skills were somewhat basic, she was a good companion on the two or three occasions we paddled.

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This was the infamous Gate 11A at Melbourne Airport, when a nightmare had played out and because of an unfortunate misunderstanding of airport announcements, I missed my flight to Fiji. I stayed at a back-packer hotel in Melbourne and the following morning booked a new flight online. It was a nice flight on the superb carrier, Fiji Airways, on one of their new Airbus A350 aircraft.
A view out to sea from within Shangri La Resort near Sigatoka, Fiji. I arrived there a day late on Monday 19th May, having missed my flight the previous day at Melbourne. This time I wasn't jet lagged, but spent the rest of the day walking around the resort.
On Tuesday 20th May we were bussed to Lautoka to board our ship, Silversea's expedition ship the 'Silver Cloud'. My suite (not cabin) was bigger than that I'd had on the Island Sky 6 years ago. I had my own balcony and walk-in wardrobe, not only that, I had the services of a butler called Jordan.
Three visits to islands in the Vanuatu archipelago.
Wednesday 21st May Abrym Island, Vanuatu This island has with twin, active volcanoes is the home of the traditional Rom dance. The plan today was a beach landing to see the dance, followed later in the afternoon by snorkelling. A Zodiac heads out to the northern shore of Ambryn.
A village strung along the coast of Ambrym near our landing beach.
We watch as men from the village take part in the ceremonial Rom dance.
This is the first of several snorkelling sessions we had on the cruise. The coast was rocky, with the sea bed dropping off suddenly near to the water's edge. Not a lot to see but it allowed me to get used to my snorkelling gear for the days to come.
With the brief snorkelling activity over, our zodiac heads back to the ship.
The very attractive 'Silver Cloud'. We would board and disembark the zodiac boats from a platform on the starboard side.
Thursday 22nd May Pentecost Island, Vanuatu The ship anchored off the west coast of Pentecost Island.
I zoomed in on the slope on which the land diving tower sits (see red arrow). As far as I can tell, this was the same location that I visited back in 2019. I decided to stay on the ship in the morning while everyone else watched the diving spectacle.
The afternoon zodiac landing on Pentecost Island for the short trek to the waterfall, which was the afternoon activity.
The waterfall north of the diving site. The walk to this refreshing feature was muddy, I decided not to wade right up to the falls as the outflow was a bit too deep.
A shot of the stream outflow from the waterfall.
Saturday 24th May Champagne Beach, Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu A view from my zodiac trip from the ship.
The group of women who did a performance of their renowned water music, I witnessed this back in 2019 at another location on Espiritu Santo island.
Another view of Champagne Beach, with islands in the background. There was food and drinks, including champagne available on this morning visit. There was also snorkelling, which I participated in.
Sunday 25th May Nendo Island, Solomon Islands Formerly the Santa Cruz islands, this archipelago to the far east of the Solomons now represents Temotu Province.
Sunday 25th May Malo Island, Solomon Islands Activities: Afternoon visit for snorkelling, custom dances and walks from the village. At anchor in Graciosa Bay off Malo Island, which is northwest of Nendo Island. The people of Malo village gave us a warm welcome. I chatted to a young couple, Michael and Ruth, who had two small children. Most people on the island live a simple subsistence life, with little employment available, though there is a fish farm in the lagoon to the south of Malo Island.
In size, Nendo is about 25 miles wide and 14 miles from north to south. This shot is probably Malo Island, a bit less than 2 miles long by a mile wide.
More of the island's profile in this view.
We made our Zodiac landing on the south east coast, then walked up towards the village clearing, where the custom dances would take place.
Women from the village did their dance.
The men and a boy did their performance, the boy climbing a pole as the finale.
A rainbow displays itself over Graciosa Bay as we walked near the village, guided by Michael.
Monday 26th May Santa Ana, Solomon Islands Activities: Morning custom dances, Afternoon went ashore to make donations to school and bamboo band.
The local people of Santa Ana always come up with a variety of custom dancing, even when it rains.
At anchor off Santa Ana.
The land mass on the horizon is likely to be the island of Santa Catalina.
Given that this photo is on the other side of the ship, I'd say this is the peninsula at the end of the large island of Makira.
Santa Ana.
Wednesday 28th May Njari Island, near Gizo Island, Western Solomon Islands In the morning we snorkelled, I also did a final session kayaking, with Jennifer taking the photos and I doing most of the paddling! Here, the snorkelling base zodiacs are being set up ready for us.
This was a pleasant surprise. Honiara now has a brewery producing this excellent blond beer called Solbrew. There was an esky full of these, provided by the ship - cold and refreshing. I had one myself, a nice beer.
The ship and the snorkelling end zodiac viewed from the ranger's verandah.
Much of this tiny island is jungle, under conservation and care, hence the ranger who is the only human living on the island.
My last outing in a kayak.
Jennifer was a good person to know, one of several people on the ship travelling alone. Although her tandem kayaking skills were somewhat basic, she was a good companion on the two or three occasions we paddled.