Getting up before 5am is tough, but the diving makes it worth it! The dive crew of me+9 kids were on the road in our bus at 5:30am, heading south east around the island to Pacific Harbour. We chatted for a bit and then enjoyed watching the sun rise before falling back to sleep as the bus cruised along. About two hours later we made it to Coral Coast Divers and unloaded into the bright, sunny day!
The crew at Coral Coast was super friendly and we got all of our paperwork and gear sorted out easily. The shop is located right on an inlet, so we were able to get on the boat right there and head out to our dive site. It only took about 5 minutes to get to the reef’s location and after the boat was stopped we got an overview of procedures and the plan for the dive. We all pulled on our wet suites, got on our masks, BCDs, fins… and we were off!
Our first dive was exhilarating! The kids did a GREAT job with their skills, leaning into exploring a literal whole new world! We saw lots of fish, coral, and most notably, a turtle! Our three dive masters were excellent and we felt really cared for. One was always leading, one was always following, and a third was available to help divers on on one. We did an out and back at the reef and after about 38 minutes in the water we got back on the boat, full of energy and the need to share our experience verbally. It’s so fun to talk about a dive right after a dive.
We went back to the shop where new tanks were loaded. We had about 20 minutes to relax before we got back on the boat and headed back to the same reef, but this time our dive went in the other direction. The kids were even smoother on this dive which took us along the reef. We saw lots of fish, the kids explored the sea floor, and a few even tried backwards loops! Back on the boat the kids expressed feeling much more comfortable on the second dive!
We then went back to the dive shop, took off all our geared, washed it in buckets, showered a bit, and then warmed up in the hot sun. The kids got to chat with the shop owner before lunch was served — He told them all about some of the more exotic sea life and the ebb and flow of the health of the reef. We were then served a very tasty lunch. By 1pm we were back on the bus heading back to Yatule.
Most of us slept on the ride back and only a couple minutes after we arrived at Yatule, the other group arrived as well. They went in straight to lunch and the dive group went off to rest. I got to hear all about the non-divers’ day (More on that later from Mrs. Seamon-Ingalls!) while getting in some cuddles from Wilson.
Over the next several hours the kids had time to rest, and like me, some of them took the opportunity to swim in the perfectly warm ocean. We had another very filling dinner and I told the kids the plan for the night and tomorrow. Tomorrow we get some boat, waterfall, and inland village time!
What a full day!
Mrs. Seamon-Ingalls:
The 10 students who were not diving embarked on a cultural tour of Nadi with Mr. & Mrs. Mish and Mrs. Seamon-Ingalls. Nadi is one of Viti Levu, Fiji’s main cities. We began at the Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple, a Hindu temple in Nadi. The students wandered around the peaceful, intricately decorated temple, learning about the history of the Indian people coming to Fiji by way of indentured servitude to their common British colonizers. After serving their time, many Hindu chose to stay in Fiji and build a new life there. The temple itself is a riot of color and highly detailed design, reminiscent of similar temples in India. The students loved it and were wishing more pictures were allowed inside the temple!
We then made our way to Veiseisei village, a traditional Fijian village by the coast. In contrast to the village we visited yesterday, which was home to 200 people, this village is home to about 1000 people! It is the oldest settlement in Fiji and former Fijian President Iloilo came from this village. Not only was Veiseisei larger than yesterday’s village, it was more modern, had more amenities, and souvenir tables. We enjoyed a brief tour of the village, had fun beating a traditional Fijian drum, and then the students had time to purchase a few trinkets to bring home.
Our third stop was at Garden of the Sleeping Giant. The Sleeping Giant is a formation of mountains that look like a massive sleeping giant. The garden at the foot of the mountains was established by the late American actor, Raymond Burr, and was his private collection. Now open to the public, the garden is home to 30 varieties of Asian orchids and Cattleya hybrids and is absolutely breathtaking. It is a tropical waterfall of color and lush beauty. We had a tour through the garden and then had free time to wander and enjoy its beauty. We topped of this tropical tour sipping some fresh, cold fruit juice before heading to our final destination of the day.
We wrapped up our time in Nadi at the Thermal Pool, Mud Bath and Massage at Tifajet, a family-owned natural spring! The students and Mrs. Mish went for the full experience, coating their skin in a mud bath, rich in healing minerals. They were quite a sight and posed for photos looking a bit like swamp statues! Once the mud was dry, it was time to wash off in a series of pools, first cold and muddy, then warmer for a final scrub, and lastly, a natural thermal spring hot tub to soothe the skin. Several students opted in for a 30 minute massage to complete their treatment.
