Five unmissable stops to visit while staying on the garden island of Kaua'i, Hawaii. What not to miss during a stay of relaxation and nature in Hawaii, read here.
Fourth stage of the honeymoon is the garden island of the archipelago of Hawaii, Kaua'i. Among the eight islands it is the one located further north, with its gaze turned towards the Japanese coasts. Usually in our travels we prefer to move with the By public transport, this not only allows us to stay within the budget, but also to have an overall view of the place we are in, and perhaps come across itineraries and places that are not purely touristic. On this occasion we preferred to rent a car and divide our on the road adventure into two stages: the first day to the north; the second to the south.
Hanalei Bay
From north to south, the Kuhio Highway and the Kaumualii Highway allow you to reach all the major points of interest and even some hidden corners, discovered by following the road signs along the way.
The bay of Hanalei is located on the north side of the island, and from September to May it is a popular destination for surfers for the winter currents that create immense waves. As soon as we arrived, the fine sand and the covered pier made us feel more relaxed. In the shadow of the pier we admired the whole surrounding area, and saw a waterfall in the mountains facing the bay.
On our way back we stumbled upon the Kilahuea Point Lighthouse and the bird sanctuary located here.
Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
This area, which has become protected since 1985, gives refuge to various bird species: the red-footed booby, the brown booby, the great frigate, the Laysan albatross, the pacifica ardenna, the puffinus newelli, the white-tailed phaeton and the phaethon. red tail. In the shadow of the lighthouse that was built at the beginning of the twentieth century, the protected birds find refuge between the inlet under the cliff where the lighthouse stands, and the small island opposite.
Wailua River Valley
The valley is home to the island's highest peak, the Kawaikini nomte with its 5243 feet, approximately 1598 meters. By following the road signs, you can also get to Wailua Falls.
Waimea Canyon
Waimea Canyon, also known as the Pacific Canyon, is located in the interior of the island. To reach it we took the Kaumualii Highway which runs along the south side. Entering the Waimea Canyon State Park, we found several observation points. From the last it is possible to observe the island of Nihau, known as the island of yesterday, located about 17 miles southwest of Kaua'i. The island is politically part of Kaua'i County, but it belongs to the Robinson family and cannot be visited.
Mc Bryde Garden
The botanical garden is located near the shores of Poipu Bay, another destination for surfers, in the Lawa'i Valley. A shuttle takes visitors to the starting point of the visit, from where it is possible to take the path inside the botanical garden among different natural habitats, gigantic trees, native plants and biodiversity.
