Visitors to Samoa are spoiled for swimming choices. Photo / Shutterstock
Visitors to Samoa are spoiled for swimming choices. Photo / Shutterstock
Fresh water or salt, the bathing options in Samoa are heavenly, says Elisabeth Easther
It's not hard to find a spot for a dip in sunny Samoa. Made up of two main islands and eight smaller ones, there's a whole lot of water lapping at these shores. To help you narrow down some likely spots to lay your towel, here are five super swimming spots to consider.
1. The beach at Lalomanu
No trip to Samoa's main island of Upolu is complete without a trip to Lalomanu Beach. Depending on the day, it could be as calm as a millpond or a splendid crashing surf break and with rustic beach fales dotted along the shore, your fellow swimmers will be a good variety of locals and tourists.
Seated on the beach you'll enjoy views across the bay out to Nu'utele Island (an uninhabited land mass). You'll want to have your mask and snorkel on hand because this is a protected marine reserve and the life beneath the surface is astounding for its beauty and colour. If visibility is good you could float above the coral for hours, or if you prefer the ocean from above, kayaks are available for hire.
Admittedly, this stretch of coast was battered during the 2009 tsunami but the recovery is now pretty much complete. Stay the night in a fale or simply stop off for lunch; this place is the epitome of laid-back.
2. Sua Ocean Trench
If you're looking for something novel, as in unlike anywhere else, head to Lotofaga Village where you'll discover Sua Trench (which translates rather unromantically to mean "big hole"). The locals believe this is where the spirits of the recently departed take their final leap and the villagers will tell stories of how sometimes in the dark of night they hear people crying and calling out.
During the day however, it's not at all spooky although the long wooden ladder you have to climb down to enter the water is sure to send tingles up your spine. Lashed to the wall of this steep-sided swimming hole, it takes every ounce of courage to not only descend the rungs, but to allow your children to do it too. Once you're safely on the little wooden stage, it's time to leap into the deep blue water.
Be warned, the current will swish you about, and some days the swell is more considerable than others, washing bathers back and forth like a fairground ride. When you've had enough, brave the ladder again, hand over hand, heart in mouth ... climb those slippery rungs back up to terra firma where your pulse should eventually return to its resting rate.
Lalomanu Beach. Photo / Supplied
3. Togitogiga Waterfalls
Togitogiga Waterfalls, in the village of Saleilua, are so picturesque it's hard to believe they're real as opposed to something from a movie set. Hardy souls can launch themselves into the water from a variety of levels while less confident visitors can bathe in the cool pools below the falls.
The grounds are lush and tropical, making this spot perfect for a picnic and a full day of paddling, leaping and lounging. Plus, there are changing rooms and toilets as well as room for volleyball and rugby. The best swimming, when the falls are at their most lush, is during the rainy season between November to April (a spritz of bug spray won't go amiss either).
4. Afu Aau Waterfall
On the island of Savaii, a short flight or longer ferry ride from Upolu, you'll find another glorious waterfall, the Afu Aau, which is Samoan for "swimmable waterfall". Thundering down from the rainforest into the cool freshwater basin below, Afu Aau provides a most pleasant respite from the heat, and when the sun is high the colours of the bush and water are astounding.
The pools are nice and shallow round the rim for junior dippers, while the centre of the main pool is deep enough for jumping. Access is along a rustic dirt road and entrance fees are collected at the turn off from the main road by local villagers. Basic conveniences about 80m from the falls complete the experience, closed on Sundays.
5. Piula Cave Pools
About 40 minutes from Apia you'll find the Piula Cave Pools (also known as Fatumea Cave Pools), tucked beneath the Methodist Church Theological College.
This partly-underground freshwater treasure (it connects two caves) emanates an atmosphere of tranquillity and otherworldliness. And to enhance the experience, the pools are home to some of the biggest, fattest fish I've ever seen up close. All in all, it's a fruity experience and another place you'll want to have your goggles with you. Be prepared to pay the modest entrance fee and do note that they're closed on Sundays.
CHECKLIST
Getting there:Air New Zealand flies direct from Auckland to Samoa daily.
