Vanuatu’s volcanic islands offer a vast array of experiences for holiday-makers seeking a tropical getaway. The 83-isle archipelago, which stretches over 600 kilometres between Australia and Fiji, offers everything from magical natural attractions, incredible resorts to unique cultural traditions. And best of all its bustling capital, Port Vila, is less than a three-hour flight from Brisbane.

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Swim in a blue hole

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Freshwater springs abound in Vanuatu, coloured a dazzling sapphire by limestone from underground caves. Take turns with the locals and jump from a rope swing at the easily accessible Blue Lagoon, around 30 minutes’ drive from Port Vila on the main island Efate. Nanda blue hole, Matevulu blue hole and Riri blue hole on Espiritu Santo are equally as idyllic.

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Discover ancient customs at Ekasup Cultural Village

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A visit to this recreated village just a few kilometres from Port Vila offers a fun and educational insight into the traditional Vanuatuan way of life. Learn about fishing and hunting techniques that have been passed down through generations, Melanesian medicine practices and complex societal structures that span village chiefs to warriors.

Image credit: David Kirkland

Peruse Port Vila Markets

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This colourful open-air hub is where to head for a taste of local life. As the largest produce market in Vanuatu, the stalls at Port Vila Markets are brimming with fruit such as papaya, paw paws and mangoes, various varieties of nuts and freshly caught fish. You’ll also find beef brisket and fish curries on offer every day. Afterwards, check out the locally made jewellery, woven baskets and wooden carvings at the nearby Haos Blong Handikraft Market.

Image credit: David Kirkland

Stay on a private island

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If you like the idea of waking up on a small tropical island surrounded by a turquoise lagoon, book a villa or beach house at Erakor Island Resort. Located on its own island off Port Vila – with a boat that ferries guests back and forth to the mainland on demand – the accommodation also offers a Melanesian feast and fire show every Thursday night.

Snorkel amongst coral gardens

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Don a snorkel, mask and flippers and swim alongside turtles, colourful fish and coral in Vanuatu’s warm tropical waters. Send a waterproof postcard from the world’s only underwater post office at Hideaway Island Resort & Marine Sanctuary, near Port Vila, or explore the Million Dollar Point reef, which has formed on the remnants of United States military vehicles left in the ocean after World War II, just off Espiritu Santo.

Image credit: Iririki Island Resort and Spa

Enjoy an island feast

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Many hotels and resorts such as Iririki Island Resort & Spa to the west of Port Vila offer the chance to try traditional Vanuatuan cuisine one night a week, when they host a special island feast buffet. Think succulent chicken, slow-cooked pork and root vegetable staples, such as taro, yams, cassava and breadfruit, served with a range of salads and followed by desserts such as coconut cake and banana pudding.

Peer into Mt Yasur volcano

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Hike to the rim of a volcanic crater – it takes 45 minutes to summit – and watch lava plume high into the air at Mt Yasur, which is one of the most accessible active volcanoes on the planet. Just take a 35-minute flight or 12-hour boat ride from Port Vila to the island of Tanna and book a 4WD tour to discover its otherworldly landscapes.

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Admire the sunset at The Beach Bar Vanuatu

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Sink your toes in the sand as you watch the sun descend over the horizon at this casual eatery in Mele Bay, around 20 minutes’ drive from Port Vila. There’s a free fire show on Friday nights, while jugglers, clowns, acrobats and a live band entertain crowds of locals and tourists on Sundays.

Drink kava

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Made from the root or stump of the kava plant, this traditional drink has held deep cultural significance to Vanuatu since the archipelago was settled by the Lapita people. The bitter brown-coloured liquid is typically prepared in a carved wooden bowl and served in a cup made from a coconut during ceremonies at events such as weddings and funerals – and to welcome travellers during village visits.

Image credit: David Kirkland

Go tubing at Eden on the River

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Grab an inflatable circular tube and careen down a natural rock waterslide into the freshwater Rentapao River before exploring enticing rock pools. Eden on the River is a wild wonderland in Efate where, in addition to watersports, you can also don a harness to brave a network of suspension bridges over the forest, play mini golf and enjoy a barbecue lunch before taking a tour of the onsite plantation to learn how kava is grown.

Image credit: David Kirkland

Watch the land-diving ceremony on Pentecost Island

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Ever wonder where the adrenaline-pumping pursuit of bungee jumping came from? Right here in Vanuatu. The land-diving ritual that inspired the extreme sport takes place on Pentecost Island every Saturday from April to June. The tradition entails local men and young boys leaping from wooden towers spanning 20-to-30 metres high with only tree vines wrapped around their ankles.

Dive the SS President Coolidge

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Explore the wreck of a luxury cruise liner turned troop carrier, which sank off the coast of Espiritu Santo in 1942 after striking US mines. Known as the largest and most easily accessible shipwreck in the world, the 200-metre-long vessel remains largely intact, with cannons, chandeliers and a porcelain statue known as ‘The Lady’ among the spectacular sights for scuba divers to take in.

Image credit: Vanuatu Tourism Office

Indulge at Gaston Chocolat

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Peer through large glass windows to watch award-winning chocolate being made and taste rich and creamy ganache, eclairs and other sweet treats at this decadent Port Vila café. The eatery was founded by French-born Olivier Fernandez who moved to Vanuatu after meeting his wife at a friend’s wedding and discovering the abundance of cacao plantations across the islands.

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Try the national dish

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Known as laplap, Vanuatu’s national dish comes in slight variations from island to island. Made by grating bananas and root vegetables into a paste, the confection is then wrapped in banana leaves and cooked in an underground oven with thick coconut milk and served with beef, pork, chicken or fish. Find it at the street stalls at the Port Vila Markets.

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See water music being performed

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Water music is a Vanuatuan tradition that has historically been passed down through matrilineal lines and celebrates the relationship between the people and the sea. Watch in wonder as a row of local women rhythmically slap, splash, skim, scoop and swirl their hands through the ocean as they sing harmonious melodies emulating the sounds of dolphin calls, rushing waterfalls and raging thunderstorms. Leweton Cultural Experience and Aore Island Resort on Aore offer the best opportunities to see a performance (the latter offers nightly entertainment which often includes traditional dances).

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