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Aneityum is the southernmost island in
the Vanuatu archipelago. It is mountaineous with extinct volcanos, the
highest of which is 852 m. Today, its population is about 550, down from
an estimated 12000 before the first arrival of the Europeans in 1793. The land is fertile and
used to be logged for sandalwood. Today, a reforestation project has
replanted kauri which is now being exported.
The airport is serviced twice a week from Port
Vila and Tanna. It is installed on a small island called Inyeug or Mystery
Island to the passengers of cruise ships which regularly anchor inside the
beautiful bay. Transport from the airstrip to the main village of
Anelgawat is a ten minute boat ride over the turquoise waters between
Mystery Island and the mainland.
There are no cars on this island, apart from the
few vehicles of the forestry project. Aneityum is ideal for the keen
bushwalker, offering many tracks and paths. . It is harder work in the
interior, but worth it for the magnificent mountain scenery punctuated by
massive kauri pines and ancient waterfalls. Three mountains dominate the
interior, two of them extinct volcanoes, Mt Inrerow Atahein and Mt
Tahentchai. Accessible reefs, such as Port Patrick and Inmal Reef, are
ideal for diving and hot springs at Umetch, Itchepthav Bay and Anwunupol
offer a rewarding soak at the end of a long day.
The locals at Anawamet have created an offshore
marine sanctuary to protect the numerous turtles that feed there, whereas
they are hunted for food elsewhere on the island. Vanair links Aneityum to
Vila. The island is surrounded by a reef which makes
snorkeling very interesting. Around the island, several waterfalls and hot
springs can be visited.
The island was the first centre of the
Presbyterian church and the haunting remains of the once largest
missionary church in the Southern Hemisphere now stand in ruins. Rev. John
Geddie(1848) was the first Presbyterian missionary to establish himself in
Vanuatu and built the 1000 seat stone church for the 3500 islanders, of
which he managed to convert three quarters. For
more general information
on Vanuatu to: |
