Vanuatu is a place where you can do little or a lot - it's up to you. For detailed info on what's on offer, check out our sister site, Vanuatu A to Z. There are plenty of organised day/half-day tours and a few we recommend are the Coongoola cruise, the Meridian Sunset cruise and Ekasup Village cultural experience.

Unless you are fairly insecure, you can visit places like Hideaway Island and Mele Cascades independently. For example, a tour to Mele may cost 3000vt per person while return bus fare and entry will cost half that - and you are boss of your own time.

Hideaway has some of the most accessible and rewarding snorkelling in the world and a good snack bar/restaurant (licensed). It's also home to the world's first and only underwater post office. The gear hire isn't cheap though, so if you own a mask/snorkel, it's worth packing it. Cascades is also a great experience and you don't have to be that fit. It's a 20-minute walk up and, apart from the waterfall, there are great views out to Hideaway and a number of clear, cool plunge pools.

Eton Beach is a great spot for a swim, snorkel and picnic.

Hiring a small car will do the job, or we can organise your own bus and driver or organise tours.

Café Deli can make gourmet picnic hampers or grab a BBQ chicken from Island Chicken or Traverso Freres, crusty bread rolls from a supermarket or bakery and ice from the Chew Store to keep the drinks cold. Au Peche Mignon also makes great rolls and chocolates and pastries that are sensational.

Some suggestions:

• Hideaway Island: Great snorkelling, a good snack bar and a nice place to sit and read or unwind.
• Mele Cascades: Great waterfall, refreshing plunge pools and a feel for a jungle walk without needing fitness.
• Eton Beach: A cool, clear freshwater stream meanders slowly in to warm salt water. It's a nice, sandy beach with a grassy area above, toilets, a sheltered hut, a couple of nice snorkelling spots and a breakwater for surf fishing.
• Coongoola Cruise: A lovely day on an a classic sailing ketch from Havannah Harbour to crystal clear waters, fine white coral sand beaches, reef snorkelling, fish feeding, a turtle rookery with a beach barbecue, morning and afternoon tea and perhaps a few dolphins.
• Meridian Sunset Cruise: Unwind before dinner with drinks and nibbles on this two-hour sunset cruise from Port Vila harbour.
• Ekasup Village: You must have a tour operator to experience Ekasup - a traditional ni-Vanuatu village experience. It's certainly worth it…
• Lelepa Island: A full day tour where you can take a bush walk to caves, snorkel, fish, play with dolphins, with a BBQ lunch, soft drinks, snorkelling gear, morning and afternoon refreshment provided.
• Game Fishing (from Waterfront Bar & Grill, Nautilus or South Sea Anglers: The fishing in Vanuatu is excellent and it's rare to see the big boats return without a few flags flapping in the breeze. (more info....)
• Scuba Diving (with Nautilus or Hideaway Island): Diving is also excellent and accessible. It's only about 20 minutes on a boat to dive sites with superb visibility, including wreck dives. Diving is relatively cheap and one-off introductory resort dives are available. (more info..)
• Horse Riding at Club Hippique or the Seahorse Ranch. There's riding for learners and experienced and a ride along a tropical beach or through the lush, natural vegetation is highly memorable.
• Museum & Cultural Centre: Save this one in case you have a day where the weather's not too wonderful. There's a lot on Vanuatu's interesting history from cannibalism to the Condominium.
• Parasailing from Nautilus: I haven't tried this one but I have parasailed over Sydney Harbour and, after the adrenalin shot you get spectacular views. I imagine a birds-eye look over the lush jungle, the blue-green waters and Port Vila town would be just as rewarding.
• Golf at Mele: The Port Vila Golf and Country Club is a good 18-hole seaside golf course where guests are welcome and the holes are challenging. Friendly ni-Vanuatu caddies are there to assist. (more info..)

Drop us an email for more information on the above or let us know what you want from a holiday and we'll try to help, cost and obligation free.

Because we love Vanuatu, we hate seeing visitors being booked into inappropriate accommodation or returning home missing some of the major attractions. We want your word-of-mouth to bring the country more tourists.