The Plan

Friends and family, 2013 will see us cross the Pacific Ocean and we would love for you to join us en route. To get an idea of where we will be going and when, see our proposed itinerary below. If you are interested in coming out, just check dates with us prior to booking so that we can confirm we will definitely be in that country. Our passage is entirely dependent on Mother Nature and as such, dates may change depending on when we get a good weather window.

February /March – Panama City and Galapagos Islands

• The crossing from Panama to Galapagos Islands will include stopping at the Las Perlas Islands (day sail from mainland Panama) and a 1 week sail from Las Perlas to Galapagos Islands.
• In the Galapagos Islands we'll take day trips and make the most of the world class scuba diving to swim with whale sharks, seals and iguana's.
• Islands we want to visit on the boat include: Santa Cruz, San Cristobal and Isla Isabela with a trip to Floreana Island (Post office bay) to see if Nyati is still written there.

April /May – Marquesas Islands (part of French Polynesia)

• Galapagos Islands to Marquesas is a 30 day sail (ish) non stop. Crossing time really depends on the weather and whether we get stuck in the doldrums.
• All those pictures you see of the South Pacific are mostly taken here (green mountains) or Bora Bora (huts on stilts on the sea).
• We want to go to Fatu Hiva first then on to Hiva Oa and then Nuku Hiva.

June /July – Tuamotu Archipelago

• Getting more remote as we head further West, this place is probably too difficult for anyone we know to fly to and where we want to spend a lot of time.
• Renowned for its black pearls and beautiful atolls!
• The list of islands is staggering, needless to say we want to visit them all but will end up visiting but a few. We need to read the guide books...

July /August – Society Islands

• The Society Islands include Tahiti, Bora Bora and Moorea. Probably the most well known of the South Pacific Islands.
• Most expensive place, populated and touristy – albeit beautiful, I doubt we will stay too long in the major islands but might spend some time in the outer islands like Moorea, Raiatea and so forth.

August /September– Cook Islands

• Need to read the guide books some more to decide what we will be doing here but the major stops include Rarotonga and hopefully Palmerston Atoll as it's very remote.

September /October – Tonga

• En route to Tonga is Niue – one of the world's smallest self-governing states with water visibility of over 30m!
• Tonga is a developing country and the only kingdom in the Southern Hemisphere.
• We'll work our way down the chain of Vava'u Islands to the Ha'apai Group and then on to Fiji.
• If (and its a big IF) there is time we would like to visit Samoa before we go to Fiji. But this will be very time and weather dependent.

October /November– Fiji

• Excited to go here as we plan to venue hunt for our wedding!
• Aim is to spend a good month cruising this archipelago.

November /December – New Zealand

• Don't quote us on this but our plan at the moment is to end up in New Zealand. As always on Orion, we caveat this as our plans are always changing!

Anyone reading this with suggestions of where to go, please get in touch!!