Page 170 - Pacific Paradises 2019

— Vanuatu —

than 40,000 people to work on the sugar The sights only by 4WD. From the summit, on a
plantations in Australia. Port Vila offers a range of resorts and clear day, it is possible to see other islands
scenic bus tours, island cruises and flights in the archipelago.
In the 1860s, British and French interests
purchased huge tracts of land for cotton around the archipelago. Away from the On Espiritu Santo, visit major plantations
plantations and the Ni Vanuatu retaliated capital you have the opportunity to visit growing cocoa, coffee and coconuts
by killing a number of Europeans, only villages, bathe in hot mineral springs and and explore the world’s most accessible
to suffer extensive naval bombardment shower beneath sparkling waterfalls. To passenger liner, the President Coolidge,
of their villages. The French and British familiarise yourself with the town, take wrecked in Santo Harbour. On Tanna
jointly colonised the islands in 1906. a half day bus tour, or if you are feeling island, the active Yasur volcano provides
adventurous catch a local bus. Visit the spectacular displays and it is possible
During WWII the 250,000 Americans Vanuatu Cultural Centre and Museum to venture to the crater edge. Pentecost
stationed in Vanuatu brought in enormous where you’ll see a wonderful display of Island is renowned for the antics of its
amounts of cargo which led the Ni artefacts and photographs. young men who hurl themselves off
Vanuatu to believe that such vast wealth Outside the town, hire a car or four-wheel 30–metre high towers with forest vines
could only have come from the gods. The drive and explore the old manganese attached to their ankles in a celebration of
New Hebrides gained its independence in mine, the magnificent tropical rainforest the yam harvest.
July 1980 and was renamed Vanuatu.
and friendly villages like Erakor Village.
Nature Siviri village’s famous cave is where the Where to stay
Vanuatu has rich lush tropical rainforests, children magically beat the earth to light Vanuatu has a wide variety of hotels,
volcanoes, sparkling blue lagoons, cascading the inside, and Havannah Harbour once popular resorts, guesthouses and thatched
waterfalls and beaches that range from played host to the US 7th Fleet during bungalows on offer for the budget
silky white to volcanic black. Surrounding WWII. Eton beach is a favourite, and so conscious traveller.
the land is a magic sea of aqua and dark too are the Cascades Waterfalls, a series Getting around
blues with a fascinating underwater world of small waterfalls and pools, some of Organised tours are easily joined in Port
of colourful tropical fish that live amongst which you can swim in. Mount Erskine, Vila. Car rental is an option, and as the
magnificent coral reef formations. 25 kilometres from Port Vila is accessible roads are rough outside the city, four-

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