Tag Archives: Vanuatu

Travel Articles

Hanging out at Hideaway Island

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When I went to Vanuatu, I had one island that I really wanted to visit: Tanna Island.

Tanna is home to the world’s most accessible volcano and my time living in a little beach side hut there was perfectly relaxing. Only two things disturbed my peace on that island – the burning black volcanic sand and the sonic boom explosions of Yasur Volcano. To get there, you have to fly into the main island of Vanuatu, Efate.

Efate is where the international airport arrivals land. This island, along with Espiritu Santo are the two main island in this archipelago of 83 islands. Most visitors coming to a resort will hang out at either of these islands, and if you want to spend a bit of time around Efate Island and the capital Port Vila, there are plenty of hotels and resorts around. One of the most interesting ones is called Hideaway Island.

Hideaway Island Welcome Sign
The Hideaway Island Welcome Sign

 

It’s on the outskirts of town, so you need to take a short taxi / truck ride to get there. The islanders are friendly, so finding someone to give you a ride, real taxi or not, is pretty easy. Then it’s a quick 10-minute ferry crossing to Hideaway Island and your own little piece of paradise.

Palm trees and beaches await, as does the beach bar and – most interestingly – the world’s first underwater post office!

View from Post office
View from above the Underwater Post Office at Hideaway Island

 

How cool is that?

I chose to stay at the Hideaway Island Resort & Sanctuary after my time on Tanna Island, because I was on a budget and they offer cheaper dorm type rooms in addition to their nice private bungalows. It proved to be a great choice as I was the only person in my 4-bed dorm room! I spent my time relaxing on the beach and snorkeling around the island, where you’ll see plenty of tropical fish.

Attempting to dive down to the underwater post office barrel is a heck of a challenge too. You can actually buy waterproof postcards to ‘mail’ yourself when they have a diver working down there to receive your postcards. Considering that back on Tanna Island there was a Volcano Post post office, I thought it was neat visiting these two odd post offices on my visit.

Underwater Post Office
A murky photo of the underwater post office. Nobody home right now…

 

If you get hungry or thirsty, the food at Hideaway Island will do the job, but I decided to head into town. Between the ferry, walk and taxi it takes around 30 minutes to go back and forth. In town there are some fruit markets or plenty of tourist restaurants to choose from. I spent most of my meal time at the waterfront bar and restaurant at Anchor Inn as it is one of the better beer places in town, serving Vanuatu Tusker and Vanuatu Bitter beers.

Ferry and Boat Dock
The Ferry and Boat Dock at Hideaway Island

 

After heading back to Hideaway Island at night, there was always some kind of lively activity happening at the island bar. Whether it was live music or drinks specials, the people staying at the island resort were a fun bunch to hang out with. Definitely a fun place to stay if you’re looking for something a little different from your usual hotel stay.

If you do make it to Hideaway Island in Vanautu…just watch out for:

Beware of Falling Coconuts
Beware of Falling Coconuts at Hideaway Island

 

Travel Articles

Living the Hut Life in Vanuatu

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What would you do if you were on a remote tropical island, without your luggage and without any shops to buy clothes or essentials?

Live the hut life, of course! That is what happened to me when I landed on Tanna Island in Vanuatu and the only things that made it with me were the clothes on my back and the stuff in my carry-on camera bag.

Friendly Bungalows - Tanna Island
My Hut, or Bungalow, on Tanna Island in Vanuatu

 

In reality I didn’t need anything else. Sure, I could have used my camera tripod to get some better photos. I could have used a change of clothes in the sweltering heat of the day too. But I was living on a beach in Vanuatu for the next few days so I didn’t let it worry me. I had my toothbrush and critical items with me, so it wasn’t a big deal.

Friendly Bungalows, Vanuatu
Living the Hut Life in Vanuatu, on Tanna Island

 

I had my own hammock. My own Friendly Bungalow (the name of the place I stayed at on Tanna Island) and my own beach too. I could have run around naked if I wanted to, after all that’s what all the locals did at the far end of the beach when they needed to wash up in the Pacific Ocean.

When not walking up and down the scorching black volcanic beach, I was dining on massive plates of fruit and seafood, learning how to hack open coconuts, or hiking up to Yasur Volcano for one of nature’s best fireworks shows.

My South Pacific Beach
My South Pacific Beach on Tanna Island. Black Sand = HOT.

 

The hut life was great. No wi-fi, no TV, no street lights…no stress and only one other guest staying nearby.

It was simplicity at it’s best. My beach side bungalow had been made of all local materials. A bamboo bed frame and furniture, a locally weaved hammock, an open-space coral floor bathroom and shower, a thatched roof.

