A short hop from Australia’s east coast, Vanuatu delivers the kind of Pacific getaway that still feels wonderfully unhurried. Oft overlooked in favour of its more popular neighbours, its under-the-radar status means a holiday here is a genuine escape. Think coral reefs with abundant sea life, turquoise lagoons, verdant jungle and a hospitality style that’s warm, genuine and proudly local.
Each of the three frequented islands brings its own rhythm: Efate pairs Port Vila’s bustling markets with lagoon-fringed coves; Espiritu Santo adds luminous blue holes, famous beaches and world-class diving; and Tanna turns up the drama with volcano Mount Yasur’s nightly glow.
As the islands steady after the December 2024 earthquake, coming now feels doubly rewarding with coral-bright days and laid-back luxury stays resulting in a community rebuilding.
Where you stay shapes the story. Given Vanuatu’s popularity with honeymooners, resorts here skew intimate and romantic. But you’ll also find numerous family-oriented resorts that bring five-star flair and fun in equal measure.
Here are the best luxury resorts across Efate, Santo and Tanna to help you choose the perfect base for your Vanuatu adventure.
GT‘s top picks for Vanuatu accommodation in 2025
- Eratap Beach Resort (here’s why)
- The Moso Vanuatu (here’s why)
- The Havannah Vanuatu (here’s why)
- Ratua Private Island Resort (here’s why)
- White Grass Ocean Resort (here’s why)
Best resorts on Efate, Vanuatu
Eratap Beach Resort
Editor’s pick: Best five-star resort near Port Vila
Sitting on its own peninsula, flanked by a calm lagoon to the east and cerulean ocean to the west, Eratap is a cruisey 20-minute drive from Port Vila but feels a world away. It’s barefoot luxury at its best, with sunny-faced staff, well-kept gardens and relaxed five-star flourish to boot. Boats with drivers are on standby for exploring nearby islands; Margaritas arrive poolside on cue; and serene sunset scenes call for a Champagne toast on the beach. Eratap offers various villa options, many of which feature their own beach-facing private pool. Guest numbers are tightly capped, too, so it never feels busy – plus, you’ll never have to worry about getting a table at the standout beachfront restaurant.
The Moso Vanuatu
Editor’s pick: Best for remote relaxation
Owned by Australian expats Joel Slattery and Antoun Jabbour, this slice of paradise is located on Moso Island, just a short 10-minute boat ride from Efate. It’s the type of off-grid boutique resort where you drop stress at the door and embark on a journey of ultimate chill. There are no cars, no other resorts – just untapped tropical island bliss paired with signature big-smile Ni-Vanuatu hospitality. Villas range from proud beachfront properties to hidden hilltop houses with private pools. Meanwhile, activity is centred around the resort’s restaurant and bar, where Piña Coladas are in no short supply and a single hammock strung above calm water invites a mid-afternoon doze of a lifetime.
The Havannah Vanuatu
Best resort for romantic escapes
Reopening in late 2025
The Havannah Vanuatu is poised along the white sands of Samoa Point, surrounded by flame trees and sprawling gardens. Long considered a top-tier Vanuatu retreat for honeymooners and the luxury jetset, this family-owned resort is slated to reopen in late 2025 after extensive restorations following the 2024 earthquake. Villas range from waterfront to lagoon to garden suites, each blending South Pacific charm and handicrafts with modern amenities – all enveloping calm and privacy so you slip into holiday mode almost immediately.
Iririki Island Resort & Spa
Best for overwater bungalows
Private island escapism meets overwater bungalow bliss at Iririki Island Resort. Located just a three-minute ferry ride from downtown Port Vila, Iririki is a 69-acre sanctuary with multiple pools, a tranquil day spa, plenty of watersports and a clutch of dining venues, so you can keep days blissfully contained between snorkels and sundowners. Accommodation spans romantic oceanfront bungalows to family-friendly suites, and expansive leafy grounds make even a full house feel unhurried.
Breakas Beach Resort
Best resort for a traditional feel
All 63 rooms at Breakas are traditional farés – bungalows influenced by local Vanuatu and South Pacific design – where roofs are thatched with natangora leaves and shutters are made of local timber. The 22-metre infinity pool is the popular drawcard, offering an eyeline view over the Pacific. With its convenient location near the capital, Breakas blends barefoot charm with easy access to Efate’s dining and day trips, which makes it ideal for a romantic extended weekend, as does the fact that the resort is child-free. On-site massages, a breezy bar and restaurant, and a surf-friendly break out front complete the holiday dream scene, while staff are on hand to arrange everything from snorkelling adventures to island tours.
