Explore Tahiti this Summer

THERE are more reasons to #explore The Islands of #Tahiti in 2017, and to island-hop the legendary islands, atolls and motus, as a range of dynamic events celebrating the French Polynesian culture and heritage are there to be experienced. The following is snapshot of happenings which incorporate the very best of Tahitian mana, the French Polynesian life force that embraces us all:

World Va’a Outrigger Canoe Race (June 27th – 30th June) - The International Va’a Federation is organizing the very first world edition of Va’a long distance race in Tahiti. This new competition will see Polynesian outrigger canoe races competing every couple of years to become the International Federation World champions of long distance va’a racing.

Heiva i Tahiti (July 6th – 22nd) - One of the most important cultural events in The Islands of Tahiti. This popular community celebration has been a yearly highlight for more than 125 years. In July, visitors are invited to join during events, shows, rituals and contests. The event agenda offers mind-blowing dance shows, songs but also traditional sports. Communities representing the various archipelagos of The Islands of Tahiti gather in Papeete at that time of the year to present their arts, techniques and know-how during handcraft contests and exhibitions.

Billabong Pro Tahiti (August 11th – 22nd) - 20 years ago, Teahupoo was hosting the first official edition of a surf contest. At the time, it was called “Black Pearl Horue Pro” and was a stage of the Championship Tour qualifying series. Hawaiian Andy Iron, then only aged 18, won the first edition. The Teahupoo surf spot became famous worldwide later thanks to its massive waves reaching up to 13 feet.

26th Hawaiki Nui Va’a in Huahine, Raiatea, Taha’a and Bora Bora (November 1st - 3rd) - The Hawaiki Nui Va'a is an international contest of Polynesian outrigger canoes (called va’a) where over a hundred canoes gather in November each year starting in Huahine in the Leeward Islands. It is without a doubt the most difficult V6 canoe race in the world with 80 miles to paddle in only three days. 

Marquesas Art Festival (December 18th – 21st) - The Marquesas Art Festival is a cultural event organized periodically in the Marquesas archipelago. The festival is a celebration of Marquesan and Polynesian cultures through shows and contests ranging from dance, songs, sports, traditional dishes to tattoos, tapas and carvings.

IronMana 2017 (November) - This one-of-a-kind concept combines several sporting events aimed at promoting The Islands of Tahiti and their Mana through multi-disciplinary water contests.

The Bora Bora Liquid Festival will see athletes compete in water related contests such as open water swimming, prone paddle, stand up paddle, kayaking and outrigger canoe races while the Tahiti Nui Holopuni Channel Crossing consists of navigating over 248 miles of ocean onboard a traditional sailing outrigger canoe from Tahiti to Bora Bora through the islands of Moorea, Raiatea, Taha’a and Huahine.

The Waterman Tahiti Tour involves three disciplines, namely stand up paddle boarding, open water swimming and prone paddleboarding.


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Treasure Beach

FROM October 18 – 20, 2016, the 9th Annual South Coast Hook & Line Canoe Tournament will be taking place at Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth, #Jamaica.

The tournament is a 3-day competition during which local fishermen vie for prizes by catching the largest fish using only traditional fishing methods of a simple hook and line. No fancy yachts or first world equipment are to be seen at this grass roots event.

The weekend also includes other exciting events such as a boat race, local talent show, fish fry and community beach party. The competition will feature environmental exhibits and entertainment.

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Travel shorts …

STAY SAFE: Potential risks are being highlighted for travellers planning to take adventure tours. Britain’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) has teamed up with the British Standards Institution to offer advice on how #staysafe.

