Hanseatic Inspiration, PNG Solomon Is & Palau ex Noumea to Palau – 11 Apr 2022

19 Night Cruise sailing from Noumea to Palau aboard Hanseatic Inspiration.

Diverse and undiscovered: an unspoilt paradise with around 1,000 islands awaits when you set out in the HANSEATIC inspiration for one of the most beautiful regions in the Pacific.

Highlights of this cruise:

Noumea
Nouméa is the capital city of the French territory of New Caledonia. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia’s main island, Grande Terre. It is one of the most westernized cities in the Pacific islands, and while the city itself is not attractive, there are some beautiful beaches on its outskirts.

Attractions in Nouméa include a stroll along the Place des Cocotiers, the local produce market and the Tjibaou Cultural Centre, located 20mins from the city. The focal point of the city is Coconut Park with its attractive colonial houses and beautiful hibiscus and bougainvilleas. The marina is worth a visit and there are attractive beaches at Anse Vata, Baie des Citrons and at Pointe Magnin.

Santa Ana
Santa Ana is a small fertile island located 7.5 km east of Makira Island in the Makira-Ulawa province of the Solomon islands. The island is a raised coral atoll. There are two freshwater lakes on the island – Wairafa and Waipiapia. Two sea caves at Rate and Feru are believed to be the site of first habitation about 1280 BC.

Santa Ana is noted for carved wooden bowls which are often shaped like sharks, its bone fish hooks and imaginative fishing floats. Guided walks take you through shady forests where orchids abound. The reef provides excellent snorkelling and diving.

At Nataghera there are two custom houses with 500 years of ancestral remains. The houses are off limits to women and taking photos is not usually permitted.

Kitava
Kitava is one of the Trobriand Islands, an archipelago of coral atolls off the eastern coast of New Guinea. They are situated in Milne Bay Province in Papua New Guinea. Most indigenous inhabitants live on the main island of Kiriwina, which is also the location of the government station, Losuia. Kitava is located 25km’s from Kiriwina. Other major islands in the group are Kaileuna and Vakuta. The group is considered to be an important tropical rainforest ecoregion in need of conservation.

Kitava island and the other Trobriand islands are famous for their culture and huge yam gardens, which have cultural significance in tribal rituals. Attractions include a village tour, numerous freshwater holes, burial caves, yam houses and ceremonial dances.

Madang
Madang is the capital of Madang Province and is a town on the north coast of Papua New Guinea. It was first settled by the Germans in the 19th century. The town is said to be one of the prettiest towns in the South Pacific due in part to its dramatic location on the tip of a peninsula encircled by mountains. Madang is also a major cultural center where a variety of tribes come together to take part in the arts trade. Flying foxes also congregate in Madang, with several roosts located right in the downtown area.

This extremely picturesque town is the perfect base for scuba diving and snorkeling expeditions of all experience levels, with abundant populations of sharks, sea turtles, and hundreds of species of nudibranch (brilliantly colorful sea slugs). Especially fascinating are the underwater wrecks of 34 Japanese fighter planes, with weapons and cargo intact.

Madang is also an ideal starting place for many of the tours round the islands and up the Sepik River. It has a variety of shops, hotels, restaurants and markets, where storyboards depicting myths and legends can be bought. In nearby Bilbils and Yabobs, traditional pottery-making can be seen.

Palau
Palau is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, some 500 miles (800 km) east of the Philippines and 2000 miles (3200 km) south of Tokyo. It is one of the world’s youngest and smallest nations. The largest city and former capital is Koror where the best souvenirs can be purchased. The new capital is Melekeok, located on the island of Babeldaob and is a pleasant drive from Koror.

Palau is best known as a scuba divers paradise. The “Rock Islands” located in a large lagoon, offer divers one of the world’s greatest concentrations of coral, fish, and other marine life. There is also a range of other aquatic activities, including snorkeling, kayaking and fishing.