Pacific Island Paradises

– 178 – www.paradises.com than 40,000 people to work on the sugar plantations in Australia. In the 1860s, British and French interests purchased huge tracts of land for cotton plantations and the Ni Vanuatu retaliated by killing a number of Europeans, only to suffer extensive naval bombardment of their villages. The French and British jointly colonised the islands in 1906. During WWII the 250,000 Americans stationed in Vanuatu brought in enormous amounts of cargo which led the Ni Vanuatu to believe that such vast wealth could only have come from the gods. The New Hebrides gained its independence in July 1980 and was renamed Vanuatu. Nature Vanuatu has rich lush tropical rainforests, volcanoes, sparkling blue lagoons, cascading waterfalls and beaches that range from silky white to volcanic black. Surrounding the land is a magic sea of aqua and dark blues with a fascinating underwater world of colourful tropical fish that live amongst magnificent coral reef formations. The sights Port Vila offers a range of resorts and scenic bus tours, island cruises and flights around the archipelago. Away from the capital you have the opportunity to visit villages, bathe in hot mineral springs and shower beneath sparkling waterfalls. To familiarise yourself with the town, take a half day bus tour, or if you are feeling adventurous catch a local bus. Visit the Vanuatu Cultural Centre and Museum where you'll see a wonderful display of artefacts and photographs. Outside the town, hire a car or four-wheel drive and explore the old manganese mine, the magnificent tropical rainforest and friendly villages like Erakor Village. Siviri village's famous cave is where the children magically beat the earth to light the inside, and Havannah Harbour once played host to the US 7th Fleet during WWII. Eton beach is a favourite, and so too are the Cascades Waterfalls, a series of small waterfalls and pools, some of which you can swim in. Mount Erskine, 25 kilometres from Port Vila is accessible only by 4WD. From the summit, on a clear day, it is possible to see other islands in the archipelago. On Espiritu Santo, visit major plantations growing cocoa, coffee and coconuts and explore the world's most accessible passenger liner, the President Coolidge, wrecked in Santo Harbour. On Tanna island, the active Yasur volcano provides spectacular displays and it is possible to venture to the crater edge. Pentecost Island is renowned for the antics of its young men who hurl themselves off 30–metre high towers with forest vines attached to their ankles in a celebration of the yam harvest. Where to stay Vanuatu has a wide variety of hotels, popular resorts, guesthouses and thatched bungalows on offer for the budget conscious traveller. Getting around Organised tours are easily joined in Port Vila. Car rental is an option, and as the roads are rough outside the city, four- wheel drive vehicles are recommended. In Port Vila, a minibus service covers three routes from sunrise to sunset and taxis operate 24–hours. Food and entertainment Port Vila offers outdoor cafés, a casino, discos and bars. A favourite is a barbecue at some of the resorts on week days where succulent local steaks, fresh fish, kebabs and a wide selection of fresh vegetables, salads and pastries are served. All major hotels have regular entertainment. International cuisine features strongly with French, Polynesian, Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, English and Japanese to choose from, as well as delicious local specialties like coconut crab, wild pigeon and flying fox cooked island-style in ground ovens. The men of Vanuatu drink kava at local kava bars and there are regular Melanesian cultural shows. There is an abundance of water sports with excellent reef and wreck diving in Efate and Santo (living aboard the dive boats). Other activities include golf in Port Vila, tennis, big game fishing, river and ocean kayaking, horseriding and cycling. — V a n u a t u —

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