Photo: Vanuatu blue hole
Tropical Escapes
Vanuatu
Blue holes, a live volcano, world-famous wreck diving and some of the warmest smiles in the Pacific. The secret is choosing which islands to combine.
Close to home, wonderfully different.
Vanuatu is just a few hours from Sydney, yet it feels a world away. It's a place of crystal-clear blue holes, lush rainforest, a volcano you can stand on the rim of, and villages where traditions are still very much part of daily life.
It's made up of more than 80 islands, and each one has a very different feel. Efate is easy and relaxed, Espiritu Santo has some of the most beautiful beaches in the Pacific, and Tanna is pure adventure.
Choosing the right islands, and how to combine them, is the most important decision you'll make, and it's where I can help most.
Find your place
Which area is best for your holiday?
Four areas compared side by side, each with something different to offer.
Direct flights from Australia
Port Vila
Vanuatu's relaxed little capital on the island of Efate, set around a sparkling harbour and Erakor Lagoon. It's the easiest place to start, with lagoon-side resorts, a lively market and plenty of restaurants close by.
Beach and water: Calm lagoons rather than surf beaches, lovely for swimming and paddling.
The feel: Easygoing and friendly, with a touch of French flair.
What's good: Close to the airport, good restaurants, and lots to do on day trips.
Worth knowing: The best beaches are a short drive away, so many resorts are on lagoons rather than the sea.
Things to do
Browse the Port Vila market, swim at the Blue Lagoon, cool off at Mele Cascades, take a lagoon kayak or enjoy a French-style lunch by the harbour.
Best for: Families, short breaks and first-timers.
30 to 60 minutes by road from Port Vila
Efate's quieter coast
Beyond Port Vila, Efate becomes quiet and green. Havannah Harbour in the north-west is calm and beautiful, with some of Vanuatu's most romantic small resorts and famous sunsets over the water.
Beach and water: Clear, calm water, with snorkelling straight from the shore at many resorts.
The feel: Peaceful, private and unhurried.
What's good: Beautiful boutique resorts, sunsets and a real sense of getting away.
Worth knowing: You'll be further from restaurants, so you'll eat mostly at your resort.
Things to do
Snorkel the reefs at Hideaway Island, drive the Efate ring road past villages and beaches, take a sunset cruise on Havannah Harbour or simply settle into a hammock.
Best for: Couples and anyone wanting peace and quiet.
About 50 minutes by domestic flight
Espiritu Santo
Vanuatu's largest island, known for Champagne Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in the Pacific, and its spring-fed blue holes. Divers come from around the world for the SS President Coolidge, one of the great wreck dives.
Beach and water: Powder-white beaches and astonishingly clear blue holes.
The feel: Relaxed, natural and unspoilt.
What's good: The beaches, the blue holes and world-class diving.
Worth knowing: It's an extra flight, and resorts are smaller and simpler, with a few lovely exceptions.
Things to do
Swim in the Matevulu and Nanda blue holes, relax on Champagne Beach, dive the SS President Coolidge, kayak through jungle rivers or explore Millennium Cave.
Best for: Couples, divers and adventurous families.
About 40 minutes by domestic flight
Tanna
Home to Mount Yasur, one of the world's most accessible active volcanoes. Standing on the crater rim as it glows at dusk is unforgettable. Tanna is also known for its strong traditional culture and custom villages.
Beach and water: Black-sand beaches and rugged coastline rather than classic white sand.
The feel: Wild, raw and full of character.
What's good: An adventure you'll talk about for years, and a genuine cultural experience.
Worth knowing: Accommodation is simple, and most people visit for two or three nights as part of a longer trip.
Things to do
Watch Mount Yasur erupt at dusk, visit a custom village, see the wild horses at White Grass, and swim at the Blue Cave by boat.
Best for: Adventurous travellers, as a side trip from Efate.
A few ways it could look
Ways to build your Vanuatu escape
Simple inspiration rather than fixed itineraries. Every trip is shaped around you.
