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| Client Testimonials, Solomon Islands |
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Zipolo Habu Resort
Hello Rachel,
Thank you for the welcome home. We did indeed have a wonderful holiday at Zipolo Habu. The whole experience was great. We caught sufficient fish, the accommodation was fine, and the food fantastic. Joe has an excellent team of guides and staff there and is to be commended for the smooth running of his resort. We are all having serious withdrawal symptoms being back at work. Unfortunately Roger has had to spend a few days in hospital as he got a coral cut on one knee which went really bad. Hopefully he will go home today.
Have to say that John Warden is a great asset to you. Having him meet us at the airport on both legs of the journey was a real bonus. He facilitated fast transfer both ways. When we were being driven from one terminal to the next (admittedly a short distance) we saw people who were booked with other agents having to walk, dragging their luggage behind them. In the high temperature and 99% humidity this was not pleasant. We therefore arrived in the queue first, got checked in first and had time to be taken to the yacht club by John and returned to the airport in good time for our flight.
Thanks again for your help in arranging the trip. We will be back!
Best Regards,
Barry, APRIL 2010
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MARAVAGI RESORT
Hi Rachel
Had an awesome trip. We scored some swell with the biggest day being around 5 foot maybe a few bigger ones. We all got heap of waves with at least 2 surfs each day. We generally surfed the left of the island in the morning on the run out tide came in for some lunch the out to surf the right hander in the middle on the low tide.
The guys at Maravagi really looked after us with plenty of cold beers and great food (huge meals and plenty of fresh fruit). The whole crew are really keen for their guests to have a great time.
We also had a great visit to the school on the Friday arvo. We all organised to take some items over to help out which included 2 full soccer team uniforms and soccer balls, learning aids such as time table, addition, subtraction, division posters for the classrooms, stationary and a laptop computer. The teachers were so stoked with what we had brought they organised a special assemble with all the students who sang for us and then had a game of soccer with there new uniforms on. Lots of smiling faces and very humbling on our part.
Maravagi is a great place to visit, surf and chill out i would definitely recommend it. Not for your hard core surfer but your average surfer - bloody unreal. I might even go back for a third time.
Thanks for organising a great trip Rachel, there are definitely plenty of great memories etched in our minds that will never be forgotten.
Thanks
Wayne, Greg, Gerard & Scott, March 2010
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Mavo Lodge
We all had a fantastic time. The locals at the resort treated us like kings. The bure style accommodation was basic but always kept very tidy and clean .The fishing was great. On the pelagic side we caught GT's , Spanish mackerel, Wahoo, and Barracuta. The bottom fishing was awesome with a huge variety of fish, more than I can mention, some of the fish we caught I didn't know even existed. The main bottom fish were Red emperor, Rosy jobfish, Pearl pearch, GT's, and Longtail Snapper.
The food mainly consisted of our daily catch and fresh fruit and vegetables. All prepared and cooked beautiful (way more than we could eat on every serving). We also had 2 traditional feasts which is called a bon bon. This is where they put hot coals under the ground, cover them with coral and cook the on top. The result is fish with a beautiful smoky flavour.
We also visited a waterfall, and a bat cave one day (I recommend anyone who goes there to visit the waterfall, It's worth the journey). The medicine river is also another place to go during the hot part of the day because it is sheltered and the water is cool.
I recommend to everyone that goes there to interact with the locals, because although they are friendly people they are also very shy until you get to know them. These people are also 7 day Adventist and very religious. There is grace before every meal and the children sing religious songs.
The children are beautiful, so make sure you bring plenty of lollies and balloons because this is a real treat to them.
On the second night the local children from the island came to the resort and dressed up in their traditional head hunting clothing and put on a great show for us.
There was also plenty more things that we did but would be rambling on for ages.
The humidity was quite uncomfortable at times over there but manageable.
My partner and I are thinking of arranging a trip back there in 6 months time through you guys.
I will endeavour to get some photo's together and send them to you
Cheers
Damien Woolley, DECEMBER 09
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Wilderness Lodge & Tetepare Island
Hi Nick,
First week back at work so I have been trying to catch up again but I've been meaning to email you to say a big thank you! We had an amazing time and it was a really memorable holiday.
Wilderness was the best food and everyone was so nice. It was also really rewarding to be in amongst the village so we could go for a walk in either direction along the 'main road' and see the sights and meet the locals. Biche was also very cool. We took a bundle of goodies for the school and they loved it. Also left a package for Peava with the Wilderness girls.
Tetepare was absolutely incredible. Had the best snorkel of our lives in the Marine Protected Area in the passage out there....saw a Dugong on the reef, turtles galore and plenty of curious sharks ! The set up there is simple and there is less ability to do things on your own but the guides were good and we went croc spotting (successfully) and did the turtle tagging thing. They have recently built a second leaf house lodge and the marine protection area is working really well.
Even Honiara was fun. We had a couple of good snorkels on the wrecks and did an interesting little war tour with Joss' sister and her husband.
Anyway, thanks again! We both really appreciate your help making things run so smoothly for us and all of your efforts organising our stay. It was an awesome experience and I was very reluctant to come home.
