If you want to laze on a postcard perfect beach, Vanuatu has them in spades. But, the archipelago of 80 islands or so is much more than a quiet seaside escape. Stare into the spitting depths of an active volcano, swing from a vine into a blue lagoon and dive through famous shipwrecks, before you retire with a kava by the sea. Here are the top things to do in Vanuatu.
Things to do in Vanuatu: Port Vila
Mele Cascades
It’s only a short drive or a local bus ride from the busy centre of Port Vila, but Mele Cascades has the vibe of a hidden jungle haven straight out of a fairy tale. Plunging falls, trickling streams and shallow pools for swimming dot the lush landscape, complete with sparkling fish and naturally eroded waterslides.
You can climb to the top of the main waterfall and along the trail to a panoramic lookout, before heading back down and swimming in terrace rock pools the whole way. The best time to go is when you know there are no cruise ships docked in town, so you’ll get some peace and quiet with your adventure.
Port Vila Market
The fusion of cultures in Port Vila means you’ll munch on an authentic French pastry one minute and buy a South Pacific wood carving in the next. For shopping with a true island feel though, head to the Port Vila Market.
Situated along the waterfront, the open-air, wooden building hosts tables piled high with yams, coconuts, bananas and everything else the local farmers produce. There’s also flowers, shells, coffee and souvenirs, sold with a smile by local woman from villages around the island.
Vanuatu Jungle Zipline
Vanuatu activities don’t come much more exciting, than ziplining from tree to tree with views of Mele Bay. The Canopy Treetop Tour at Vanuatu Jungle Zipline crosses over one kilometre of lines, from platform to platform, with a suspension bridge and an 80 metre canyon to conquer.
If that’s not enough to get your adrenalin going, book a fast Heli Tour first, for incredible views of the city, coastline and surrounding plantations. For anyone not keen on heights, you can trek this particular jungle property on foot, entirely for free.
Hideaway Island Marine Reserve
One of the most unique things to do in Vanuatu, is to send a waterproof postcard home from an underwater letter box! Hop on a five minute ferry ride from the mainland to Hideaway Island for this experience, as well as spectacular snorkelling on the coral atoll. For divers, there are about 15 sites that surround the island, teeming with tropical fish in clear, turquoise water. To make the most of the tropical paradise and still be close to the action in central Port Vila, stay at the Hideaway Island Resort. Onsite, you’ll find dorm rooms, villas, bungalows, a restaurant, bar and a PADI dive school. Best of all, you can snorkel down to the underwater post office as often as you like.
Find a room at Hideaway Island
Things to do in Vanuatu: Espirito Santo
Champagne Beach
Known simply as Santo, the archipelago’s largest island holds one of the top Vanuatu points of interest – Champagne Beach. Why the bubbly name? Volcanic activity beneath the transparent water creates fizzy champagne bubbles, visible on low tide.
While its icing sugar sand is a favourite among cruise passengers, the undeveloped arch still retains a deserted island feel. In any case, if the sand happens to be overrun by day-trippers, the dazzling colour of the sea will sufficiently blind you to anything else.
Dive Sites
Espirito Santo is on the wish list of most keen divers, namely because of the shipwreck, SS President Coolidge. It was a luxury passenger liner, converted to a troop carrier during WWII that hit a mine and sank, almost completely intact. Dive through holds and decks to spot guns, cannons, helmets, trucks and even a mosaic tile fountain.
Million Dollar Point is another unique war site, with a huge pile up of bulldozers, forklifts and trucks. The USS Tucker was a US Navy destroyer that’s now a marine eco system. The ship lies in water that often has visibility of over 30 metres, so you can swim through the stainless steel structure and explore nooks, crannies and resident corals.
Back to the reefs though and Chails swarms with clown fish, turtles and barracudas. For colourful coral, dive Cindy’s Reef and discover turtles, sharks and tropical fish. Tutuba Point is the spot for plate coral fields, gloomy trenches and caves, while Pulon Reef is home to parrot fish and giant trevally.
Blue Holes
Imagine diving into fresh, iridescent blue water, surrounded by lush jungle greens? Espirito Santo offers a number of blue holes, with Nanda Blue Hole attracting the majority of swimming devotees. Created by fresh water springs that rise through limestone, the pools offer rope swings, boardwalks, picnic areas and waterslides. Check out Matevulu and Ri Ri as well and don’t forget goggles, to spot fresh water fish sparkling in rays of sunlight. You can fly to Espirito Santo in under an hour from Port Vila and it’s likely you’ll want to stay a few days. Turtle Bay Resort is right on the beach in the capital, Luganville, close to all the attractions, with family rooms, dorms, a pool, bar and restaurant.
Things to do in Vanuatu: Tanna Island
Traditional Villages
A 45 minute flight from Port Vila gets you to Tanna Island, where it’s possible to see traditional Ni-Vanuatu culture, minus most Western influences (other than the odd mobile phone). The village of Yakel Kastom offers tours, with community leaders explaining village life in grass huts.
Meanwhile, pigs, chickens and laughing children run underfoot. Most locals don’t speak English and only wear simple sheaths or skirts. They sell handmade carvings, perform dances and sing, and the money raised is used to buy useful items like pots, medical supplies and equipment for the village.
Mount Yasur
Mount Yasur is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. If just hearing that gives you a bit of a thrill, get ready for the adventure of your life. Tours to Mount Yasur include twilight viewings of exploding lava, guided walks to the crater rim, peering into ashy, molten lava and feeling the ground rumble underfoot, as more explosions approach. Apparently, the experience is quite safe as activity is predictable, however it’s best to go with the experts via a tour. You can reach the volcano in a 4WD through a moon-like landscape, or take in the sights from a scenic flight. Oh, and don’t forget to buy a postcard. You’ll find the world’s only letter box on a volcano here too. To make the most of Tanna Island’s traditional wilderness, book a room at White Grass Ocean Resort & Spa. Island Bures nestle by the sea in colourful gardens, with a swimming pool, restaurant, snorkelling equipment, bikes, golf, tennis and organised tours onsite.
Find a room at White Grass Resort
Flights to Vanuatu
