Vanuatu, the heart of Melanesia.

An archipelago of 83 islands, Vanuatu is steeped in tradition and culture offering an abundance of stunning natural beauty and unique experiences…. coral reefs, culinary delights, active volcanoes, shipwrecks and land diving just to name a few

On her Latest holiday Christie McKay took time to explore and experience the natural beauty and uniqueness of Vanuatu…..

Mouth watering French cuisine, fantastic snorkelling, friendly people and only three hours from New Zealand - sounds too good to be true? This is Vanuatu, home of the original ‘bungy’.

People are always talking about a place that offers “something for everyone”, well the good news is that Vanuatu offers exactly that! Whether you are looking for an action packed adventure, a family vacation or a romantic retreat, this great value for money destination is able to cater for all of your needs.

Another day we ventured to the Cascades Waterfall. This tour is certainly not for the faint hearted, as there is a reasonably steep climb (albeit short!) along a muddy track through the jungle to this sacred waterfall site. Once at the top you will be well rewarded with a refreshing dip in the waterfall pools. As well as touring about we spent some relaxing days around the pool where we whiled away the day sipping local wines and enjoying the view down to the harbour.

Make sure you take a trip into Port Vila to do a spot of shopping. The bustling markets are well worth a look and offer many interesting souvenirs to purchase.

Foodies take note. Vanuatu really is the ideal destination with a boundless variety of seafood so fresh you can practically see it being caught! Papaya, mango, paw paw and other exotic fruit can often be seen growing right outside your hotel window and with over 35 cafes and restaurants to choose from in Port Vila alone, you will never run out of places to eat. For the more adventurous, I recommend you try the local speciality “flying fox bat” at L’Houstalet.

This was my second visit to Vanuatu, and it was just as enjoyable as the first. Vanuatu is a place that welcomes you back over and over again and I look forward to my next visit, hopefully soon!