When I was a child, I would run my fingers over the vast mysterious blue expanse of the Pacific Ocean. I would marvel at how it covered half the globe. I dared to dream I could venture to the tiny green spots one day. Now I know that 83 of the curious green blobs in the Pacific, north of New Zealand and east of Australia, make up the nation of Vanuatu. I have learned that a Vanuatu holiday can be one of the most relaxing, beautiful, and intriguing in the world, and there are things to do in Vanuatu that cannot be done anywhere else!
The islands are home to curious alien fruits and vegetables of all different shapes and sizes, mysterious dense forest with hidden smiling faces and volcanoes tossing volleys of glittering lava. You can dive into stunning blue holes, paddle in calm lagoons, dance in thrilling hidden waterfalls and swim with the sea life among the crowded corals (crowded with fish I mean!). Above all, the islands seem to be home to laughter. Everywhere you see giggling children and smiling faces.
As a child I never guessed I would grow up, fall in love with an Australian in London, follow him when he was offered a job in the south Pacific and end up also falling in love with a spectacular and mysterious country like Vanuatu. I never would have guessed what friendly and enchanting places those green blobs on the Pacific were, or that I would be writing A Traveller’s Guide to the Happiest Country in the World, and sharing my favorite things to do in Vanuatu.
By the way, I am Jasmine, a British teacher, and that is my life story. Below is a list of what really are my favorite things to do in Vanuatu, SO FAR. I hope it inspires you to visit this fascinating country yourself.
For your Vanuatu Holiday You Will Need:
- Smiles – smile at everyone and you will get such wonderful smiles in return
- A relaxed attitude – people are on island time!
- A sense of adventure
- Be prepared – carry food and water with you. Because you are going off the edge of the map!
You will also want to be prepared for the beach, as they are gorgeous on Vanuatu. Find anything you might need in our Beach Store!
Vanuatu is a fairly popular holiday destination in Australia, but remains relatively unknown around the rest of the world. Of the 83 islands comprising Vanuatu, a few are uninhabited, while another handful are occupied by private resorts. Outside of the fancy resorts, most travelers spend their time in Vanuatu on a few main islands, Efate, which is home of the capital city Port Villa, Santo, Tanna and Pentecost Island. On these four you can see magical landscapes and experience culture in ways you would seldom imagine.
If you aren’t ready to start planning now, pin it for later!
Things To Do in Vanuatu
Gaze into an Active Volcano – Tanna Island
If there is one thing you must see in Vanuatu it is Mount Yasur, the active volcano on Tanna island!
It is well worth the flight to the island, the early morning and the bumpy drive through the jungle and across the alien ash plane.
The expensive entrance fee goes straight to the community which owns the volcano. The community will guide you up to the fiery crevice at sunset or sunrise. We went at sunrise.
We stayed at Volcanic Vista, which perches on a neighbouring mountain. We watched the volcano spewing lava from the comfort of our king size bed. The next morning our alarm sounded at 5am. We smiled at the distant sizzling orange halo adorning Mount Yasur in the distance. I felt slightly scared as I laced my shoes. There were four of us on our tour. Our guide gave us friendly yellow coats and we bumped up through the darkness in their four-wheel drive.
At the top there was certain sense of holiness. We devoutly gathered and gazed into the ominous black abyss. Sizzling streams of molten lava coursed deep into the fire-y depths of the Earth. We gasped as glittering rocks hurtled into the sky. We solemnly stared. The sun slowly crept up and illuminated densely forested mountains, the desolate ash plane and the distant sparkling sea.
This is a once in a lifetime experience, I will never ever forget.
You can either stay at a resort (Evergreen, Whitegrass or Rockwater) or in a bungalow.
You can book a resort stay on Tanna right now.
Bungalows are usually basic and managed by local communities. The community will maintain the bungalows, and perhaps provide breakfast, lunch and dinner (sometimes at an additional cost). Staying in bungalows is great because it gives communities a source of income, and tourists the ability to interact with local people – they may be shy at first though! The food may not be world-class and you will probably need bug spray, but you will get to meet smiling locals and be lovingly looked after.
You can book bungalows through the official Tanna tourism website. They have a booth at Tanna airport with a card machine, so you can even pay there by card and they will get the cash to the right people.
You can arrange transport to the volcano with your bungalow owners or at the resort.
The Blue Lagoon – Efate Island
Splash in this spectacularly blue pool. Dive from the trees and swing on the rope swings. Admission is 500 vatu (Around 4.50USD).
The islands are dotted with spectacular blue holes, lagoons and waterfalls like this. Whichever island you end up on, you can find one to enjoy. You must pay admission to all of them, but the admission money will usually go to the local community that owns the land.
Mele Cascades – Efate Island
Play in these picture-perfect waterfalls. I felt like I was in a shampoo advert!
