Four Melanesian nations occupy the prime position between South East Asia, Australia and Polynesia. Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands were once considered off the radar. Today, owners and guests can take advantage of improved logistics and new marinas to cruise sandy specks, Second World War wrecks and bubbling volcanoes, garlanded across 3,000 nautical miles of sea. For far-out cultures, including Asaro mudmen and Fijian fire walkers, it’s time to reset the GPS.
NEW HORIZONS
Melanesia was once seen simply as a destination to pass en route to Sydney from Singapore or Samoa. Not anymore. “More yachts have started to visit the area,” says Rob McCallum, co-founder of EYOS Expeditions, the market leader for yachting adventures in Melanesia. “The numbers are still small. We’re talking about going from single digits to double digits per year.”
Why now? “It’s twofold,” claims McCallum. “Firstly, most visiting vessels are classic cruising yachts that rely heavily on shoreside infrastructure.” EYOS have solved that issue by managing “a logistical system for getting provisions from Australia or New Zealand” to virtually any location where there’s a runway. “Secondly, owners have realised that if you’re transitioning a yacht to Australasia, you should explore Melanesia as it’s really, really cool.” Half of McCallum’s clients in Melanesia are owners seeking once-in-a-lifetime adventures. The other half are guests aboard a yacht that EYOS has chartered on their behalf.
There’s a lot to see. The biggest Melanesian nation, Papua New Guinea, “feels like stepping back into the Stone Age”, says McCallum. “It’s an anthropological nexus.” Add another 600 islands (many unnamed and uninhabited) and there’s a singular experience every day.
“PAPUA NEW GUINEA FEELS LIKE STEPPING BACK INTO THE STONE AGE”
