Vanuatu Tours
& Packages

Vanuatu Tours and Packages

Bluedog Photography Vanuatu Tours - Photography Tours designed for photographers by photographers!
Come and explore the South Pacific's magical islands of Vanuatu.

Vanuatu Efate Island Tour: On Efate Island we will stay in luxury accommodation, tour the capital Port Vila, treasure hunt in the markets, visit the museum, the amazing Mele Cascades, the Secret Garden, beautiful beaches as well as snorkel with brilliant reef fish and corals and take an around island tour.

From here we will recommend tours to outer islands for those wanting to explore Vanuatu further.

Non-photography partners and families are welcome to join us. Our tours are designed for your partners and families to be part of everything we do and not to feel left out!

Tour Dates 2009:
4th- 10th October 2009

Tour Dates 2110:
April 2010; Second tour date TBA

Registration to join a tour is essential. Registrations are now being taken for the October 2009 tour. To register please Contact Us.

Please See Below: Planned itinerary, prices, inclusions, travellers tips and more.

Vanuatu Tour - Efate Island Tour
4th-10th October 2009

Vanuatu Tour Sunday 4th Oct Day 1

Arrive in Port Vila
Met at airport and transferred to Island Magic Resort (IMR)
Settle in
5-6pm Meet in BBQ Hut at resort.
Nibbles supplied please BYO drinks
Talk by Bluedog Team Leader on the week ahead.
6.15pm
Walk to Benjor Restaurant for dinner – dinner and drinks at own cost

Vanuatu Tour Monday 5th Oct Day 2

Port Vila Tour
Depart IMR at 9am
Visit World War II Memorial and lookout
New Hebride Market and down town Port Vila
Craft Markets – wander through the craft markets set alongside the bay.
These wonderful markets are stocked with local hand made artifacts
Food Markets – shop at the local food markets where food is bought in from around Efate.
Food shopping at supermarket
From 4.30pm Review of photographers images in tutor’s bungalow
Dinner: Self catering
Included: Transfers from IMR to memorial, to and from food market, to supermarket and return to IMR
Own costs: Lunch, shopping, souvenirs

Vanuatu Tour Tuesday 6th Oct Day 3

Mele Magic Tour 9am – 4pm (tour and lunch included)
Depart IMR at 9am
Visit Mele Cascades, Mele Village (biggest village in Vanuatu), lookout, Mele Botanic Gardens
Tour includes all transfers, local knowledgeable guide, lunch at Mele Cascades.
Please Note: We have booked this bus to be exclusive of our tour group so we can stop when we want, get out, take photos and spend as long as we want in each place!
From 4.30pm Review of photographers images in tutor’s bungalow
6pm Island Magic Feast in BBQ at Island Magic Resort
Taste local foods and hear a local string band and watch basket weaving.
Dinner included. BYO drinks

Vanuatu Tour Wednesday 7th Oct Day 4

Free Day
Options:
Hire a glass bottom kayak and explore the surrounding Mele Bay
Go snorkelling at IMR – the reef out from IMR is one of the best in Vanuatu - snorkelling gear available for free.
Visit Hideaway Island and the only underwater Post Office in the world.
Go scuba diving, take a sailing cruise or simply relax and enjoy the facilities at IMR – bicycles available for free (see below for details on IMR). Other activity options will be provided to those attending.
Review of photographers images in tutor’s bungalow

Vanuatu Tour Thursday 8th Oct Day 5

Round Island Tour - Depart IMR 8.30am
Tour, lunch and all entry fees included
Please Note: We have booked this bus to be exclusive of our tour group so we can stop when we want, get out, take photos and spend as long as we want in each place!
From 4.30pm Review of photographers images in tutor’s bungalow

Vanuatu Tour Friday 9th Oct Day 6

Free Day
Options:
Hire a glass bottom kayak and explore the surrounding Mele Bay
Go snorkelling at IMR – the reef out from IMR is one of the best in Vanuatu - snorkelling gear available for free.
Visit Hideaway Island and the only underwater Post Office in the world.
Go scuba diving, take a sailing cruise or simply relax and enjoy the facilities at IMR – bicycles available for free (see below for details on IMR)
6pm
Farewell drinks and nibbles in BBQ Hut. BYO drinks, nibbles supplied

Vanuatu Tour Saturday 10th Oct Day 7

Depart IMR
Transfer to airport or you may wish to book to stay on or visit another of Vanuatu’s magical islands. (See below for details of some options).

Bluedog reserves the right to change the proposed itinerary if necessary.

Food markets Port Vila

Meet an Iguana at Mele Botanic Gardens

Mary's stunning sunset.

Vanuatu Tour - Efate Island Tour Prices
October 2009

Please note: All prices are LAND ONLY and are dependant on numbers. All prices will include: tours, transfers from Port Vila to resort and return, nibbles night 1; Breakfast Day 2; Island Night Feast and entertainment for all participants including children (conditions do apply for children accompanying the tour, please see below). Photographers will receive one-on-one tuition; constructive feedback, task sheet and an opportunity to capture images that will have that shutter finger working overtime!
Prices are subject to change.
Expressions of interest are currently being taken. If you wish to be kept informed email us.

Photography Participants Single Room: $2,530.00 inc GST

Non-Photographers and partners over 12 years old - sharing a room with a photographer: $1,257.00 inc GST
This includes accommodation, tours with lunch on two days, continental breakfast day 2, transfers to and from Port Vila international airport and resort, island feast and entertainment, nibbles day 1 & 6, transfers day 2 market tour.

