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Vanuatu |
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About the Country |
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| People | |
| Predominantly Melanesian, the people speak English, French and Bislama, a form of pidgin. The Ni Vanuatu have populated these islands for centuries and with more than 105 distinctly different cultures and languages still thriving, Vanuatu is recognised as one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. | |
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The
first European to visit these shores was Spanish navigator Fernandes de
Quiros who landed at Big Bay on Espiritu Santo in 1606. The French
explorer, Bougainville, arrived almost 160 years later and in 1774 Captain
James Cook charted all the islands and named the archipelago the New
Hebrides. In 1839, missionary John Williams attempted to impose western ways and Christianity on the Ni Vanuatu and was clubbed to death and eaten. The locals had no defences however, against the slave traders, known as black-birders who shanghaied more 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 WW2 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 independence in July, 1980 and was renamed Vanuatu. |
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Vanuatu
has rich lush tropical rainforests, volcanoes, sparkling blue lagoons,
cascading waterfalls and beaches that range from silky white to volcanic
black. Vanuatu has two of the Worlds most active vulcanoes, on Tanna and on Ambrym Island. You can climb to the crater edge and witness the hell of fire and boiling lava inside. On Tanna you might also see wild horses, in fact they live in large numbers on the islands lush vegetated western side. Sights |
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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.
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 WW2.
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, 25kms from Port Vila is accessible only by 4WD. From the summit,
on a clear day, it is possible to see other islands of 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. For more general information on Vanuatu to: |
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For more regional information on Vanuatu, go to: For more product information on Vanuatu to: |
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