Tamanu on the Beach
Best for sophisticated family holidays
Reopening in November 2025
While Vanuatu is a honeypot for honeymooners, Tamanu offers a family-friendly holiday without the Club Med connotations. Long lunches under palms, golden-hour beach walks and serene spa moments give Tamanu its grown-up feel while the kids’ club and suite of activities make it fun for all. Fifteen standalone villas face the ocean, pairing pared-back luxury with privacy; many with private plunge pools for moonlit soaks. The open-air beachfront restaurant showcases local ingredients, and the resort has all the comforts and amenities you’d expect of a five-star stay. There’s also a large saltwater pool – though the mighty Pacific is just steps away.
Best resorts on Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu
Ratua Private Island Resort
Best for entire island buy-outs
Located just off Vanuatu’s biggest island, Espiritu Santo, Ratua Island is home to one of the best luxury eco-resorts in the archipelago. This private island stretches across 146 acres of untouched beauty, where lush tropical landscape is dotted with 14 Javanese teakwood villas, each with an idiosyncratic edge, sweeping ocean views, plush king beds and seamless indoor-outdoor design. Should you have enough deep-pocketed friends, Ratua can be rented out for private groups, too.
Aore Island Resort
Best for relaxed convenience
Slip across the Canal du Segond to Aore Island Resort: your gateway to Espiritu Santo’s bucket-list adventures and awe-striking sights. The resort is popular with travellers who prize authenticity over big-hotel glitz — think hammocks, breezy thatched-roof bungalows and all-smiles service. By day, it’s a launchpad for blue-hole swims, Champagne Beach day trips, snorkelling above coral gardens metres from shore, and world-class diving on historic wrecks. By night, it’s all sherbet sunsets, starry skies and beachfront dining as the gentle trade winds roll through.
Barrier Beach Resort
Best for design-led seclusion
On Espiritu Santo’s powder-white shoreline, this architect-designed boutique stay majors in quiet luxury. Villas open onto private decks shaded by tropical green, while sundecks spill directly onto the sand for year-round swimming in lagoon-calm waters protected by an offshore reef. It’s an elegant home base for exploring northern Vanuatu with enough polish to feel indulgent and just enough restraint to keep the island magic at the fore.
Best resorts on Tanna, Vanuatu
White Grass Ocean Resort
Best for exploring Mount Yasur
On a sheltered stretch of Tanna’s wild west coast, White Grass Ocean Resort is the refined counterpoint to the island’s rugged landscape. Waterfront bures sit amid manicured tropical grounds above a coral-fringed shoreline, presenting a sense of calm on an island that attracts adventure-seekers wanting to catch a glimpse of Mount Yasur, one of the world’s most active volcanoes and undeniably Vanuatu’s top attraction. The resort offers a 4WD tour to the volcano, passing wild horses, coffee plantations, remote villages, black sand beaches and ash plains before a short hike up to the crater. After such thrills, horizon-watching from a deck chair with a good read provides balance.
Rockwater Resort Vanuatu
Best for eco-resort luxury
Also on Tanna Island, Rockwater Resort is a design-forward eco-lodge with a serious sustainability brief. Much of the resort is carved into the limestone coast at Ipak Bay, resulting in the sought-after Rock Suites which boast plush king beds, curved walls and ocean views from private courtyards. Expect five-star polish, waterfront lounging and easy access to the island’s highlights, from the neighbouring marine park to high-octane volcano expeditions.
The best months to visit Vanuatu are May and September. Both are shoulder months in the dry season and offer warm days, low humidity, mostly clear skies and calmer seas. However, the dry season (May–October) is reliably pleasant. It is best to avoid travelling to Vanuatu during the wet/cyclone season (January–March).
It is best to stay in Vanuatu’s more popular islands for travellers: Efate, Espiritu Santo or Tanna. Efate and Espiritu Santo offer direct flights from Sydney and Brisbane, respectively, making both islands easy for travellers. Tanna, on the other hand, is accessible by a 45-minute domestic flight from Efate. All islands offer five-star resorts ranging from conveniently located resorts to secluded retreats.
No, Vanuatu is not typically expensive to visit for an island holiday and is considered a mid-range destination. Flights are often on sale, accommodations range from basic to high-end luxury, and food is generally reasonable. For Australian travellers, Vanuatu is considered cheaper than the likes of Hawai’i and Tahiti but more expensive than Bali.
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