South Pacific
The nearest Pacific island group, and the least crowded.
Three hours from Australia's east coast, and still genuinely off the tourist grid — Vanuatu is the Pacific for the curious.
Vanuatu is an adventure destination that happens to have very good beaches. Espiritu Santo has the freshwater blue holes and the wreck of the SS President Coolidge, one of the most accessible large wreck dives in the world. Tanna has an accessible active volcano you can stand on the rim of at dusk. Efate has Port Vila, the markets, and the resorts most visitors use as their base.
The luxury tier here is smaller than Fiji's — a handful of excellent boutique properties rather than a full private-island collection. Which is exactly why matching the property to the traveller matters so much.
Who this suits
The right traveller for Vanuatu.
If you want a manicured five-star resort with three restaurants, Fiji will serve you better.
- ◆Divers, particularly wreck divers
- ◆Adventurous couples and families with teenagers
- ◆Travellers who have done Fiji and want something less polished
- ◆Short-break travellers from Brisbane and Sydney
Signature experiences
The days worth building the trip around.
The Santo blue holes
Freshwater springs of an almost unreal blue, reached by river or a rough track — worth both.
Diving the SS President Coolidge
A 200-metre liner accessible from the shore, with the Lady still in place at 40 metres.
Mount Yasur at dusk
Standing at the rim of a live volcano as it throws lava into a darkening sky.
Champagne Beach
Frequently named among the world's finest beaches, and usually empty on non-cruise days.
From Belinda's island archive
When to go
Every month has its Vanuatu.
- Apr – OctDry, cooler and the best window for diving visibility and volcano visits.
- Nov – MarHotter, wetter and within the cyclone season. Green, quiet and inexpensive.
Belinda's note on Vanuatu
“Vanuatu is my recommendation for the traveller who says they want the Pacific but not another resort week. Come for Santo, stay for how little of it has been packaged.”
Belinda Hackett · Matai Fiji Gold Specialist
Next step
Tell Belinda what you're picturing.
Five short steps, read personally — and a tailored Vanuatu proposal, usually within one business day.
Elsewhere in the collection