Vanuatu - Info & Facts

Suggested Length of Stay

Recommended lengths of stay in Vanuatu stay anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the level of relaxation you are after.

Modes of transport

Roads

Paved highways encircle the two big islands connecting villages, towns and cities so it’s fairly easy to get around.

Buses

In Port Vila the buses are minivans seating about 10 people, which largely traverse the main road and go and stop where you would like them to go. You can easily tell and bus as their licence plate starts with a “B”

Wave at them to stop one heading in the direction you want to go. They are plentiful within the city and outside the city you can usually arrange for a bus to meet you at a particular time. If one looks full, just wait for the next one.

Taxis

Taxis are plentiful within Port Vila. Fare is calculated per taxi. You can easily tell and tax as their licence plate starts with a “T”. Within Vila Town, the taxi is 500 vatu for everyone inside, so if you have more than 3 people, it’s cheaper than a bus.

By Sea

By boat

There are two ferry boats operating regularly on the route Vila – Santo: 1: Vanuatu Ferry and the Big Sista. Both ships are fairly comfortable.

Vanuatu Ferry typically leaves Vila on Monday. The passage to Santo takes a bit over 24 hours. Vanuatu Ferry usually stops at Litzlitz (near Lakatoro) on Malekula before continuing to Santo, but they might stop at other ports on the way if they have enough cargo to drop off or pick up. Check their office on the main road in Vila near Au Bon Marche 2. Usually, the return trip from Santo is out on Wednesday. Lately, Vanuatu Ferry has also been servicing Tanna

By Air

The national airline, Air Vanuatu, operates domestic flights throughout the islands. Comfortable daily flights in the 72 seater ATR aircraft connect Port Vila with Santo and Tanna, but elsewhere, domestic flights are a very different experience from flying internationally with Air Vanuatu. You’re likely to be on a tiny plane with no assigned seating, airports are bush airstrips with no facilities, schedules change continuously and at short notice, and nobody minds what your hand luggage looks like or contains so long as it fits on board. There is theoretically a 10kg baggage limit on domestic flights, but for foreign tourists with a suitcase slightly heavier than this, the limit is often ignored.

Health Precautions

There are no dangerous animals or insects in Vanuatu and no vaccinations are required although anti-malarial precautions are recommended for visits to outer islands. The urban water supply is safe to drink and bottled water is also readily available.

Food and Drink

The core ingredients of much of Vanuatu’s cuisine are taro, yam, banana, coconut and seafood. Most people in Vanuatu grow their own food, so you will see gardens overflowing with mangoes, papayas, plantains, and sweet potatoes, with a few chickens or pigs strutting around in between.

Markets are a great place to explore the fresh, local produce in Vanuatu. You can shop for juicy tropical fruits to snack on, or stop by the food stalls to try home-cooked dishes and eat alongside ni-Vanuatu. This is one of the most cost-effective ways to get a proper taste of local Vanuatu cuisine.

Money

The introduction of the International Companies Act made Vanuatu one of the most attractive and competitive financial centres in the world. Trading banks are ANZ, BRED, Westpac and the National Bank of Vanuatu. Banking hours are 8:30 am to 3:00 pm Monday to Friday. The National Bank of Vanuatu’s airport office is open for all flight arrivals.

Foreign currency is readily transacted and the local currency unit is the Vatu. Traveller’s cheques or cash are easily converted into the local currency during your visit and can be exchanged when leaving at the airport. The banks will accept most major credit and debit cards and Goodies usually has the best rate for cash and traveller’s cheques in town.

Time Zone

Vanuatu are one hour ahead of AST (Australian Standard Time) and 11 hours ahead of GST (Greenwich Standard Time or UT). There is no daylight saving in summer. Sunrise is generally around 6 am, while sunset is around 6 pm.

Visas

Australian passport holders do not need a visa for Vanuatu

Embassy & Consulate contacts for Vanuatu

Australian High Commission

PO Box 111, Port Vila, Vanuatu

Phone (678) 22 777 Fax (678) 23 948

Email australia_vanuatu@dfat.gov.au

Vanuatu Embassy & Consulate contacts in Australia

Vanuatu High Commission

16 Thesiger Ct, Deakin ACT 2600

Phone: (02) 6282 9931

Electricity

220-230 volts AC, mainly three-point plugs in hotels.

Getting there (stopovers)

Air Vanuatu operated direct services to Port Vila

Tipping

There is no tipping or bargaining, it goes against local tradition. A smile and a ‘thank you’ is tip enough. Mind you, the prices at the souvenir markets do rise on days when cruise ships are in dock, so it’s best to put off the shopping for a day if you know one is in town.