A checklist has been produced by the FCO to help people prepare for trips which might include activities ranging from deep-sea diving and bungee jumping to mountain biking and canoeing. The guide can be downloaded at www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/432872/adventure_checklist.pdf

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/42274165@N00/7615187330">Bungee Jump - Interlaken, Switzerland</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license), http://www.flickr.com/photos/36196762@N04/5081186618">Warrior Adventure Quest: let the healing begin - FMWRC - US Army - 101008</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license), http://www.flickr.com/photos/75885890@N00/428424968">Trials Biking</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/">(license)

Life’s a beach drive

AUSTRALIA’S Great Beach Drive has been launched to provide 125 miles of motoring along Queensland’s Sunshine and Fraser coasts.

The full journey covers two UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, a World Heritage-listed Marine Park, and the largest sand island in the world.

Australia’s Nature Coast, which has been established by the Sunshine and Fraser Coast tourism organizations, has put together an itinerary involving six drives 

covering the region, which can be tailored to meet the interests and time span of visitors.

While subject to tidal and weather conditions, the Great Beach Drive is suitable for most experienced off-road drivers. The sections or the entire route can be covered in anything from half a day, a long weekend to a full week.

The drive starts in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast, where travellers can complement the sophisticated lifestyle of the beachside village with a kayak, canoe, or cruise of the Noosa Everglades.

They can then take to their four-wheel drive for a trek on the ‘beach highway’ to Rainbow Beach, along which travellers will have the chance to see wildlife including whales, dolphins, birds of prey, kangaroos, and monitor lizards. Rainbow Beach is a base for paragliding, hang-gliding, sky diving, surfing, fishing, and horse-riding.

There is diving at Wolf Rock, and Double Island Point has the world’s longest right-hand surfing break and an 1884 lighthouse. Fraser Island is accessed by ferry and has a feast of 4WD routes. Back on the mainland, Hervey Bay has cosmopolitan dining, shopping and accommodation, and sheltered waters for sailing and fishing.

Visitors can return to Sunshine Coast Airport or Brisbane via the gold rush town of Gympie and market towns of Eumundi and Cooroy.

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Picture Credit: Rainbow Beach, Queensland by S. Newrick - Own work via Wikimedia Commons

Snowdonia highlights

A REGION in North Wales with a national park of 823 square miles, Snowdonia is known for its breathtaking views, rocky terrains, seascapes, and hidden valleys. 

These are some of the delights on offer: 

Explore an old quarry, try your hand at canoeing, or discover the magic of Coed Dinorwig at Padarn Country Park. This attraction offers everything from steam trains to scuba diving. www.visitsnowdonia.info/padarn_country_park-108.aspx

Running for more than seven miles from Cardigan Bay through the mountains of the Southern Snowdonia National Park, Talyllyn is the world's first preserved railway. 

Explore the steam heritage and the inspiration behind the stories of Thomas the Tank Engine while soaking up the classic rural landscape. www.talyllyn.co.uk

Ride the waves at the National White Water Centre. Take on the waves and try your hand at white water rafting at The National White Water Centre on the wild River Tryweryn. www.ukrafting.co.uk

At Llechwedd, Zip World will give you the chance to race down a series of three wires, totalling more than five miles of zip line and reaching up to 70mph. Unique to Llechwedd, the area combines adrenaline-inducing action with fascinating culture and Snowdonia mountain views. www.zipworld.co.uk

Ride a state-of-the-art RIB along the Menai Strait and across to Anglesey with pick-up points at Caernarfon, Menai Bridge, Beaumaris, and Holyhead. The boats are quiet but powerful … expect to hit speeds of 50mph. www.ribride.co.uk

Journey to the rooftop of Wales on the Snowdon Mountain Railway, which winds 3,560 feet up to the mountain top. www.snowdonrailway.co.uk

www.visitsnowdonia.info

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Picture Credit: "Llyn Padarn sunrise" by RICHARD OUTRAM from Wales (Through the trees....  Uploaded by PDTillman) via Wikimedia Commons; "Edward Thomas at Tywyn Wharf - 2005-04-29 - (Talyllyn Railway)" by © Optimist on the run, 2005 / via Wikimedia Commons