KAYAK EXPEDITION NOTES AND ITINERARY

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1 KAYAK EXPEDITION NOTES AND ITINERARY These notes will give you a brief idea of what you may experience on this new and remote voyage. Our emphasis is on exploring pristine landscapes and visiting sites of cultural interest. However we stress that this is an expedition style cruise. Our adventures and daily program may be influenced by the changeable weather and sea conditions of the region. We ll delight in taking advantage of spontaneous opportunities and there is always an element of the unexpected. We ask you to join us in the spirit of expedition cruising as we discover these extraordinary islands with you. Working with Heritage Expeditions aboard the Spirit of Enderby, our journey is a ship-based exploration, from Madang in Papua New Guinea to Honiara in the Solomon Islands. The islands spectacular terrain combined with a lack of suitable infrastructure makes travel to most areas difficult except by air and sea. We believe travel by expedition ship is the safest, most efficient and enjoyable way to unlock the secrets of one of the world s last wilderness frontiers. Using our mother ship as a floating base camp, we hope to paddle daily, or even twice a day, spending as much time on the water as possible. Most paddles will range from two to four hours. The flexibility of kayaking with a small private group ensures our own unique experiences, quite different from those encountered by the other passengers on board. However, we have the option to forego paddling and join the other passengers for shore excursions or zodiac cruises on any given day. A largely undiscovered paradise, Papua New Guinea and the outer Solomon Islands are slow to open up to main stream tourism, a plus for our paddlers! Travellers who are privileged enough to visit will discover a wealth of magnificent tropical scenery and cultural diversity. We ll aim to visit active volcanic islands and walk through pristine rainforest alive with unique wildlife. Our fleet of kayaks and zodiacs will enable us to search out the myriad of hidden bays and striking coral reefs that abound in this area. The warm waters hold more aquatic species than anywhere on the planet. Snorkeling the magical reefs off white sandy beaches and isolated atolls will give us the chance to learn more about this incredibly diverse marine ecosystem. With over 800 languages and 1,000 distinct cultures, these islands are the most culturally diverse on earth. Our visits to remote coastal and island villages will give us a genuine insight into a traditional lifestyle that has changed little in centuries. From visiting the small villages on the mighty Sepik River to being greeted by a flotilla of outrigger canoes, our experiences with the smiling people of Melanesia are sure to be rewarding. Experience Required To ensure you have safe, enjoyable paddles you should be comfortable with swimming and have an adventurous attitude. This should not be your first sea kayaking experience. The trip is suitable for beginners to experts and conducted in warm water. We have very little opportunity for instruction before we commence paddling, therefore, we highly recommend that you have done some kayaking recently or have received some tuition. Try to rent a kayak locally before leaving home if you would like some additional experience, or seek out a local operator for some paddling tuition. We often begin our first paddling session from the shore and after that will be launching directly from the ship. You should be comfortable paddling on seas that could have up to a 1/2 metre swell and some current. The water surface will vary from calm to wind chop. Your guide will assess your ability on the initial paddle and, if you have insufficient experience, he or she may not allow you to participate in rougher conditions. Our paddling excursions will not involve camping out. We d be happy to talk to you about your ability and may be able to advise you on how to obtain the necessary experience before your trip. Paddling numbers are limited and berths fill fast so it is essential you book early. Please Note: Along with your voyage booking form we require all participants to complete our Sea Kayak Booking and Experience Form and return it to us immediately to secure your spot in the sea kayak group. Southern Sea Ventures 1