The students commented several times that this new and novel experience was fun, wild and unexpected! And after such a long morning and afternoon in the tropical heat, everyone was happy to get on the bus back to the resort for refreshments and a quiet evening!
Our day of wonderful adventure started with another yummy breakfast, but this time with an ocean view! We got fully loaded up on fuel and then got on our bus at 7:30. Our path took us clockwise around the edge of the island where we stopped off at the jet boat offices to fill out some paperwork before continuing on to the jetty.
After gearing up with life jackets and stashing some of our packs, we loaded onto two jet boats. We drifted for a little while as the captain gave us a great intro to a journey, and then we were off! At high speed we headed up river, making a couple stops in our 40 minute journey for Freddy, the captain, to tell us about life in the villages on the rivers. We learned lots and got amazing views of the truly epic landscapes. The sun was hot, but the breeze was powerful and we stayed cool.
We unloaded onto the shore at one of the villages and the captains took us up to chapel where we learned more about the village and how life works in the area. Next we walked the short distance to the main recreational center where we were greeted by 50 villagers.
Over the next hour we got to experience and take part in a dynamic, meaningful, and fun welcome ceremony. We drank more Cava, heard songs, and introduced ourselves. Next, we enjoyed a very tasty lunch of local foods and chatted more with our new friends. The socialization continued in earnest after lunch, and it all then transitioned into a truly magical sharing of dance. Everyone got involved and we had THE. BEST. TIME. All the kids were flying around, mixed together with our hosts, and all the music was being played and sung live!
It’s important to note that after only a few minutes after our arrival at the rec center, Wilson was passed around and got to share smiles with, essentially, all 50 of the people — kids and adults — that were part of the event. We met lots and lots of people, but Wilson met everyone!
The dancing wrapped up and one of the other guests gave a great goodbye message on our behalf. We then gave some gifts, said our goodbyes, and went back to the boats.
The trip back was direct, with no stop. At the dock Mrs. Seamon-Ingalls and Wilson got off, and we went back our so that the boat could do a series of 360 spins, soaking everyone in the process. It was SO. MUCH. FUN.
We got back to the dock fully exhilarated, dried off bit, some of the kids bought hard copies of photos, and then we got back on our bus. On the way home we stopped to load up on supplies at a grocery store and were back at Yatule by 3:30pm. We had a check in at 5 to go over the next day which will see our group split up for the first time — Half the group will get a fully and fun tour of the area, and the other half will go scuba diving with me. The kids then got the rest of the evening to relax before dinner.
As today is Mrs. Seamon-Ingalls’ birthday, I took her and Wilson to a local fancy restaurant. Our walk home along the beach was capped off by hearing the gleeful voices of our kids in the common room at Yatule.
Super short hotel stays are always a little surreal. We were up at 5 and back in the same three vans by a little after 5:30am. The drive back to AKL was easy and the kids did so well getting through checking in, dropping off their bags, getting through security, and getting to our gate. We then had some time to relax before our flight took off for Fiji!
Once again Air New Zealand was amazing. Some kids slept but it seems like many of us stayed awake. A little under three hours later we touched down at NAN! I was able to immediately get in contact with our local guide, Fredi, who sent me great info on how to easily find him on the other side of customs. Everyone got through, we picked up our bags, were warmly welcomed by the local staff, then met Fredi who took us to our bus.
During the 45 minute drive to Yatule, Fredi told us a bit about what we were seeing along the drive — A Hindu temple, sugar cane farms, new building projects — as well as info about the history of Fiji. About 1km from the resort we swapped into a smaller van which could more easily navigate the roads, and moments later we got to Yatule!
We were once again enthusiastically welcomed by the staff. This time with music, juice, and more shell necklaces. Our bags soon followed and we went off to lunch at the resort. We packed in a ton of food and then the kids were given a couple hours of free time to swim, relax in the rooms, or read. I joined the fun in the warm ocean. Some rain rolled in which pushed us inside, but it quickly abated.
At 6pm we all gathered up for a Cava welcome ceremony which the whole group dove right into! Aster was named chief and Sako his assistant. There was lots of cheering, clapping, and smiles. We then spent another 45 minutes relaxing in the main area as the sun went down. Once it was a dark we were treated to a very energetic dance performance that included fire spinning and a celebration of our birthday people — Sako today and Mrs. Seamon-Ingalls tomorrow… well, and Alyssa, who also may have had her birthday today! The performance was capped off by spinning some wild huge circles of sparks on the beach!
