Newport is a cool rural village. If the day is clear you can observe offshore and to the south east a coral atoll in the making on Alligator Reef. Descending towards Rowes Corner via many hairpin curves, the landscape has a surreal quality with monstrous towers and outcrops of rock dwarfing cottages and cultivations. Alligator Pond has a large fishing beach, well equipped with modern fibreglass boats plus high powered outboard engines. A good place to sample fried fish straight from the ocean or purchase fresh fish and lobster.
Some boats are available for hire, price negotiable.
In Arawak times there were large manatee herds but the current islandwide population is estimated as less than 100. They are protected under the Wild Life Protection Act, but that does not stop some fishermen from killing those snared in their nets. Four manatees, rescued from fishermen are kept in captivity in the Alligator Hole river. Unfortunately, because they are all female there is no hope of a captive breeding program. They are extremely gentle and shy, feed on sea grasses and can grow to be 13 foot in length and 3,300 lbs in weight.