2 proposed itinerary 11 Oct Meet in Madang, PNG Arrive in the port town of Madang and transfer to the Madang Resort for the first night of the trip. This evening, meet with fellow travellers, your kayak guide and the expedition team over dinner at the resort. 12 Oct Madang The historic town of Madang sits on a peninsula surrounded by a number of picturesque islands and is famed for its traditional artists, diving and the richness of the surrounding forests. We will start the day with a visit to the Lababia Wildlife Management Area with its tall forest and rich diversity of wildlife. Then it s off to the markets with your guides for some shopping! This afternoon, board the Spirit of Enderby, settle into your cabin and join the captain and expedition team on the Bridge as we set sail. The kayakers will meet with their guide for a trip briefing Oct Sepik River The Sepik is one of the world s great river systems and culturally one of the most fascinating parts of PNG. We will cruise upriver to the middle Sepik region renowned for its unique artifacts. We will explore rivers and tributaries and their extensive marine ecosystem. We ll visit some of the small villages that line the riverbank and may have the chance to appreciate and purchase some artworks of the famed master carvers of the Sepik. Village life remains virtually unchanged from when first contact was made by German explorers in the late 1800 s. The current of the Sepik makes paddling difficult so we may choose to climb aboard a zodiac for excursions. 15 Oct Manus Island Seldom visited and little known, Manus Island is considered a jewel in the crown of PNG. Biological isolated, the islands are home to a high proportion of endemic species including the Superb Pitta. Manus province has the lowest density of people in all New Guinea with its people still living a very traditional lifestyle. The waters around Manus offer some of the most spectacular paddling, diving and snorkelling. 16 Oct Mussa Island Far to the north of New Ireland and considered a separate bio-region, we have a full day to explore the island and its surrounding waters. Mussa Island represents one of the western-most extensions of the Lapita culture. Spend time with the local people to learn about their special culture and life on this remote outpost in the Pacific. 17 Oct Kavieng, New Ireland Explore the town of Kavieng at the northern end of New Ireland. Evidence of the large Japanese occupation remain around town but today the area is a developing hub for tourism due to the rich diversity of the surrounding land and sea. Discover the clear waters of the local reef by kayak and snorkel! 18 Oct Rabaul, New Britain Six beautifully cone-shaped volcanoes ring Rabaul s dramatic flooded-caldera harbour. Visit the bubbling hot springs and take in magnificent views of the harbour and volcanoes from Observatory Ridge. We are planning a very special performance tonight of the Baining tribe s fire dance. Tribe members in huge, intricately crafted masks dance over red-hot coals in a centuries old ritual to honour the local deity-spirits. 19 Oct Nissan Island. A tropical atoll adrift in the azure waters of the Buka Channel, bathed in rich tropical currents Nissan Island s waters abound in marine life. We will delight to discover this world of pristine coral reefs and abundant fish life. Ashore there are still reminders of the brief but intensive World War II activities during which the islands were recaptured by NZ and British forces from the Japanese occupiers. 20 Oct Bougainville Island We plan to be among the first expeditioners to re-discover the treasures of Bougainville, long isolated and in a strange way protected by the conflict which has swirled around its shores. Today it is emerging once again as a newly vibrant and remarkably pristine island paradise, home to some of the greatest biodiversity in the region Southern Sea Ventures 2

