| Nerr
Bungalows, Vureas Bay, Vanua Lava
Visitor
Ratings
Nerr
Bungalows is at Vureas Bay, South Vanua Lava. The bay offers
a good anchorage with deep, calm water and a black sand
beach. Most yachts visit from June until October each year.
At other times there will probably be no visitors. Southwest
Vanua Lava is mountainous and wet with plenty of rainforest
and several rivers. The forest on the hills around Vureas
Bay is good for bird watching. It's a three
of four hour walk from Sola to Vureas Bay (see our Walking
Vanua Lava page).
Costs
Nerr Bungalows is owned and run by Chief Godfrey Mannar
and his wife Veronica. They charge 2500 Vatu per person
per night including all meals. The service is good and there
are no surcharges. Languages spoken are Bislama and English.
Expenses are payable in Vatu cash. Exchange
Rates.
Booking
If you're planning to stay at Nerr it's a good idea to call
ahead. There's a HF radio in the medical clinic at Veutumboso
village. Your hosts in Sola should be able to make a call
on your behalf or you can see John Ware at the Torba Tourism
Office in Sola (38550).
Accommodation
and Food
Nerr has three bungalows. One has a double bed and two have
a pair of single beds in each. The bungalows have Pandanus
mats on sand floors, bamboo walls and Natangura palm thatch
roofs. Mosquito nets are provided. The doors don't lock.
Kerosene lamps are used for lighting.
The
toilet is a western-style dry pit. The haos
blong swim was rotten and abandoned in May 2004 (to
be rebuilt). Shower's were taken outside under an open pipe
fed by a mountain stream. Toilet paper, bathing towel and
soap are supplied. Drinking water is available.
Good
aelan kaekae
is served at Nerr Bungalows. Lunch or dinner may include
fish or chicken with rice and alean
kaekae (yam,
kumala,
breadfruit,
water taro,
lap-lap,
fried banana, aelan
kabis) and cooked paw-paw
for dessert. Breakfasts are usually home-baked bread with
tea or instant coffee.
Transport
Other than walking it
may be possible to charter a speedboat in Sola to Vureas
Bay for about 6000 Vatu one-way. There are no speedboats
at Vureas Bay so plan your return carefully. Copra
boats call in at Vureas Bay infrequently. It's interesting
to watch them loading copra.
Services
and Suggestions
Veutumboso, on top of the escarpment above Vureas Bay is
a large village of around 800 people. There are basic shops,
a medical clinic and secondary school. There's no telephone.
There's no electricity except at the school and the clinic
which have solar power systems.
South
Vanua Lava is a wet place so there can be a lot of mosquitos.
Bring mosquito repellent.
First
surveyed: May 2004 by Stephen.
Last updated: June 2004 by Stephen.
|