The Mele Cascades are one of Port Villa’s most popular attractions. There are many layers of cascades and you can climb them all, or swim at the pools beneath each layer. The stunning 35 meter cascade is the highlight for those who make the full climb.
You can arrange a guided tour, or take a bus from Port Vila for 300 vatu (2.60USD). Catch the bus at Rue Bougainvillea, next to the Chew Store. Admission is 1500 vatu (13USD) – and well worth it!
Swim with the Fish – All islands!
Throughout the islands there is incredible snorkelling and diving. The reefs are gorgeous!
From the front of my house on the lagoon in Port Vila I can see a carpet of star fish. There are elusive dugongs too. Rent a paddle board on Erakor Island for the best chance to spot them!
This author sadly doesn’t possess an underwater camera yet, so I can’t reveal the wonders in the depths of the ocean. But come and see for yourself! I spend hours paddling around with my snorkel.
Scuba Dive – Santo
There are all kinds of wreck and wonders. The crowning glory is the world-famous wreck of the SS President Coolidge (Santo). The islands were an important military base during World War II. While diving and snorkelling you can see all kinds of World War II memorabilia in Havana Harbour (Efate) and at Million Dollar Bay (Santo).
Million Dollar Bay got its name after World War II. The American army dumped millions of dollars of equipment there. At that time Vanuatu was called the New Hebrides and co-administered by the British and French. Neither the British nor the French would pay for the Americans for their army vehicles and machinery. The Americans didn’t want to take it all home, so, rather than give it away for free, they dumped their gear into the ocean.
The millions of dollars of army machinery and paraphernalia are now home to a diverse array of sea life.
Gorgeous Pacific Sunsets – All islands!
They are free!
The Mele Fireshow – Efate Island
Every Friday night, you can see a local theatre groups flip, juggle and spin fire on the beach at ‘Mele Beach Bar’. The show is free, with optional donations at the end.
Port Vila Central Market – Efate Island
See, smell and taste fruits and vegetables you will have never seen before. Ladies in bright island dress display a crazy array of fruits and vegetable Monday – Saturday (there is a tiny market on Saturday).
Although these dresses seem very traditional on several south Pacific islands, they were actually brought to the islands by missionaries. Native fashions revealed quite a bit of skin before that. Now the island dresses are thoroughly ingrained into the culture, and in some areas of Vanuatu women where nothing else.
Visit a Kava Bar – All Islands!
In the UK, after a long day of work, we decompress with a pint of beer. In Vanuatu, however, kava is the way to relax.
Kava is made from the roots of the kava plant. The roots are ground up and mixed with water. It is a grey milky colour and smells like earth. You buy a shell of kava for 50 vatu (very small), 100 vatu (small), 150 vatu (medium), 200 vatu (large) or 250 vatu (extra-large). You then line up in the ‘designated spit zone’ (as I like to call it) and down your kava in one.
No one drinks it for the taste! You will get an acrid sediment left in your mouth, which you should spit out. Then you can purchase ‘wash moat’, small pieces of food, to take the taste away. Take a bottle of water with you!
Then you lounge on a bench and enjoy the sounds of the forest as you feel a calm serene sense of peace embrace you. You will feel chatty and smiley, but sensitive to bright lights and loud noises. Consequently, kava bars are quiet peaceful places in natural environments.
Kava bars are simple places, but they are in some gorgeous spots. They are great places to chat with locals as well.
Getting to Vanuatu
- From the Americas, you should first fly to Fiji, Brisbane or Sydney.
- From Asia, Africa and Europe you should first fly to Auckland, Brisbane or Sydney.
Then you can fly to the capital of Port Vila.
Port Vila is 2hrs 45mins from Brisbane, 3hrs 15mins from Sydney and 2hrs 35mins from Fiji.
I usually check Skyscanner to find the cheapest route to Vanuatu. The cheapest route varies depending on the time of year and offers available. Flights generally tend to be cheapest three months in advance.
Some travelers may be in the air a long time, so make your trip as comfortable as possible with our Airplane Essentials!
Here, I made you a flight map:
Visas
- You will need a passport valid for at least six months.
- Citizens of the European Union receive a 90-day visitor visa on arrival.
- 30-day visitor visas are available on arrival for citizens of ‘exempt’ countries. Exempt countries include the US, India, China and many other nationalities.
- A list of countries which do not qualify as ‘exempt’ is available here.
- Visitors from countries in the list will have to complete this form.
Officially they say you should have an onward ticket, but no one has ever asked me for proof of that. Some airlines will ask you for proof of an onward flights before you board the plane (especially in the US).
Money
The currency of Vanuatu is the vatu, which is written as VUV, VT and vatu. I doubt you will find vatu outside of Vanuatu! You can exchange any major currency at a good rate at Goodies currency exchange in Port Vila. The banks will also exchange money in Port Vila or at the airport. Australian dollars will be the easiest to exchange.
