When Qantas began its direct Brisbane to Palau service recently it made visiting the remote Pacific nation a whole lot easier. From epic underwater adventures to history and culture, here are the must-dos once you arrive.
Fancy playing Moana for a morning? Climb aboard a traditional sailboat crafted from wood with pandanus leaf sails and coconut fibre ropes. Paddling Palau runs this intimate experience which provides two expert local sailors for just one or two passengers, allowing for fascinating chats, cultural insights and an up-close demonstration of how these handmade boats sail. Picture: Davor Rostuhar.
No trip to Palau is complete without cruising the Rock Islands in Southern Lagoon. The outrageously beautiful UNESCO heritage site contains a few hundred forested limestone islands dolloped across ridiculously clear aqua water. The boat ride around them is half the fun but jump in with a mask and snorkel and you’ll see colourful coral reefs with clams, turtles, mellow reef sharks and countless fish. Picture: Maddison Toddman.
To have a really close look at the Rock Islands, hop on a kayak and drift into the marine caves, tunnels, archways and lagoons of Nikko Bay or Risong Bay. Overhung by trees and ferns, these sheltered waters harbour nurseries for baby sharks and rays, and a little walk onshore can unearth WWII bunkers and the wrecks of aircraft abandoned in the forest. Picture: Josh Burkinshaw.
For a real local’s experience and a whole lot of fun, head to the 680 Night Market, held two Saturdays a month under the Japan-Palau Friendship Bridge (a shuttle bus does hotel pick ups). The vibe is super friendly with live music, traditional and contemporary dance performances, dance floor, arts and crafts, and loads of food stalls so you can pick up a selection of small bites and kick back. There’s everything from Palauan taro dishes to barbecued skewers, sushi, and Chinese and Filipino street food.
To fully appreciate Palau’s island maze, a scenic flight with Smile Air is the way to go. From 500 metres up, the ‘broccoli heads’ of forested islands and shimmering blues of coral reefs, lagoons and sand bars are mesmerising. Three routes run 25, 40 and 55-minute loops; for added thrills and even better views, opt for a door-off flight. Picture: Palau Visitors Authority.
From the growing of food to the making of grass skirts, dancing, war canoes and a matriarchal society, there’s a lot to learn about Palauan culture. Experience Airai host village-based experiences from one hour to a full day. Picture: Palau Visitors Authority.
Dedicated divers have known it for decades – Palau’s diving is world-class. Warm and famously clear water (around 27-30 degrees and up to 40 metres visibility) makes exploring the abundance of coral gardens, walls, WWII wrecks and limestone caves a dream. Palau’s remote location and currents also attract big fish like manta rays, sharks and huge ‘tornados’ of trevally and barracuda. You could dive for a week and still not see it all. Neco Marine is a 5 star PADI dive centre that runs day tours as well as certification courses in their excellent training pool. Picture: Josh Burkinshaw.
One of Palau’s southernmost islands was the setting for the Battle of Peleliu in 1944, a bloody two-month long battle that killed thousands and razed Peleliu. The forest has since grown back and now Sams Tours help tell the story and point out the many tanks, planes, underground tunnels, gun emplacements and crumbling buildings left behind, now being reclaimed by nature.
See also:
10 things you never knew about Palau
Qantas launches flights to Palau
The writer travelled as a guest of Qantas and Palau Visitors Authority.
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