There’s more to Vanuatu than Survivor Vanuatu: Season 9.
Just two and a half hours direct flight from Brisbane, or an hour’s flight by light aircraft north from Port Vila, Espiritu Santo, the largest island of Vanuatu (4,010 km2) was named by De Quiros in the 1606 when he made a navigational error of some thousands of miles in a vain attempt to find Australia.
For travelers, the beauty of Espiritu Santo is unmatched. Stunning 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. Huge Kauri trees still grow in the southwest mountain forests. In the north, Big Bay conservation area, Vanuatu’s first National Park is the first step to ensure this beautiful island will remain pristine.
Adventures in Vanuatu Today: Diving, Trekking
For scuba divers, Espiritu Santo is the Mecca of the South Pacific. It is the final resting place of the 22,000 ton liner turned troopship SS “President Coolidge” and the destroyer USS “Tucker,” both victims of US placed mines.
For the adventurer & trekkers, Espiritu Santo island has the highest mountain in the Vanuatu, Mt Tabwemasana (1879m), Santo Peak (1747m), 80% of the island is covered by thick tropical jungle. You can trek anywhere on this island, with the right guides with villages’ permission. A few trekking tours exist, including the not-so-soft adventure tour “Millennium Cave” and the tour to the genuine custom village “Marakai”.
Vanuatu and World War II
Despite the passing of four centuries, Espiritu Santo’s majestic beauty is little changed. It is perhaps best known as the inspiration for James A. Michener’s classic “Tales of the South Pacific.” Indeed, it was only the advent of WWII that had any real impact on the people and landscape of the island.
During the course of the war, over 100,000 allied troops and support staff was stationed here during WWII. Amid the thick jungle, you’ll find remnants of crashed B17 bombers, deserted Dakotas and Quonset huts. Many of the buildings in the only town, Luganville, are old Quonset huts, with fences of upright Marsden matting rusting away under a deluge of decorative vines.
Beneath the waves at Million Dollar Point, divers can view the legacy of military evacuation, where the U.S. forces dumped thousands of tons of war surplus prior to returning home.
Jimmy Stevens and Fanafo
In 1960’s Jimmy Stevens created custom village called Fanafo. Jimmy Stevens, known as “Moses” (born 1910s or 1920s and died 28 February 1994,), was a Ni-Vanuatu nationalist and politician. As leader of the conservative Nagriamel movement, he declared the independence of Espiritu Santo island as the “State of Vemerana” in June 1980 and referred to himself as “prime minister.” Stevens was of part-European, part-Melanesian, and part-Polynesian descent. He reportedly had 23 wives and fathered four dozen children.
After the Republic of Vanuatu was granted independence in July, Prime Minister Walter Lini deployed Papua New Guinean troops and the revolt was crushed in August.
For more information on Vanuato and the area, visit: http://www.wreckstorainforest.com