3 above and below the waters. We plan to explore the area around Arawa, which offers great opportunities to access the island s interior and reefs. 21 Oct Choiseul Island Today we arrive in the Solomon Islands on the remote northern coast of Choiseul Island. Here the mountains tumble into the sea, broken only by torrents of fresh water cascading from the highlands. We hope to paddle deep into the mangrove forest towards the Sui River Falls searching for dugong and crocodiles. Here Kisa shell money was manufactured and used extensively in trade around the neighbouring islands. It is still valued and protected by the village elders to this day. 22 Oct New Georgia Islands The volcanic New Georgia Islands are found in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands. Characterised by extensive reefs and lagoons, rugged terrain and rivers, some fantastic paddling abounds! Ghizo Island has some of the best and exciting diving with World War II wrecks and reefs that have some of the highest fish count in the world. Ghizo township is the third largest in the Solomon Islands and shoppers will find small waterfront stores and an open air market. Artisans in the Western Province are famous for their wood or stone carvings and may be available for purchase at the market. 23 Oct Santa Isabel Island The Arnavon Islands are north-west of Santa Isabel and covers one of the most important rookeries for the endangered Hawksbill Turtle. We ll keep an eye out for these magnificent creatures as we paddle around the islands. The islands also support 41 species of birds, six species of bats and at least seven species of terrestrial reptile. We visit the village of Kia, where the houses are built on stilts over the transparent lagoon waters. 24 Oct Honiara, Solomon Islands Located on the northern coast of Guadacanal, by the Mataniko River, Honiara was founded by the British as a military base during World War II. Tour Honiara or head to the rain-forested slopes of Mount Austen in search of the islands most spectacular birds, including the Solomon Sea Eagle. A transfer to your hotel or the airport concludes this spectacular voyage. GENERAL INFORMATION This Tour Includes: Ship s accommodation. All public areas are open to all passengers. All meals on board ship. All shore excursions from the ship including Zodiac excursions but excluding the birding and diving program. Lectures, videos, slide and film shows and guide services. Port taxes, port charges and landing fees imposed by government authorities. Airport transfers at the beginning and end of the voyage. The trip price comprises the voyage cost plus a surcharge for the kayaking option. The kayak surcharge covers all your paddling and kayak equipment and the services of a professional sea kayak guide. This Tour Does Not Include: Any airfares. Visa, passport and vaccination charges and airport departure taxes. Hotels and meals not included in ship cruise itinerary. Optional excursions not included in ship cruise itinerary. Tips on board for crew and service personnel. Southern Sea Ventures 3

4 Laundry, postage, personal clothing, medical expenses, personal travel insurance and items of a personal nature such as bar charges, wine and phone calls. Emergency evacuation charges. Discovery Fund. Each passenger will pay US$ on boarding the ship. The fund supports local projects in the areas through which we travel. SHIP DETAILS The Spirit of Enderby is a fully ice-strengthened expedition vessel, built in 1984 for polar and oceanographic research and is perfect for expedition travel. She carries just 50 passengers and was refurbished in March 2012 to provide comfortable accommodation in twin share cabins approximately half of which have private facilities. All cabins have outside windows or portholes and ample storage space. On board there is a combined bar/library lounge area and a dedicated lecture room. The cuisine is excellent and is prepared by top NZ and Australian chefs. The expeditions are accompanied by some of the most experienced naturalists and guides, who have devoted a lifetime to field research in the areas that we visit. The ship is crewed by a very enthusiastic and most experienced Russian Captain and crew. The name Spirit of Enderby honours the work and the vision of the Enderby Brothers of London. The Enderby Captains were at the forefront of Antarctic exploration for almost 40 years in the early 1800's. Technical description: Classification: Russian register KM ice class Year built: 1984 Accommodation: 50 berths expedition Shipyard: Finland Main engines: power 2x1560 bhp (2x 1147 Kw) Register: Russia Maximum speed: 12 knots (2 engines), Cruising speed: 10 knots(one engine) Bunker capacity: 320 tons Cabin details: Heritage Suite: Has a large lounge area, a separate bedroom with double bed, a single bed in the lounge, writing desk, wardrobe, drawers. There is a private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. There are large forward and side facing windows to allow great views. Mini Suites: Have a separate bedroom with a double bed and a single bed or a sofa in the lounge, wardrobe, drawers, a desk and a private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. The Mini Suites have windows. Superior Plus cabins: Have two lower berths, wardrobe, drawers, desk, a private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. These cabins have windows. Superior cabins: Have bunks (an upper and lower berth), wardrobe, drawers, a desk, a private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. These cabins have windows. Main deck cabins: Have two lower berths, wardrobe, drawers, a desk, washbasin and porthole. The nearby showers and toilets are shared with other Main deck cabins. Main deck triple: Has one bunk (one upper and one lower) and one lower berth, wardrobe, drawers, a desk and wash basin. The nearby showers and toilets are shared with other Main deck cabins. Southern Sea Ventures 4

5 Deckplan: Southern Sea Ventures 5