My Hammock
My Beckoning Hammock with the Ocean in the Background...

 

This was one place where I was finally able to totally unwind, sit back and read a book – something I seem to never make time for at home…too many digital distractions I suppose?

By the time my hosts Mary and Jessel at Friendly Bungalows had tracked down my luggage at the end of day two I didn’t want or need anything I was missing, I had already adapted to the simple Melanesian island lifestyle.  (My luggage was still at the airport in Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu on Efate Island.)

Fruitful Breakfast on Tanna Island
A Fruitful Breakfast on Tanna Island - Yellow Watermelon, Pineapple and Banana

 

When I left Tanna and was finally reunited with my luggage it felt more like a burden than a relief. At least I smelled a little better though!

Wildlife and Nature

Volcano Shock Waves in Vanuatu

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I’m not sure about you, but whenever I travel I tend to have an inability to just sit back and enjoy some free time. I tend to cram as many highlights and attractions into as little time as possible. There are so many new meals, exotic drinks and unfamiliar sites out there to experience.

This curiosity, or need to keep moving, came to the surface when planning a trip to New Zealand. I had a handful of free, unplanned days on the North Island that I wasn’t sure what to do with. I could have just bobbed around Auckland or taken some day trips, but then I made the mistake of looking at a map.

Hmm. What are all those islands near New Zealand? New Caledonia, Tonga, Norfolk Island, Samoa…Vanuatu! And so, one trip led to another. I had previously heard of Tanna Island in Vanuatu, with the world’s most accessible active volcano.

Getting to Tanna, let alone Yasur volcano, is definitely half the fun! That I will save that for another post though, as this post is all about the volcano.

Volcano Lava Fields
You have to cross Lava Fields and Streams to get to Yasur Volcano

 

Volcano Post - the Post Office at Yasur Volcano
Volcano Post Office and Safety Viewing Sign

 

I visited when the volcano was being nice, as in the explosions were not excessively large, so I could get right up close to the crater – only 150m away from the vents! When the volcano gets mean, you can’t climb up to the edge of the vents and sometimes have to settle for viewing the show from down on the lava fields – safe, but far from the action.

Hiking along a Volcano
Hiking to the Viewing Area at Yasur Volcano, Vanuatu

 

Standing near tdge of the Volcano
Edge of the Volcano. You could walk along there, if you dare.

 

Fiery red, spewing streaks of lava and balls of glowing rocks the size of cars are what I’ve come to see here on Tanna Island. You arrive just before dusk and hear the gurgling, hissing sound of the volcano. With clear skies you get a panoramic view of the island and surrounding ocean. Then, every 3-10 minutes a massive eruption and shockwave.

Settled in at Volcano Viewing Area
The Calm Before the Lava Storm, View of both Lava Vents on Yasur Volcano

 

Splattered Lava on the Volcano
Lava Splattered Around the Crater, After an Explosion

 

If you visit on a rainy day you may get a crazy mix of ash clouds and lava. Toxic, apocalyptic looking clouds that hopefully don’t blow your way!

Toxic Cloud Burst of Lava
A Lava Eruption and Toxic Cloud of Ash at Yasur Volcano, Vanuatu

 

As darkness falls, the lava glows brighter and the eruptions more vibrant…until finally you’re alone in the darkness, watching nature’s version of a crackling, roaring camp fire. In between eruptions it is almost pure darkness, which adds to the excitement.

Lava Vents, Small Explosions
Small Explosions in the Darkness at Both Lava Vents on Yasur Volcano

 

It’s better than watching TV, and more nerve-racking than a suspense movie. As you wait for the next explosion with camera ready (tripod mandatory!)  In between explosions the released lava bombs spread across the crater and slowly cool, then fade to black. You’re left waiting…waiting…waiting for the next big explosion.

Glowing Lava cooling on Yasur Volcano
Cooling Lava after a medium sized explosion on Tanna Island

 

Then, suddenly you hear it, feel it, see it all at once. This hissing gives way to an echoing thunderous explosion, sending a wave of energy your way almost strong enough to knock you off your feet. With that shockwave, hot lava is thrown hundreds of feet into the air creating the most impressive fireworks display.

Vanuatu Volcano Explosion
Lava Explosion in Vanuatu!

 

Lava Explosion Closeup
Closeup of a large Shockwave-producing Lava Explosion in Vanuatu

 

Within seconds, it’s over and the expelled lava is cooling, darkening once again – giving you enough time to check and see if you got ‘the shot’.

I don’t know if I captured any award-winning lava shots, but it was sure fun watching the show and was a perfect side-trip on my New Zealand adventure.