A pic from Wilderness and one from Tetepare are attached if you are interested.
cheers, Chris.
Chris Engle, Nov 2008
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Mavo Lodge & Wilderness Lodge
Thank you, we had a wonderful time!!! Absolutely Brilliant. Would be one of the best holidays in the islands we've had.
We had a great time with him and all the staff there!!! Had the most awesome picnic on Picnic Island. Fishing was great!!
No doubt Tony would have emailed you, he along with Skipper Ramon caught a Sailfish. The fishing was great all round!!
Wilderness was even more amazing, for me there was more walking, snorkelling etc to do there but still very much enjoyed Mavo.
Our boat ride took about 6hrs to Wilderness, tides low and sea a bit rough but was well worth every minute and Steward did an awesome job driving the boat!!!
Called into Franks Island for some supplies on the way, cool place.
Big boat and the woodfire for the shower were out of action while at Wilderness, but neither was a problem!!
Fishing on the smaller boat was great and it's too hot to have a hot shower anyway.
They were working on getting the wood fire fixed for the shower while we were there.
The fishing and snorkelling was awesome!!
Consensus at the moment is that we will be going back to the Solomons next year!!
Connie McLeod from NZ, Aug 2008
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Maravagi Lodge
Hi Kristine,
Thanks for the welcome home. The first week of our trip was sensational.
We arrived to perfect 4-5ft uncrowded waves and these continued well into our 2nd and third day. After this the swell dropped down to the 2-3ft mark heading into our first weekend but still super fun nonetheless. No one wanted to be photographer whilst the surf was good so we've only got pics of the smaller surf. I've attached some for you, and let me know if you would like higher resolutions of these for your website?
Don Cooper
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Photos and word Don Cooper Feb 2009
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Nick,
The waves were around 5 - 6" on the first day. The rest of the week was great, then it dropped to about 2" the last couple of days.
The locals were amazing and the food was fantastic.
Joe Lopez from Sydney, Jan 2008
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Trip was great, what a place, the boat trip was a blast, 2 hours in a small boat with six people stacked with boards, bags & Supplies - Great fun.
Had a ball, surf was good, water fantastic and great company.
Ian, January 2008
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HI Nick,
 We had an awesome time at Maravagi. The trip exceeded all our expectations and we were very impressed with all facets of the trip.
Everything went smoothly from the flights to taxi pick up and boat trip. We were made feel very welcome at the resort and the service
was impeccable. The food was something else and they were always willing to oblige with boat trips or walks on the island.
WE really enjoyed being in the village and the islanders are so friendly and helpful.
We were blessed with great waves and a pulse of swell that was a bit big to ride out the front but made for some great photos.
Thanks for all your help in organising the trip for us.
WE have a lifetime of memories and plenty of pics to enjoy.
We would like to return again one day to the island.
Regards
Marisa, Peter, Sarah and Clinton Farlow - December 2008
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Sanbis Resort & Maravagi Lodge
Hey Nick,
A bit late I know but just a short note to say thanks again for
organising our Solo's trip - especially with such short notice.
Trip was awesome as usual - great surf and great people. Maravagi was
great and staff were awesome. Had heaps of fun for only a short
visit. Waves were fun if not epic. Do you know how the Sunny Coast
guys went? Just wondering if they got more swell after we left as the
swell really dropped on our last day.
Sanbis was the highlight - great resort, great staff and a great
host. Hans was more than helpful and I would not hesitate in
recommending Sanbis for a surf trip. Having a fast, reliable boat at
our disposal, with a knowledgeable driver, was a real bonus and added
hours to our surfing time - actually put in 7 straight hours on our
last day!! Paillonge provided for us every day of the trip - 2 to 4ft
with the odd 6 footer every now and then. Heaps of fun.
I have attached some photos from that last trip - nothing spectacular
but couldn't bring myself to stay in the boat for long enough to get
better ones. The waves in the photos were actually only the small to
mid sized waves - sets were a good 2ft bigger.
Cheers,
Brett
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Papatura Island Retreat
HI Nick,
Had a great trip! Weather was good almost every day. Surf to 4 to ft most days, 2 to 3 ft at the end.
Your parents are doing a great job over there – they need a medal!
Accommodation was good and food was good.
Surf was great – we mostly surfed Coombas (the same as the dog) found by the last group. A long left on the next reef over from Dolphin left. Fantastic walls with wrap around end section which closes on the reef. I got a bit carried away on the last surf of the trip and did the big back hand reo on that section but it sucked dry on the reef – head first onto the reef and dragged across on my back – came up thinking you idiot , what have you done. Luckily cut and bruised head, lacerated back but no stitches needed. Your Mum patched me up well for the trip home. Perhaps you could call the last section of the wave doctors after what happened to me and what guys might need if they are not careful!!
We surfed AJ at a solid 6ft and PT’s at 6ft plus which was an experience. Neil has some great photos of the wave. We had to pinch ourselves half the time being only 3 of us in the water with perfect waves and no surfer for 2000km.
All up a great project you have got going there, would love to see it when it is all finished.
Cheers Brenton
Dr Brenton Schuetz from Port Macquarie, March 2009
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