Children Under 12: *$900.00
* All children are the responsibility of the accompanying adult.
There must be two children in one room for this price.
Vanuatu is an educational experience for children. The local people of Vanuatu love children and are willing to share with them their culture. Your child will be enriched by an experience such as this where they will learn without turning a page in a book or surfing the internet..

We require everyone to travel with personal travel insurance.

Bookings Payment Plan:
A 20% non-fundable deposit is required on booking (if Bluedog has to cancel the tour for any reason this will be refunded).
50% payment required 60 days in advance of tour date start.
Remainder to be paid by 30 days in advance of tour date start.
Australian tax invoices will be issued.

Vanuatu Tour Efate Island
April 2009
What's Included

# Transfers to and from Port Vila airport on arrival and departure
# Accommodation at Island Magic Resort - includes luxury self-contained bungalow, all linen including beach towels.
# Welcome nibbles Day 1
# A continental breakfast hamper in your bungalow for Day 2
# Port Vila Tour - transfers, admission to museum
# Mele Magic Tour: all transfers, local knowledgeable guide, cold drinks and refreshments at Mele Botanic Garden
# Island Magic Feast on Day 2 and local entertainment
# Farewell nibbles Day 6

For Photographers

# Personal review of images by professional photographic tutor on tour
# Personal assistance with photography during tour
# Visits to unique locations
# # Inclusion in our Bluedog Vanuatu 2009 Book.
We are publishing a book of images by photographers from the 2009 tours.
Each photographer on tour will be able to submit images and captions for inclusion in this publication and will receive a 10% voucher on all books ordered.

Flying to Vanuatu

Visit:
Pacific Blue: http://www.flypacificblue.com
Air Vanuatu: http://www.airvanuatu.com

About Island Magic Resort:

We will be staying at Island Magic Resort in fully self contained bungalows.
Island Magic Resort is 15 minutes from the capital of Vanuatu, Port Vila.
Situated right on the water front overlooking the pristine waters and coral reef of Mele Bay, the bungalows are 2 bedroom /2-bath room
and a 1-bedroom Studio Bungalow.
The two bedroom bungalows are x1 queen and x1 king size zip which can be made into two singles. An extra bed can be provided for children.
Each bungalow is cleaned daily, has all linen supplied (including beach towels), a laundry or you can have your laundry done on site at your own expense.

One of the greatest qualities here is the beautiful coral reef right on our door step. It allows for some of the best snorkelling in Vanuatu and there’s a jetty with a ladder so you can access the reef more safely.
On site there’s a pool, BBQ hut, bocce court, full security, DVD movies, board games, book library and ample chairs set under thatched shades to just sit back and sip and watch the life across the bay. Snorkel gear and bikes are also available free of charge.

Next door there are glass bottom kayaks available for hire and there is a top quality restaurant - open for lunch or dinner, only a 5 minute walk away.

On-site managers and Levi, who lives in Mele village, will be on hand each day to assist you with any information you may need including bookings of tours and hire vehicles.

Island Magic Resort

Travellers Tips

The currency in Vanuatu is the Vatu. Approx: $1.00 AUD = 88 Vatu
 
There are 113 distinct language groups in Vanuatu.
Bislama, derived from the Bech-der-mer (sea cucumber) traders is a phonetic form of English,
and can be understood by most who speak English. English is spoken and understood everywhere.

From April-October temperatures range from 18 to 28 degrees Celsius.

Vanuatu is one hour ahead of AST (Australian Standard Time). There is no daylight saving in summer.

Tipping and bargaining are not considered acceptable. The people though do enjoy seeing pictures from Australia and we usually take over postcards to give away as thank you’s.

There is only one hospital in Port Vila so we advise to take a fairly comprehensive first aid kit - we will include advise on this with registration.

Malaria is endemic and most travel agents will recommend you take preventative medication. We usually do not as the medication can make you feel ill and increases your risk of sunburn profoundly! Take plenty of insect repellent. Mosquito coils are provided at IMR.

Souvenirs - wooden artifacts, shells and weavings is usually no problems.
Be warned though that turtle, giant clam and trumpet shells can be purchased in the markets.
They have been harvested as a food source by individual ni-Vanuatu, but most countries who are signatories to the CITES agreement have banned their import so it’s best to leave them well alone.

Thomas at a kava Bar in Mele Village

Artifacts in craft markets

111 year old Chief Koe of Yakel Village

Further Options

Why not consider extending your stay and visiting some of Vanuatu's other magical islands.
Vanuatu is an archipelago of 83 islands with a unique blend of intact tribal communities, resorts, beaches and geography ranging from accessible volcanoes to pristine underwater environments, offering unique and memorable experiences.

Here are a couple of suggestions:

Tanna Island:
On Tanna visit the brooding Mt Yassur - the most accessible volcano in the world and 'kastom' villages living unchanged for 100's of years.

Santo Island:
Coconut fringed beaches, unbelievable diving, rainforest harbouring rare and beautiful jungle birds and home to vanuatu's first National Park.

Pentecost Island:
Made famous for its land diving that celebrates the Yam Harvest and what the modern day bunjie jumping was modelled on.

Ambrym Island:
Considered Vanuatu's sorcery centre for black magic.