Travel to Vanuatu | Exotic Holiday Destination

Vanuatu is one of the Pacific Oceans most beautiful holiday destinations. It lies just to the east of New Caledonia and is only a 3.5 hour flight from Australia. Like many of the other pacific nations, the islands are of volcanic origins and in Vanuatu this activity is highly visible. The capital is Port Vila on the island of Efate and the nation has a population of around a quarter of a million people. The group consists of 83 separate islands. Modern tourist resorts are located on Efate Island, Tana Island and on Espiritu Santo Island. The currency of Vanuatu is the Vatu and both Virgin Blue and Air New Zealand have regular flights here from both Australia and New Zealand. Vanuatu is a country of many contrasts with international standard resorts in some regions while the more northern islands of the group are inaccessible to most visitors and still maintain their ancient tribal customs and lifestyle.

Vanuatu customs and culture are unique in the South Pacific Islands. It is on the Vanuatu island of Pentecost that the local people invented the art of bungy jumping. Adolescent boys entering manhood jump from a flexible tower built from logs tied together with vines, and with a vine tied between their feet they jump from fantastic heights to have their fall stopped with their heads inches from the ground. This custom is known as Nagol o the locals. Different islands have different dance customs and some of these dances go on for days. The Nagol ceremonies on Pentecost Island occur on Saturdays in April and June. Vanuatu has six active volcanoes and the most active is the Yasur volcano on Tanna Island. This volcano is erupting continually and is said to be the worlds most approachable active volcano where you can walk to the crater and watch the fiery lava below.

Holiday activities in Vanuatu center around its surrounding oceans. Diving here is legendary and the worlds largest shore wreck dive is found on Espiritu Santo. Here the wreck of the US battleship “ President Coolidge” is found just offshore. All of the islands in the group are surrounded by pristine coral reefs and the water clarity is sensational. The interior of the islands are mountainous and covered with thick rainforests. Beautiful waterfalls and rock pools provide fantastic swimming holes. There are a number of sporting and recreational events that occur here each year that attract tourists. The annual marlin fishing classic is run from Port Vila very April. The Vanuatu golf open is played at the Mele Golf course on Efate in August, and there are a number of ocean swims and triathlons.

The Islands of Vanuatu were first settled by Europeans in the eighteenth century after having been discovered in in 1605. The earliest archaeological evidence if habitation show that local islanders have lived here since around 2000BC. Between 1887 and 1906 the islands were administered by a joint French and British administration and in 1980, Vanuatu became a sovereign nation in its own right. Today, Vanuatu is a parliamentary democracy with regular four yearly elections.

Vanuatu is so close to Australia you can be there in a jiffy, so why not come and experience one of the natural beauty spots of the world for an unforgettable holiday.

» Vanuatu Travel and Tourism Information

» Vanuatu Tourism