7 nights · Efate
One perfect resort
Settle into one place and properly unwind. Ideal when the resort itself is the holiday.
8 nights · Efate → Tanna
Beach and volcano
A few days on Efate, then a short flight to Tanna to stand on the rim of Mount Yasur.
10 nights · Efate → Santo
Two islands
Start with Port Vila's restaurants and lagoons, then fly north for Santo's beaches and blue holes.
12 nights · Efate → Tanna → Santo
The best of Vanuatu
All three islands in one trip: lagoons, a live volcano and the Pacific's most beautiful beach.
Where you might stay
Some gorgeous places to stay in Vanuatu
From family-friendly resorts to secluded island retreats, Vanuatu offers accommodation for different budgets and styles of holiday. Here are eight worth considering.
Efate · Adults only · $$$$
The Havannah
An adults-only hideaway on a quiet harbour, half an hour from Port Vila, with villas that open onto the water.
Efate · Couples · $$$
Eratap Beach Resort
A small, peaceful boutique resort on its own stretch of coast, with spacious villas and excellent food.
Port Vila · Families · $$
Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu
Set on Erakor Lagoon close to town, with a big pool, a kids' club and lots of water activities.
Port Vila · Couples and families · $$$
Iririki Island Resort
On its own small island in Port Vila harbour, a short free ferry ride from town, with waterfront bungalows.
Espiritu Santo · Couples · $$$$
Ratua Private Island
A private island of restored Indonesian villas, horse riding in the shallows and a wonderfully barefoot feel.
Espiritu Santo · Couples and families · $$$
The Espiritu
A relaxed, stylish base near Luganville, ideal for exploring the blue holes, beaches and wreck diving.
Tanna · Couples and families · $$
White Grass Ocean Resort
Comfortable bungalows on the coast near the airport, a good base for visiting Mount Yasur.
Tanna · Families and adventurers · $$
Tanna Evergreen Resort
A friendly, simple resort in tropical gardens, with volcano and village tours arranged for you.
Indicative price positioning only: $$ comfortable, $$$ premium, $$$$ luxury. Actual rates vary by season, room category, inclusions and transfers.
Practical tips
Planning your Vanuatu escape
When to go
May to October
The dry season
Sunny, less humid and comfortable, with calm seas. The most popular time to visit.
November to April
The wet season
Hotter and more humid, with heavy downpours and the chance of a cyclone. Quieter, and good value outside Christmas.
Peak times
Book early
Australian school holidays, Christmas and New Year are the busiest times. The best rooms go months ahead.
A guide to costs
Vanuatu suits every budget. Here's a simple guide to what you can expect at each level.
Comfortable
Friendly, comfortable resorts close to Port Vila, often with family rooms and kids' clubs.
Luxury
Boutique resorts and waterfront villas, with excellent food and a quieter, more private feel.
Ultimate
Private-island retreats and adults-only hideaways, with personal service and real seclusion.
Prices change with the season, the room and how you get there, so these are a starting point only. My planning fee is $250, and I'll compare resorts and packages to find you the best value for your dates.
Getting there
Direct flights from Sydney and Brisbane land in Port Vila in under four hours. Vanuatu is the same time as Sydney for most of the year, so there's no jet lag.
One island or several?
Efate is wonderful on its own, but adding Tanna or Santo turns a beach holiday into something really memorable. I'll plan the domestic flights so the connections work smoothly.
Is a meal plan worth it?
Around Port Vila it's easy to eat out, so breakfast only works well. On the quieter coast and the outer islands, a meal plan usually makes sense.
Visiting the volcano
Mount Yasur is a real, active volcano, and access depends on its alert level on the day. I'll book trips with experienced local guides and keep an eye on conditions for you.
Made for you
Your Vanuatu escape. Your way.
I'll help you choose the right islands, the right resort and the right room, with flights and transfers that get you there smoothly.
Tell me your dates, who's coming and the kind of holiday you have in mind, and I'll find the place to match.
All you need to do is pack.
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