House of travel New Caledonia, Niue, Norfolk Island & Tonga Brochu | Page 7

© Ethnotrack/NCTPS
The islands of
Ha’apai & Vava’u Norfolk Island –
History buffs Immerse yourself in
culture
Tonga’s Vava’u Island has
everything you want from a
tropical hideout; emerald lagoons,
champagne sand and beautiful
blue water. Enjoy the island’s
shimmering coastline, and get
in the sea for surfing, diving
and swimming with whales.
Gentle Humpbacks frequent the
warm waters between June and
November. It’s also known as a
yachting playground, so sit back
and admire the luxury vessels
slicing their way through the waves. Throw away the smart phones and
step back in time – Norfolk Island
is history come to life. As one of
Captain Cook’s many discoveries,
the island was first sighted on 29
February 1774. Named after the
Duchess of Norfolk, Cook promptly
claimed the land as British. From
convict settlements and bounty
mutineers to WWII airbases,
Norfolk has played an important
role over the centuries. Albeit different, cultural traditions
across all the Pacific Islands have a
certain fluidity that connects them
all. Notably, the islands have a
strong connection to art, craft and
celebration.
For total isolation, Tonga’s Ha’apai
group of islands will be more your
bag. With reefs, white beaches, one
or two volcanoes and not much
else, it’s impossible not to relax
here. Climb onboard a kayak and
start paddling, stopping along the
way for a picnic lunch on a deserted
island. This is what the word
‘perfection’ was coined for.
Discover more at the Norfolk Island
Museum, with its rich collection
of exhibitions, restored houses
and fascinating artefacts. Or watch
descendants of the mutineers bring
the famed ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’
story to life with an outdoor show
performed in an amphitheatre.
In New Caledonia storytelling
retains its importance for the
exchange of myths and legend from
one generation to the next, whereas
in Niue, annual village festivals
unite the community and provide
the perfect excuse for dance, food,
sport and art. Norfolk Island is
renowned for its woodturning,
which visitors are welcome to
watch, and in Tonga, authentic
culture abounds. From Sunday
church to ceremonial kava drinking,
little has changed here. The customs
are resolutely traditional and
modernity has yet to make much of
an impact.
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