We then transitions back into the dining area were we again had one long table. The meal was full of lively conversation and a huge amount of yummy food. Heavy rain came down for part of the meal, which gave the whole area a cozy atmosphere. The meal only came to an end when we all got to sing happy birthday to Sako and watch as he blew out the candles procured by Parker. Everyone was then sent off to get to sleep as quickly as possibly. That shouldn’t be too hard given the length of our day!
Tomorrow we’re off to ride jet boats and see the interior of the island! Woohoo!
Everything is relative, so waking up this morning at 5:30 in order for everyone to be ready for a 6:30 breakfast seemed normal? Kind of. By a little after 6:30 we were across the street having breakfast at the hotel restaurant, which was humming with lots of other people who were up early getting ready for their day. We packed in lots of fuel and by 7:30 we were all checked out and on the road for Wanaka.
The morning was damp and we had some rain, but by the time we got to Wanaka 90 minutes later we had partly cloudy skies and a cool breeze. The sky was clear and we could see across the lake and deep into the surrounding mountains. At the base of our track we found out that my assessment of the trail was a little off… Well, it was very well maintained, but it was lots of switchbacks. So, we dug in and were treated to better and better views as we climbed higher up the slopes.
We spread out on the trail with each group moving at their own pace. Some sheep and cows were nearby as we climbed, and by the time we turned around we could see for miles into the valley and over the town. The walk down was quick and everyone was a bit tired as we got back onto the bus and drove the short distance to downtown Wanaka.
Everyone then got 90 minutes to get lunch and also pick up something for dinner. The town was so much fun to explore. Lots of great shops and many food options, with stunning views everywhere. It’s quite a place! By 2pm we were all back on the bus and most of us slept on the 90 minute ride back to Queenstown where Bob dropped us off at the airport. After saying goodbye to Bob and Kate and enjoying a little more time in the sun, we checked in, cleared security for the 4th time, and relaxed at the gate before our flight.
Once again Air New Zealand was a smooth ride and we touched down in Auckland a little after 8pm where we were immediately greeted by our driver for the night and tomorrow morning, Abdul. Our bags promptly showed up and we only had a short walk to three waiting vans. We packed in and about 15 minutes later we arrived at our hotel. During the ride I chatted with Abdul who’s from Fiji and he gave me some tips and suggestions.
We had a quick group meeting before everyone was sent up to their rooms for the night. Check in happened at 10, and everyone was encouraged to get to sleep immediately. Tomorrow we’re up early to head to the airport… and fly off to Fiji!
Early mornings can be a little tough, but we did manage to get everyone up and out of the hotel by 6:15am this morning. There was a glitch in the morning breakfast pickup, which meant we had to make a quick stop about 90 minutes into our ride to Milford Sound to pick up food. Back on the road we kept meandering through epic farmland surrounded by towering mountains and rolling hills. The kids slept for most of the first half half of the 4-hour journey and a good portion of the second. As we expected, there was a little rain along the way. The last stretch was through narrow valleys, snaking roadways, and last through a 2km tunnel!
Lucky for us, the light rain was completely done by the time we pulled in front of the boar station. Milford Sound is really just a port and boat terminal, at the end of the Sound. We had a few minutes to get collected and then we board our boat with about 80 other people. About 20 minutes later we pulled out into the Sound for a two hour journey that too us to the edge of the Tasman sea and back!
Along the way we were treated to an absolutely stunning and surreal landscape. The mountains were steep, covered in lush green, and absolutely webbed with epic waterfalls that has been built up by a couple days of rain. We could go onto the upper decks of the boat to get super clear views and enjoy the sparkling fresh air. One of the crew was telling us all about what we were seeing, which added to the depth of the experience. On the way back in the boat crept close enough to a large waterfall for us to be splashed by spray. By that time we were getting some direct sun and the cool breeze complimented the warm rays.
Back at the port we had about 20 minutes to explore and relax. I took the opportunity to walk everyone out to the end of the rock wave break and take a group photo before we bussed up for the return journey. We once again got great views and the weather held. We made one short stop on the way back and ended up going directly to dinner in Queenstown. We devoured our pizza and burgers, as well as sundaes. Of note, tonight is was Bob the bus driver’s birthday! Wow!
After dinner most of the kids walked back to the hotel and a few came with me and Mrs. Seamon-Ingalls (and Wilson!) to a local shopping center. Back at the hotel we had a group meeting at 9 where we journaled and went over the plan for our next day. Tomorrow we hike in the morning and fly back to Aukland!
