Our Riviera Family - Auckland to Tonga
Four Riviera’s, One Pacific Adventure
On a clear Saturday in June, four Riviera Sports Motor Yachts – Flagship (58 SMY), Wave Rider (64 SMY), Merite (72 SMY) and Midpoint (72 SMY) – slipped away from Auckland, bound for Tonga. The goal? Clear customs in Opua and set course across the South Pacific to Tonga. There were also several additional Riviera’s heading to Tonga and Fiji on their own timelines and we look forward to seeing them on our adventures. By Sunday morning, we were refuelled and ready. First into the fuel dock at Russell was Merite, pulling up in the early hours.
Not far behind were the other three, each topping off before a swift customs check. With paperwork finalised, all hands were aboard and the breeze a gentle 10 to 15 knots from the west, next stop – Minerva Reef, roughly 800 nautical miles ahead. Our departure was advanced to catch the optimal weather window, ensuring safer seas and better conditions as we crossed into open ocean. The next few days offered a mix of sea conditions with 10 to 20 knots, with one night a steady 25 to 30 knots and a 2 to 3 metre sea from our port beam – comfortable but a true blue ocean experience.
Onboard Flagship, we had crew dinners lovingly prepared by Dean, who smoked and cooked each evening’s meal ahead of time. Lunches were simple yet satisfying—wraps filled with yesterday’s meats and crunchy fresh salad. On Wave Rider, the onboard team dialled up coastal catering – a special highlight was their creamy, fruit‑packed smoothies, served chilled (non‑alcoholic of course). Four days in, we arrived at Minerva Ree,f where a dramatic ring of white surf protected the hidden lagoons within, submerged atolls, a remote gem teeming with vibrant coral and marine life.
Fishing was the main attraction with a sensational couple of days, much laughter, and plentiful bounty gathered, keeping the crews well fed. An incredible place to experience, especially if you love fishing… Wow! The final stretch from Minerva to Tonga took just three days. The seas a gentle 2 m swell, with winds steady around 10–15 knots. Perfect for finishing our voyage.
