A $5M South Pacific haven from the pandemic
Remote island retreat offers oceanfront luxury in secluded, tropical style
CAROLA VYHNAK
It may be the safest place in the world right now: Vanuatu, in the South Pacific. With no reported cases of COVID-19, that makes it one of only a handful of nations that are coronavirusfree.
A secluded oceanfront retreat on the main island is also one of the most peaceful places on Earth. The name of the main residence says it all: “Tula” meaning quiet or tranquil.
With a white sand beach and low-key aquatic activities like snorkeling, kayaking and paddle boarding, capped off by martinis under a palm-roofed gazebo at sunset, you have the ingredients of a simple, laidback lifestyle to while away the pandemic.
At the same time, comfort and convenience abound in thefiveacre retreat that includes two, two-bedroom guest homes called “Tamarind” and “Toa.”
“Tamarind Beach Estate has offered a luxurious escape for the owners and friends for many years,” said listing agent Ken Jacobs of Christie’s International Real Estate in New South Wales, Australia.
“Visually it offers a pleasing environment but, more than that, is the calming aura one experiences.”
The family getaway, owned by Australian housewares and fashion retailer Elizabeth Jones and her husband Michael, is in Paradise Cove on Vanuatu’s main island. Vanuatu is a chain of 80-plus islands 800 kilometres west of Fiji in the South Pacific Ocean.
The main house, built in the 1980s, was upgraded and cosmetically enhanced by Australian architect Iain Halliday — known for designing breathtaking beach houses — who also rebuilt the guest cottages.
Among the highlights are traditional Vanuatuan thatchedroof structures called “nakamal” or “meeting place.” The main house has an adjoining rectangular version for al fresco dining while the two guest homes are connected by a round nakamal.
Belying its calm, monochromatic exterior, the main residence with two bedroomsplus-loft is a study in contrasts, with an arresting black-andwhite theme, credited to Elizabeth Jones’s eye for design. (Furniture and accessories came from her home and store’s inventory in Sydney.)
Combined with whitewashed interiors, high ceilings and exposed beams, the result is a “clever merging of the rustic feel of the location with an atmosphere and appearance of effortless luxury,” said Jacobs. The esthetic is repeated throughout the three dwellings.
Outside, the landscaped tropical gardens showcase the skills of Annie Wilkes, once described by the New York Times as “Australian society’s most celebrated gardener.”
Lush lawns happily share growing space with palms, bougainvillea and numerous mango, tamarind, frangipani and avocado trees. Jacobs notes that the landscaping, in conjunction with the position of the residences and natural contours of the coastline, contributes to the “remarkably private” quality of the estate.
There’s a private helipad for quick commutes to the airport. And, a short bike ride away, Vanuatuan island life awaits at village markets and restaurants.
A 15-minute drive takes visitors to the capital city of Port Vila and a three-hour flight brings travellers from Sydney or Auckland, N.Z.
Apart from its coronavirusfree safety, Vanuatu has other bragging rights: the tiny nation repeatedly ranks among the happiest places on Earth, according to the Happy Planet Index at happyplanetindex.org