Neiafu harbor is a peaceful spot. There are a couple of dozen moorings out here that cost ~$8 a day, which actually makes life a lot better in this bay because of the depths. Our mooring is sitting in 100′ of water. If everyone were trying to squeeze into the small bit of shallower water available we’d all be piled on top of each other. The harbor itself is completely enclosed, and small enough that even in heavy winds the waves would have little time to build. As far as I’m concerned it would be a suitable hurricane hole. It’s also nice that the waterfront restaurants have huge dinghy docks specifically for the cruisers, whether you are eating there or not at the time. Very cruiser friendly town.

Having lunch at The Hideaway, a floating restaurant off the town. I appreciate a place that only serves one thing (fish and chips) and does it to perfection. Top off some good food with cold tap beer and a floating trampoline and you’ve got yourself a recipe for happy customers, though I’m guessing a floating restaurant might not be a recipe for a profitable business. Regardless, we had a good time.

Another popular restaurant. While we were talking to the manager, from Australia, it struck me that every single business in town is foreign owned. About eight different restaurants, a deli, a dive shop, a chandlery, and all of the groceries. It’s probably not an unusual phenomenon in the South Pacific, but it does kind of make you wonder why.

Yet another Australian owned restaurant on the hill. Good food, and a convenient place to land the dinghy for a stroll to the Veimumuni Cave.

Rugby pitch that hasn’t seen a match in a while.

Veimumuni Cave is “famous” for having a freshwater pool inside. It’s a place where locals used to come and bathe way back in the day. Today it appears to be a little visited spot on the south end of the island.

Kind of dark and creepy, but Lowe and I couldn’t pass up a cave without at least a quick swim.

Fruit bats are everywhere in the trees along the waterfront. It’s fun to watch them land as they come screaming at a branch, grab it with their feet, and swing wildly upside down. We enjoy watching them from the water, but not sure I’d be thrilled about having fifty of them in a tree above my house.