Champagne Beach The South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu broke into the headlines a few years ago when the Happy Planet Index ranked it the happiest nation on earth. With beaches like this, how could locals not be euphoric?
The crescent of sand at Champagne Beach looks upon a lagoon fringed with coral. The beach gets its name from a phenomenon witnessed by the first travelers to the region — the shallow waters appear to fizz at low tide, as if the beach is swimming in bubbly.
In truth, the effect is caused by gas escaping from volcanic rocks on the sea floor.
On the east coast of Espiritu Santo, the country’s biggest island, Champagne Beach is a relatively popular tourist destination, particularly with Australian cruise shippers, though it does retain a quiet, laid-back feel.
There is no public transportation to the beach.
Transportation in Vanuatu
There are no public transport systems in Vanuatu. Privately owned mini buses are common and run unspecified routes through the municipal areas. You need only board one heading in approximately the right direction and tell the driver where you wish to stop and you will get there, albeit by a circuitous and interesting route, but you will get there eventually!
Buses and taxis are great value with the added bonus of meeting the locals immediately.
This transportation in Vanuatu page will tell you all you need to know about travelling in and around Vanuatu. Use our Vanuatu Guide if you want to know more about travelling to Vanuatu, the ultimate island getaway.
Vanuatu Transportation Guide
Taxis are also plentiful and relatively inexpensive if there are more than one passenger. To get to other parts of Efate or in the other islands, utilities (4 wheel drive “utes” or “trucks”) are licensed (or not, but that is not enforced) to carry passengers and can be found everywhere. Air Vanuatu Domestic airline offer services between islands, and there are a limited number of charter aircraft. Inter Island trading vessels also depart for the islands on a semi-regular basis (see Fresh Cargo). We do not recommend you use inter island cargo ships, as their timetable is quite unreliable, and they are not the safest means of transport, a few have sunk in the past years. If you must, ensure you have plenty of travel time before using ships.
Getting to Vanuatu
Vanuatu is serviced by six airlines:
Air Vanuatu – Telephone: +(678) 23878, Fax: +(678) 23250,
Air New Zealand – Telephone: +(678) 22666, Fax: +(678) 24275,
Air Pacific – Telephone: +(678) 22836, Fax: +(678) 23538,
Air Calin – Telephone: +(678) 22739, Fax: +(678) 24301,
Pacific Blue – Telephone: +(678) 22836, Fax: +(678) 23538,
From Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Fiji and the Solomon Islands you may arrive at the Bauerfield (Port Vila) International Airport. There is also a direct flight from Brisbane flying into Pekoa Airport (Luganville) in Espiritu Santo Island.
There are no passenger ships apart from cruise ships on packaged holidays that visit Vanuatu and spend a day in Port Vila Bay.
Transportation from the Airport
On arrival at the airport, you will have a surplus of local taxis to choose from to take you to your destination. Taxis have a “T”. There are a few professional transfer operators but they are contracted to overseas travel wholesalers for pre-bought packaged holidays.
Please note that non “Airport accredited transfer buses” are not permitted to pick up arriving passengers from the International terminal. Airport accredited taxis are the only ones allowed to pick up international arriving passengers from the international terminal in Port Vila.
We can pre book very comfortable, economical, impeccably clean, air conditioned, mini taxi buses with highly experienced drivers to be waiting for you on arrival.
Fees below are per two (2) persons. AUD$7 per person thereafter. Maximum passengers per bus: 6 persons.
Anabru Pacific Lodge, Moorings Hotel, Chantillys on the Bay, Olympic Hotel, City Lodge, Iririki Island Resort, The Grand Hotel & Casino, The Melanesian Port Vila Hotel, Kaiviti Motel.