Scenically and culturally diverse, Vanuatu is the friendly face of the Pacific - in fact, it has been voted as one of the happiest places in the world. The famous author, James A Michener, was stationed in Vanuatu during the war, and its beauty inspired him to write his classic novel, Tales of the South Pacific. Today, Vanuatu's 83 islands are still renowned for their scenery, with mountainous volcanoes, lush rainforest, lagoons and sandy beaches offering a stunning and diverse holiday environment. You can climb to the rim of Tanna's fiery Mt Yasur volcano, sample the world famous diving at Espiritu Santo, enjoy a magical tour in the South Pacific's only flying boat or just relax and enjoy the gentle pace of life.

Within the island groups, many of Vanuatu's tribes have their own cultural traditions and language, and tribal customs continue to play an important part in everyday life. Vanuatu was colonised by both the French and the English, and in the capital of Port Vila, on Efate, you'll find the French influence reflected in the superb wine and food. Many of Vanuatu's islands are serviced by the domestic airline so visitors have a wide range of destinations to choose from, each offering something different in terms of scenery and culture.

Geographic Location

2000km north of Auckland, New Zealand; 2500km north-east of Sydney, Australia; and 800km west of Nadi, Fiji. The 83 islands of Vanuatu cover a total land area of about 13,000sq km

Population

180,000

Capital City

Port Vila on the island of Efate

Climate

Dry season: April to November. June, July and August have the coolest temperatures. The average temperature is 25ºC and humidity 60%.
Wet Season: December to March, with average temperature 32ºC and humidity 80%

Time Zone

Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) plus 11 hours

For more information on Vanuatu, visit www.vanuatu.travel

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