PARADISE FOUND
Put Vanuatu on your travel bucket list.
We all need a holiday after the year we’ve had, and with promising COVID-19 vaccine developments, the ability to travel again feels so close we’re ready to start planning vacations. But after a 2020 that was simultaneously tedious and draining, we don’t know whether we want an action-packed adventure holiday, or to just chill out on the beach with a cocktail in hand.
Perhaps the solution is a destination that offers both – and with Vanuatu being just over three hours on a plane from Auckland, it’s the perfect place to venture for new experiences while staying within our corner of the world. After all, interactions with our neighbours have sustained us during a difficult year, so why not extend the circle to the Pacific family? You might think all Pacific destinations offer the same experience, but Vanuatu is truly unique in terms of the variety it can offer. In addition to having the key ingredients for a relaxing escape, the natural beauty of Vanuatu lends itself to some unforgettable attractions and activities.
There are plenty of adventures to be had on both land and sea. Vanuatu is a water baby’s paradise. There are stunning beaches to choose from, but it’s also home to freshwater swimming holes that make for a fun day of rope-swinging or sipping cold drinks under the shade of ancient rainforest trees. Snorkelling is a popular activity to get you close to marine life, but did you know you can also see sunken treasures from World War II? Cars, tanks and guns dumped into the ocean off Espiritu Santo by the American military at the end of the war are so close to the surface, you can discover them with just a snorkel. Or there’s the option to take it a step further with scuba-diving, allowing you to explore sites such as the largest accessible wreck in the world, the SS President Coolidge.
When you’re all swum out, there’s more to see on land. Venture to Pentecost Island to watch the locals
TRAVEL VANUATU
take the plunge with the Nangol (land diving) ritual, the precursor to bungee jumping, which sees people leap from a wooden tower with just a vine around their ankles. Or there are many attractions on Efate, including the stunning Mele Cascades, so be sure to spend a day circumnavigating the island and taking in the breathtaking sites. And don’t forget to take a piece of your trip home with you – Haos Blong Handikraft marketplace is a treasure trove of genuine handmade island goods. The island of Tanna is also worth a visit to see the Giant Banyan Tree, which stands at 80 metres high and over 100 metres wide. And of course, at the end of all that adventure, there are many ways to wind down while continuing to soak up Vanuatu’s stunning scenery, whether it’s with a spa experience, sampling local cuisine or enjoying a beach-side beverage.
To plan your own family holiday to Vanuatu, visit vanuatu.travel