According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), last year was a record year for outbound travel in Australia. Despite the unstable weather conditions throughout the world, this year is still shaping up well for international travel, especially with the strong Aussie dollar.
A great way to take advantage of this while staying comfortably close to home is to visit Vanuatu. Steeped in a rich, ancient history and with some of the most amazing natural beauty on Earth, Vanuatu is a magical island of volcanoes, underwater shipwrecks, ancient art and dance, cascading waterfalls and a myriad of hidden bays and beaches.
Vanuatu accommodation is ideally positioned to make the most of the lush tropical islands, warm turquoise waters, friendly colourful culture and fantastic food. The resorts and hotels are scattered across the island with accommodation to suit all types of travellers and budgets. The facilities available at each hotel and resort vary as much as the island itself. Whatever your needs, you can enjoy access to day spas, fully equipped gyms and huge lagoon style pools. While some accommodation is aimed for the more budget conscious traveller, all accommodation is of a high standard and is a lovely place to retire for a peaceful night's sleep after a day of adventure spent exploring the island.
Originally inhabited by people from Melanesia, Vanuatu was first settled by Europeans in the 19th century. Called New Hebrides by the French and UK land claimants, it then became known as Vanuatu in 1980 during the island's independence. Made up of 83 smaller islands, Vanuatu's largest island is Espiritu Santo and it's capital, Port Vila, is located on the island of Efate. Renowned for its non-threatening active volcanoes, the shoreline is characterised by rocky fringe reefs. Popular for its sub-tropical climate, Vanuatu experiences 9 months of hot weather followed by a few months of cooler, dry conditions.
