Latest

Ma Tree, Coastal Walk & Robert Louis Stevenson Trail Upgrade Launched

Published

9 months ago

February 29, 2024

The Minister of Tourism, Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster with the Chair of the STA Board Tauliili Alise Stunnenberg and STA CEO and staff at the new lookout point at the Mt Vaea reserve waterfall.

Source: Samoa Tourism Authority/

Apia, SAMOA – 29 February 2024 – Samoa Tourism Authority celebrates another milestone achieved with close partners after the successful completion of three projects launched earlier this month, the Ma Tree Walk located at O le Pupu Pu’e National Park in Togitogiga and the upgrade works for the Robert Louis Stevenson’s Trail at the Vailima Botanical Garden.

The three sites are popular stops for visitors looking for adventure, short hikes or to immerse themselves with nature. Given their popularity they were all included under the Samoa Tourism Recovery and Resilience Programme (STRR), according to the Board of Directors Chairlady, Tauiliili Alise Stunnenberg.

“The Ma Tree and Coastal Walk at Togitogiga both offer unique experiences with breathtaking views of the south coast and sea arches and also the Ma Tree with its large wall like root structures that fan out from the main trunk.

“The Vailima Botanical Garden and Mt Vaea reserve is one of the most visited sites on island – not only for our visitors but also for the locals who regularly hike Mt Vaea. Given the popularity of these natural sites,” said Stunnenberg.

The upgrade works included the improvement of trails to enhance the safety of these sites, new resting areas/shelters, upgrade and replacement of the lookout deck on Mt Vaea and the Coastal Walk, new open resting fale on Mt Vaea, new bridge crossing and lookout point at the waterfall at Mt Vaea reserve. In addition to these works, there were also improvements to the signage for tree labelling at Ma Tree and Coastal Walk as well as interpretive signage which all contribute to improving visitor experiences, she added.

The Samoa Tourism Authority and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment worked in close collaboration in the implementation and delivery of these projects utilising the capacity of the MNRE Environment and Conservation and Forestry team and their expertise in trail development to complete the upgrade works. The total cost of the upgrade works for the three projects was SAT$171,159.56.