Vanuatu - Expression of Interest

Includes: Sunday 9 - Monday 17 of November Return flights ex. Brisbane - Santo (flying with Air Vanuatu) Return airport transfers in Santo  8 nights quad share accommodation - Garden Bungalow - Aore Island Resort Continental bfst. Daily at Aore Island Resort Morning tea on diving days Free tank and weight belts to dive the "Blue Holes" Australian & Vanuatu departure taxes ($210.0 & subject to change)   Note: Travel insurance and personal expenses not included.  Conditions Apply. Rates subject to change  Upgrade to twin share acc. At Aore $165 / person $300 - Deposit required to secure a spot! 12 Dives Including Tanks, Weights,  Belts & Dive Guide Services (diving with Allan Power Dive Tours)

Espiritu Santo

An hours flight by light aircraft north, Santo the largest island of Vanuatu (4,010 km2) was named by De Quiros in the 17th Century when he made a navigational error of some thousands of miles in a vain attempt to find Australia.  Despite the passing of three centuries, Santo’s majestic beauty is little changed. WWII had the first profound impact. It is perhaps best known as the inspiration for James A. Mitchener’s classic “South Pacific” For travellers, the beauty of Santo is unmatched. Stunning Aore Island with beachfront bungalow - view from the water jewel-like islands lay just a few hundred metres from coconut fringed beaches lined with powdery white sand. Amazing blue water swimming holes are connected by underground caverns and majestic mountains stretching from one end of the island to the other. Awesome ravines shrouded in magnificent tropical rainforest are home to jungle birds and beautiful orchids.

AORE ISLAND RESORT - SANTO

Located on a private island, just 10 minutes from the Santo mainland and Luganville township, this quiet resort located in a working plantation offers panoramic bay views and snorkelling from the white sand beach at the front door of its beachfront bungalows
Aore Island Resort, is just 3 kilometers across the water from Espiritu Santo, and is an ex¬traordinary holiday destination and ideal base for holiday adven¬tures, or to simply relax and enjoy the privacy.

Beachfront Deluxe Bungalow - Aore Island Resort
Situated on a superb tropical waterfront Aore Island Resort is designed to blend into the local flora as well as satisfying your every holi¬day indulgence. Set on the waterfront against a picturesque backdrop compris¬ing 900 acres of coconut palms, cocoa, beef cattle and lush tropical jungle. Although its located across the water, the island is still close enough to access all the sights Santo has to offer.

ACCOMMODATION

There are 10 double/twin bures and 8 quad share/family Bungalows, all with a large balcony over¬looking the beach and ocean - Aore island is your Aore Island jetty & transfer boat own island hideaway!  All Bungalows have private bathrooms, refrigerators, electric fans, and tea and coffee making facilities.

RESTAURANT

The big Nakamal open-air restaurant and bar is set right on the beach with panoramic bay views that enhance its romantic am¬bience. World class food is served and the traditional cocktail at sunset is a must which can only be described as simply magnifi¬cent. All diets are catered for no matter what your choice, and very gen¬erous meal pack¬ages are also available on re¬quest.

Activities - Aore Resort

Swimming pool has a number of activities include swimming, fantastic diving, snorkel¬ing, kayaking, mountain biking, pool and beach volleyball, fish¬ing, coral viewing and island discovery tours by walking, biking or by bus. Day tours of Santo which take in the world famous Champagne Beach, Million Dollar Point and World War 2 relics can be easily  organized at the tour desk located on the Island. Also available is a boutique, laundry services and babysitting services.
You can snorkel the Blue Holes and a
 
Inside Deluxe Bungalow - Aore Island Resort very beautiful “secret spot” which can be found on the resort’s Tour Operator’s own Family land. Tours can also be organised to explore the bird life, native flowers/plants, turtle breeding, custom pigmy villages, river kayaking and the Matantas / Vatthe Conservation area at Big Bay on the island of Santo where horse riding is also available.

Diving Espiritu Santo

One island in Vanuatu, more than any other attracts divers like a magnet. Espiritu Santo is the island that also inspired James
A. Michiner to write his classic “South Pacific.”  Van Air operates daily services between Port Vila and Santo  -approximately 50 minutes flying time. Luganville is the main town on Espiritu Santo, and although there is excellent diving in the vicinity of Luganville, diving is mainly centered on two specific, and unique sites. The main attraction is the S.S. President Coolidge, a luxury liner which was used as a troop ship during W.W. II.  The impressive wreck -198 metres long with a gross tonnage of 33,450 -is one of the largest wrecks accessible to sport divers anywhere in the world. The dive can be done from boat or shore with an easy 50 metre walk to a line that leads to the ship’s bow. Visibility can range from 15 to 35 metres, and the sea is usually calm. Complete with munitions, military supplies and personal belongings scattered across the ocean floor, and of course the famous “Lady and the Unicorn” this dive is not to be missed. Not far away is another amazing dive site -“Million Dollar Point” . At the end of W.W.II, thousands of tons of US Military equipment was dumped into the sea. Now named because of its worth, Million Dollar Point attracts an abundance of fish life. it is quite unique swimming over bulldozers, cranes, fork lifts, trucks and a pile of various military hardware. depth , 0m - 40m.

USS Tucker

Off Malo Island is the wreck of the destroyer USS Tucker which was sunk by mines. Fairly open after salvage attempts, the Tucker allows easy entry for exploring. Many fish inhabit the wreck including Hump head Maori Wrasse. The USS Tucker was the first ship to fire against the Japanese during the attack on Pearl Harbour. Much of the ship was made of stainless steel. depth 12m - 21m.
Santo also offers world-class coral diving and spectacular drop¬offs such as “Tutuba Point” One of the best coral dives with visibility of 40m -50m (130’ ¬160’) not being uncommon. This locations main attraction is the geography. Caves, swimthroughs, chasms, crayfish, all with an abundance of spectacular hard and soft corals that seem to go on forever….. depth 5m -30m.

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