Fishing and Diving

Transport & TimeZone:

[Vanuatu Taxi] Vanuatu is +11 hours on GMT, -1hr on NZ std time, +1 Aus eastern time

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International airport - Bauerfield, 10 mins from Port Vila on Efate.

Departure tax Vatu 2,500 per person ( 12 years an over), and Vatu 400 for domestic Vanair trips – check if these are included in your airfare otherwise make sure you have some local currency.

Passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your return to your country of origin.

Most visitors (including NZ and Aus visitors) who intend to stay for less than 30 days do not require a visa.

For local air travel, the government-owned Vanair airline has regular services to 29 airstrips on 18 islands, with four 20-passenger Twin Otters based at Port Vila and Espiritu Santo.

[Tusker lunch in Vanuatu] There is a service from Port Vila to Santo four times a day or at least daily via Norsup.

Flights from Port Vila to Tanna run three times a day, via Ipota or Dillon's Bay once or twice weekly.

Most travellers will fly rather than take a boat due to the distances and time for sea travel and to be fair, sea travel is not mainstream at all. For instance, taking a boat from Port Vila to Luganville on Santo would cost a similar amount to the airfare, take three or four days on deck and worthwhile only for the experience, scenery at brief stops at the remote islands along the way.

Driving is on the right-hand side of the road, and you’ll find a range of cars and 4WD’s for hire in the main areas. Metered taxis are common and once you know your way around, you may be able to negotiate fixed rates comparable to an ordinary bus-fare.

Mini buses offer a frequent though not timetabled service. Look for the letter 'B' next to the front licence plate and simply flag one down and tell the driver where you want to go.

Banking, currency and communications

Currency – Vatu

Trading banks are ANZ, Bank of Hawaii Vanuatu, Westpac and the National Bank of Vanuatu.

Banking hours are 8:30am to 3:00pm Monday to Friday.

The National Bank of Vanuatu's airport office is open for all flight arrivals.

Foreign currency is readily transacted and the local currency unit is the Vatu. Travellers cheques are OK and banks accept most major credit and debit cards. Goodies usually has the best rate for cash and travellers cheques in Port Vila.

[Shopping in Vanuatu] Internet at main hotels, lodges and resorts, internet café in the main street at Port vila.

Mobile service - you can buy a local Vanuatu SIM card which is useful for local calls or inbound calls for the TVL network at plenty of places for a few hundred Vatu.

The two carriers are Smile and Digicell. Digicell may have slightly better coverage however and is more expensive. You can buy a top-up (locally a ‘Rifil’ card) practically anywhere and even in some of the more remote s villages, but make sure it’s the correct one for your service provider (TVL or DigiCell).

Shopping

[Shopping in Vanuatu] Apart from supermarkets and some speciality shops, many of the shops and markets close on Sundays.

Otherwise it’s around 8am to 5 or 5.30 for most shops and businesses with an 11.30 to 1.30 midday siesta – (restaurants, cafes, banks, supermarkets and the Post Office do not observe siesta).

Suburban general stores usually open early and close late seven days a week. The market in the town centre operates every day except Sunday and you find a wide range of flowers, fruit, vegetables and handicrafts for sale. Get there early if you can for the best produce.

If possible, avoid shopping on days when cruise ships are in town – prices are often higher.

Health

The urban water supply is safe to drink and bottled water is also readily available.

There are no dangerous animals or insects in Vanuatu and no vaccinations are required although anti-malarial precautions are recommended for visits to outer islands, including Santo.

Food & Dining

Fresh local fish, beef, fruit and vegetables are fresh and plentiful.

Top class restaurants offer Melanesian, French, Polynesian, Indian, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, English and Japanese specialties.

It is not local custom to bargain or give tips. Food is typically about 20-25% more expensive than New Zealand (2011)

Fishing bite times Fishing bite times

Major Bites

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