Melanesia

Arrive in Cairns, Australia, the gateway to Queensland’s tropical north and transfer to our hotel. Meet fellow Stanford travelers and staff at a welcome reception this evening.

After breakfast, head out on a tour of Cairns. Walk through Cairns Botanical Garden, renowned for having one of the best exhibitions of tropical plants in Australia, and see Saint Monica’s Cathedral, famous for its themed stained glass. The rest of the afternoon is free for independent exploration. This evening, we gather for dinner with the independent travelers who are sharing this cruise with us aboard the Heritage Adventurer.

This morning, fly to Madang, situated on a picturesque peninsula surrounded by forests, islands, and waterways and renowned for its traditional arts. Upon landing, visit the Coastwatchers’ Memorial Lighthouse, the Madang Museum, Bilbil Village, and the city’s colorful markets. Embark the Heritage Adventurer this afternoon and set sail for the Sepik River. 

The Sepik River, the longest in Papua New Guinea, flows from the highlands to the Bismarck Sea. It is a rich arterial river that has fostered great traditional artists. Explore the river by Zodiac, following tributaries and channels in search of local wildlife. Receive a warm welcome at Kopar Village and enjoy a traditional Dragon Dance, which is unique to this region. Toast the start of our journey during a Captain’s welcome reception and dinner on board this evening.

Seldom visited and little known, Manus Island is considered a jewel in the crown of Papua New Guinea. The province is home to a high proportion of endemic species due to its biological isolation and boasts a population of only a thousand people spread over 10 villages. Visit one of these, Derimbat, where we take part in a welcoming ceremony before touring the village with a local guide.

Traditionally known as Lavongai Island, volcanic New Hanover is a wild, rugged, and untouched paradise complete with a dense rainforest, waterfalls, and exceptional beaches fringed by reefs and smaller satellite islands. The sparsely populated villages here enjoy a subsistent, traditional lifestyle. Marvel at the rich marine life during a snorkel excursion, then visit Three Island Harbor, where four Japanese WWII wrecks were sunk by Allied bombers in 1944.

Six beautiful cone-shaped volcanoes ring Rabaul, New Britain’s dramatic, flooded-caldera harbor. Travel to the bubbling hot springs and take in the magnificent views of the harbor and volcanoes from Observatory Ridge. We see fascinating reminders of the Japanese occupation and of the enormous volcanic eruption that all but destroyed Rabaul. Continue to Kokopo to join the locals shopping at the bustling markets.

A tropical atoll adrift in the azure waters of the Buka Channel, Nissan Island is bathed in rich tropical currents that abound in marine life. Ashore, there are still reminders of the brief, but intense, World War II events during which the islands were recaptured from the Japanese occupiers by Kiwi, Australian, and British forces. Meet with locals from all three of the island’s Balil Villages and search the dense woods for some of the elusive birds that live here. Later, snorkel the pristine coral reefs.

Be among the few travelers to anchor in Bougainville, long isolated and therefore home to some of the greatest biodiversity in the region—both above and below the water. Explore the area around Arawa, including the Panguna Mine, the setting for the 2012 film, Mr. Pip. Afterward, meander the thatched-roof stalls of the Arawa markets among hundreds of locals buying and selling wares.

Cruise to the Solomon Islands, stopping in the volcanic New Georgia Islands, characterized by extensive reefs and lagoons, rugged terrain, and an abundance of rivers. Call on Kolombangara Island for a visit to the Imbu Rano Eco Lodge, set in a conservation area where we may catch sight of the rare Roviana Rail along with other endemic bird species. Snorkel the WWII wreck of a U.S. Navy Grumman FAF Wildcat plane off a tiny island. The surrounding reefs here are home to some of the world’s highest fish counts. We also learn about the wood and stone carvings for which the people of the Western Province are so famous.

Tetepare is the largest uninhabited tropical island in the Southern Hemisphere. Cloaked in rainforest and fringed with coral reefs, the Tetepare houses the Solomon Islands’ leading community-driven conservation projects, which have received international recognition for their conservation and archaeological significance. Three species of turtle, including the endangered leatherback, nest on the beaches here. Other species inhabiting the island and surrounding waters include the dugong marine mammal, the world’s largest skink lizard, and the endemic Tetepare white-eye warbler.

Today we land on mountainous Malaita, home to one-third of the Solomon’s population. Visit uninhabited Leli Island, an ideal snorkel site with its calm clear waters and abundant array of fish and corals. In the afternoon, we are among the first to visit a remote and hard-to-reach village where we experience a warrior welcome from the Kwaio mountain people. Learn about this traditional community’s ways of life and efforts they are undertaking to conserve the land.

Makira Makira is the most easterly of the main islands in the Solomon’s archipelago. This morning, anchor in the calm waters of Star Harbor and join naturalists for a Zodiac exploration of the abundant mangrove forests that line the shores. Then, take a short walk to Makira’s south coast where the villagers live much as they have for millennia. We spend time with the locals, who share with us their traditional song and dance.

Today, stop in Nendö, the largest of the Santa Cruz Islands, where the Spanish navigator Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira unsuccessfully attempted to establish a colony in 1595. Nendö is the home of red feather money, sourced from the scarlet honeyeater. Watch the manufacture of red feather money and join the locals in dances they have been performing for centuries.

Sail to the rarely visited pacific paradise of Torres Islands in Vanuatu. We call at Loh Island, one of four main islets fringed with white sand beaches, clear azure waters, volcanic rock, and cliffs topped with lush, tangled jungles. After a warrior escort and welcome from the chief, we experience the thrilling and rarely witnessed cultural wonder of the lēh-temēt, a ceremonial ritual marked by the colorful headdresses known as temēt. These temēt, which villagers believe hold the highest of supernatural powers, are destroyed immediately at the end of the dance ceremony. This afternoon, enjoy a tour of the village or venture out on a snorkel excursion.

Vanuatu’s largest Island, Espiritu Santo is the location of James Michener’s Tales of the South Pacific. Indulge in a swim in the crystalline waters of Champagne Beach with its famed powdery white sand. Later, enjoy a Zodiac ride to the island’s iconic blue holes and a visit to Lugainville, where the U.S. dumped a fortune’s worth of military tanks, guns, and jeeps and which is now known as Million Dollar Point.

Our last stop in Vanuatu is Ambrym, known for its large calderas and lava lakes. Head ashore at Ranon on the northern coast where the traditional Rom dance is still practiced. Walk through the forest to the ‘arena’ where masked dancers emerge from the forest. Accompanied by our naturalists, we search for local birds and plants. This afternoon, enjoy a final snorkel excursion before gathering this evening for a festive farewell reception and dinner.

Arrive in Port Vila early this morning and disembark. Transfer to the airport to catch flights returning home.