Rose Bay Bungalows, Sanwir, Malekula Visitor Ratings

Rose Bay Bungalows is the successor of the Wala Island Resort. It is located by a black sand beach near Sanwir village, just north of Walarano. The Small Nambas kastom dancing and bush walking are popular with visitors. Wala island with white sand beaches, reefs and five natsaros is another good excursion if there are no cruise ships (one or two ships visit each month). The coral is also quite nice towards Walarano. Nial Botanical Conservation Area is an unusual attraction in the area. Finally, the meals at Rose Bay can be outstanding.

Costs and Booking
Rose Bay charges 2000 Vatu per person per night for accommodation, including breakfast and dinner. Lunches are 450 Vatu. A kastom dance performance is 3500 Vatu. Guided bush walking is 1000 Vatu per day. All expenses are payable in Vatu cash. Exchange Rates.

The owner/manager Peter Fidelio has an office in Norsup near the MCA store (phone 48602) and may soon have email. Languages spoken are Bislama, English and French.

Accommodation and Transport
Rose Bay has three bungalows built with local materials. One is a long bungalow with four rooms (two single beds in each), one is a family bungalow and the last one is a double bungalow (one double bed). Mosquito nets are provided and the doors are lockable (bring your own small padlock). Kerosene lamps are used for lighting.

Each bungalow has modern, western flush toilets and showers. The long bungalow has separate male and female facilities. Ground water is used in the bathrooms. Bath towels and toilet paper are provided. Bring your own soap.

The food at Rose Bay is a pleasant surprise. Dinners may include lobster or steak and local style barbeques on the beach can be arranged. Breakfasts are tea or instant coffee with bread and fruit. To save a few Vatu you can buy bread at the store in Sanwir for lunch. Rainwater is used for drinking.

Services, Suggestions and Transport
Walarano and Sanwir are quite densely populated and developed with telephones, stores, kava bars, a local night club with dances on some nights (it's bound to be wild) and several trucks.

See our Malekula page for more transport information. If you're coming down from Tam-Tam Bungalows near Vao it's possible to walk to Rose Bay in less than two hours.

First surveyed: December 2004 by Stephen.
Last updated: January 2005 by Stephen.