WINTER CRUISE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 73, 13 April 1937, Page 15

WINTER CRUISE

Maunganui': Programme Encouraged by the very successful cruise in th© South Sea Islands which was mad© by the Monowai last winter, the Union Steam Ship Co. has announced that in August of this year, the Maunganui will will make a much more extensive trip to the isiands, touching the Cook Group, Tahiti, Samoa and the Tonga group, also the islands of Moorea and Bora Bora whicli have never before been tisited by a cruise steamer. The Maunganui will start on the cruise from Auckland on Tuesday, August 3, and will make first for Rarotonga, the principal island of the Cook Group, arriving at the port of Avarua on the moraing of Saturday, August 7, and leaVing again the same evening. Next will be a call at Papeete, the capital of Tahiti, at which port the Maunganui will arrive on the morning of Monday, August 9, Ieaving again early on th© 11th. for Moorea, a lovely island .close to Tahiti. Thursday, August 12 wiil be spent at Bora Bora, one of the Leeward Islands of the Society Group. Bora Bora, like Moorea, is off the usual trade routes and the natives are much more prim.itive in their ways than in the more frequented islands. Apia, the historical capital 0f Samoa, will be reached ou August 10, and two days will be spent in beautiful surl'oundings with the added interest of the charming native life and th© associations witli Robert Louis Stevenson. From Apia the steamer goes to Vavau, arriving on the morning of Friday, August 20, and Ieaving again that evening. During the day a visit will be made by boat to the cathedral-like water-eave known as the Swallows' Cave. On Saturday, Augaist 21, the ship will reach Nukualofa, the capita] of Tonga, where there will be opportunities for motor runs acrosB the island of Tongatabu to many points of interest, incJuding the mysterious Haamunga (a tnlithon like those of Stonehenge) t the Langis or Tornbs of the Sacred Kings, the BlowboJes and the Grove of the Flyiug Foxes. The deparfcure for Auckland wilJ be made in the evening and the Maunganui will arrive there on Wednesdav, Augst 25.