Modern Watermakers Empower South Pacific Dream Trip
The Riviera South Pacific Adventure 2025 was a once-in-a-lifetime expedition across some of the world’s most spectacular, yet isolated waters, enabled in part by high capacity watermaker systems from Blue Water Desalination.
In June 2025, four Riviera Motor Yachts: the Flagship (58 SMY), Wave Rider (64 SMY), Merite (72 SMY) and Midpoint (72 SMY), departed Auckland, New Zealand in the early morning hours. Their sights were set on a stretch of open Pacific that relatively few have navigated. Their initial destination was Tonga, Oceania, with a first stop at Minerva Reef. This reef is home to a remote ring of submerged atolls teeming with marine life and lies more than 800 nautical miles from the New Zealand coastline. Along the way, they made the most out of every day of the journey, fishing for both fun and fine dining; catching billfish, mahi and wahoo.Â
The Riviera fleet didn’t just demonstrate a love for adventure; the experience solidified a shared confidence in their vessels and onboard equipment. These were not leisurely island hops.
This was true blue water cruising, with long legs that required unwavering self-sufficiency, experienced seamanship, and reliable systems that could be trusted for hundreds of miles at sea.
Thanks to their onboard Blue Water Desalination systems they enjoyed a host of benefits that helped make the long excursion vastly more comfortable and feasible, including producing endless water for ice, showers and the rinsing of equipment.
After departing Minerva Reef and crossing the next stretch of open water, the group reached one of Tonga’s most treasured gems: Vavaʻu, which is a stunning archipelago of over 50 islands in the northern part of the country. At its heart, the Riviera fleet arrived at ʻUtu Vavaʻu, home to the town of Neiafu, a vibrant hub for cruising yachts and tourism.
Dean and Suzie aboard Flagship recalled, “As we cruised into the pristine waters of VavaÊ»u, the scenery that greeted us was nothing short of breathtaking—a geographical marvel where deep sapphire-blue waters meet towering limestone cliffs, sculpted over centuries by the relentless sea. This natural erosion has formed an intricate coastal wonderland of dramatic rock formations, mysterious sea caves, hidden coves, and majestic arches, all of which make VavaÊ»u a true paradise.”
But it’s not just the geography that left such an indelible impression with these crews. From July onward, these pristine waters become the setting for one of nature’s most profound spectacles: humpback whale season.
“One of VavaÊ»u’s most magical offerings is its role as a sanctuary for humpback whales. Each year, these gentle giants migrate thousands of kilometers from Antarctica to breed and nurse their calves in the warm, sheltered waters of Tonga. Being surrounded by these magnificent creatures—whether it’s viewing them each time as we move between destinations or hearing tales from those who have ventured into the water alongside them on guided whale swimming tours—is a life-changing, deeply humbling experience—floating mere meters from a mother and her calf in their natural habitat is something you never forget.”
Pure Water, Anytime, Anywhere
It was no accident that the Rivieras and their crews were able to safely and confidently access these remote locations. The technologies aboard these Riviera yachts are built for long-range luxury, but it’s the systems that turn dreams into reality.
Across the fleet, Blue Water Desalination’s fully automatic watermakers were essential to the expedition. It was vital to have a dependable supply of fresh water while out in the vast stretches of open ocean and remote anchorages. The Blue Water Desalination systems continuously provided fresh water for drinking, cooking, washing, and cooling to maintain a comfortable experience for everyone on board. These ocean adventurers never had to sacrifice their creature comforts, even in the remote wild of the South Pacific.
None of this would be possible without the expert guidance of R Marine Flagship, Riviera Yacht’s New Zealand dealer and one of the most successful organizations in the industry. From outfitting to advising, their commitment to a safe and comfortable voyage helped ensure that every vessel was adventure-ready, and every crew was fully supported.
Transiting to a far-reaching destination was just one goal of the South Pacific Adventure. Over the voyage, other goals included rediscovering freedom, community, and the ocean’s power. Every crew member had the resources and the confidence to go further because of Riviera and their superior equipment partners such as Blue Water Desalination, and of course the amazing leadership of Dean and Suzie.
Blue Water Desalination is proud to have played a role in enabling this unforgettable journey!
You can dive into more details about the trip on the Riviera Family South Pacific Adventure website, where they’ve blogged about four major legs of the excursion: Auckland to Tonga, Tongatapu to Vava’u, Vava’u and Vava’u to Fiji.