Tasman Empire Airways Limited (yes TEAL!) operated between 1940 and 1965. It’s main run was trans Tasman but between 1951 and 1960 it took over a route known as the Coral Route. The route followed a loop from Auckland (NZ) with stops in Fiji (Suva), Samoa (Apia), Cook Island (Aitutaki) and Tahiti (Papeete). Due to issues in Tahiti the loop was serviced by seaplanes landing and refuelling in lagoons. Celebrities who took this voyage included John Wayne, Cary Grant, Marlon Brando and Queen Elizabeth 11. Luxury travel then was done in style!
The first stop on our lagoon cruise day is Akaiami Island at the beach where the planes landed to refuel. In those days passengers could relax on lounges on the beach and go swimming. Marlon Brando came back here to stay while filming Mutiny on the Bounty in 1962. The remnants of the dock are slowly being reclaimed by the sea.
Motu Rako Island is our next stop as we explore the tropical forest passing by Black Rock beach.
The “piece de resistance” was being dropped off the back of the boat near the other reef in among coral gardens tropical fish giant clams and a school of massive giant trevally darting around and between us.
One Foot Island is our lunch stop and tie for more snorkelling. The name of this island has a poignant backstory. It’s only inhabitants were a father and his son. Facing a hostile tribe approaching the island the father instructed his son to walk along the beach to hide behind the massive aerial roots of a pandanus tree. As the son walked the father walked in the son’s footprints conveying the impression in the sand that he was the only inhabitant. The invaders found the father and killed him leaving the island not suspecting the existence of the son.