There are many ATMs in the capital, Port Vila, and in Luganville on Santo. Outside of the towns there are few unreliable ATMS. Overall, when travelling outside of Port Vila and Luganville, it is best to take enough money with you. You don’t want to miss out on any of the cool things to do in Vanuatu!
Increasingly restaurants, shops and resorts will often accept card payment. However, there will invariably be a fee to use your card. Some touristy shops, restaurants and resorts will also accept Australian dollars.
Getting Around on Vanuatu
Rental Cars
On Efate you can rent cars from around 7,500 vatu a day (65USD).
Buses
In Port Vila there is a great public transport system. Privately owned mini buses crowd the streets. You can tell them by the letter ‘B’ on their number plates.
There is a flat fee of 150 vatu to travel on a bus anywhere in Port Vila. There are no bus routes. You must flag down a bus and tell them your destination. The bus driver will either say yes or no if he is going the other way. If he says ‘yes’, he will drop you off at your destination. If he says ‘no’, then you can wait for the next bus, or decide to do your trip in two parts. Bon Marche supermarkets are a good between point.
To travel from Port Vila to another part of Efate island, it is best to ask someone how much you should expect to pay and the best place to catch a bus in that direction. (a waiter or person at your hotel for example).
Check out the ‘Getting Around’ page on my website for a map and more detailed explanation.
On Tanna, they have just finished the main road, so it is becoming increasingly easy to catch buses. In Luganville, on Espirito Santo there are buses too. Local routes around the island aren’t publicised, but locals will know where they go and when. It is best to ask the people at your accommodation for information. Always ask how much you should expect to pay.
Taxis
Taxis on the islands are a similar price to taxis in the UK, Australia or the US. Fuel and vehicles are expensive in Vanuatu, because they must be imported here by boat.
You can arrange transport through your accommodation. Alternately, look for a vehicle with a ‘T’ on the number plate. However, you will probably see many buses driving around, but not so many taxis.
Flying Between Islands
If they can afford it, everyone in Vanuatu travels by plane. Air Vanuatu offer flights between the islands. Air Vanuatu flights may leave early or late and your checked luggage may arrive a day late. This is all part of the island experience!
Some routes feature small planes and the captain will tell you where to sit to balance the weight. Sometimes you may not get a seat on a smaller plane, even if you booked it. You may be required to wait until the next day. Flying to the smaller islands can be… an experience!
Private Plane
If you are in a group, sometimes chartering a private plane can work out the same as flying with Air Vanuatu! Check out the Air Taxi website.
Travelling by Sea Between the Islands
If you decide to travel between the islands by boat you may be in for a memorable adventure, but perhaps not a comfortable one. Unless you have a yacht. That would be a rather lovely trip. The islands are a popular destination for private yachts.
There are two ferry companies that operate in Vanuatu: Big Sista and the Vanuatu Ferry. The ferries are mainly used for cargo, by people travelling with cargo (e.g. people bringing in produce for market) and people who can’t afford the airfare. For more information check out the Vanuatu Ferry Facebook page and the Big Sista Ferry Facebook page. I have been warned that the ferry is a long, bumpy and often smelly ride. I have also been warned it isn’t safe for women travelling alone.
There are also many people who travel around the islands with merchant ships. They will head to the docks to find information about boats travelling in their direction. I have similarly been warned that these journeys are long, smelly, unsafe for solo female travellers and frequently riddled with detours. Many people have also suggested to me that the boats are frequently in dangerous states of disrepair.
Time to Start Planning your Vanuatu Holiday?
The islands of Vanuatu are covered with white sand beaches, black sand beaches, blue holes and waterfalls everywhere. The surrounding ocean is full of tropical sea life. The forests are full of chattering birds and smiling people. I haven’t even begun to touch upon the diverse history Vanuatu has journeyed through. Not only can you swim around World War II remnants, you can also see kastom (traditional) dancing, hear about ‘black magic’. Those who are even more adventurous can see land diving (the original bungee jumping) on Pentecost Island, or meet the bizarre cults which worship Prince Phillip.
My travels are usually on a budget, so my suggested things to do in Vanuatu have been in lines of budget travel But you can also find a multitude of world class resorts, renowned restaurants and luxury spas. If you prefer that route you can relax in beautiful surroundings, and be pampered to your hearts content.
Find your Vanuatu hotel, or resort, now!
The journey to Vanuatu may be a long one, but the weird and wonderful adventures are well worth the trip!
If you are thinking about a Vanuatu holiday, PIN this for later!
Jasmine is a British English Language Teacher who moved to Vanuatu in 2018, following her boyfriend who had gotten a job on the islands. She promptly fell in love with the country: the diverse magical landscapes, the friendly laughing faces and the crazy fruits and vegetables. She has since been documenting her weird and wonderful discoveries in this mysterious place at How to Vanuatu, on Medium and on Instagram.
