Malo e lelei Vava'u - Hello Vava'u!

World ARC 2025-26: Tonga

Malo e lelei Vava'u - Hello Vava'u! The Vava’u Island group in the Kingdom of Tonga is a spectacular tropical paradise in the Pacific Ocean.  For the last couple of weeks, it’s played host to the World ARC rally boats, who have been exploring anchorages across the 40 islands.

Some islands are ringed by white sand beaches, while others have tropical forests, sea level caves, and dramatic limestone cliffs with breathtaking vistas. Highlights of the stay in Vava’u have included: 

Ene'io Botanical Gardens

The beautiful Ene'io Botanical Gardens have been lovingly cultivated by Haniteli, who, along with partner Lucy, has given it over 50 years of conservation and natural growth, to turn the 22 acres into their personal ‘Garden of Eden’.

Everyone enjoyed the tour led by Lucy.  After a sumptuous lunch, the tour culminated with the local school children showcasing some of their traditional dances.

World Cruising Club is very happy to be a longtime supporter of the Ene'io Botanical Garden, and it was pure enjoyment to wander along the 'World ARC Way', funded by the organisation and rally sailors.

Prizegiving Party

Mango Restaurant & Bar in Vava’u was the venue for a superb prizegiving party. A local DJ played music, and the arriving sailors were greeted with either a rum punch or a shell of Tongan cava.

For Leg 5, from Bora Bora to Tonga - which included a 72-hour stop in Niue - the awards were a mixture of fun placings and prizes, giving everybody the chance to win something, which is what the rally is all about.