Vanuatu Travel Guide

Located in the beautiful warm South Pacific Vanuatu is a nation made from the more than 80 islands of it's archipelago. Around 2000 kilometres to the east of the northern tip of Australia and with Fiji to it's east, New Caledonia to it's south it is not surprising that it too is the picture of tropical perfection. The islands of Vanuatu were birthed from volcanic activity and the archipelago still has many active volcanoes, which are a key tourist attraction. But of course there is a lot more to Vanuatu than it's seismic activity, the islands are well known for their clear warm waters, unspoilt beaches, awesome waterfalls, reefs that are ideal for snorkelling and diving, and for the islands cultural attractions.

Originally inhabited by Melanesians, Vanuatu experienced it's first European visitors when Captain James Cook passed this way on his famous voyage late in the 1700's. This first encounter inevitably led to European settlement in the following years and later both France and the United Kingdom claimed parts of the island group in the late 1800’s before finally jointly managing them. This French British administration of what was then the New Hebrides continued until the Republic of Vanuatu was born in 1980.

The main population centre of Vanuatu is on the island of Efate where the capital and commercial centre Port Vila is located. Aside from the resorts around Efate's coast and lagoons and the diverse and interesting capital Port Vila, Vanuatu’s other main hotspots are Tanna Island with it's volcano and tribal culture, and Santo Island to the north of the Efate where divers and snorkellers head for the brilliant diving.