Mystery Island
Vanuatu · Tafea · 3 m
Description
Mystery Island is an uninhabited sandbar off the northwest corner of Aneityum that nobody lives on because kastom holds that spirits do, and that has made it one of the busiest places in Vanuatu. Cruise ships anchor in the channel and tender several thousand passengers ashore at a time, and the people of Aneityum cross by boat to run a market of carvings, baskets and grilled fish along the grass airstrip. The reef starts a few metres off the beach. Between calls the island is empty again and the whole shore is a half hour walk.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 day
Travel season
Best time to visit: April – August
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Snorkelling straight off the beach
- Market stalls along the grass airstrip
- White sand ring around the uninhabited islet
- Tender landing on the sand from the anchorage
- Wartime airstrip that gave the island its name
- Walk around the whole shore in half an hour
- Kastom belief that keeps the islet uninhabited
- Aneityum village and the crossing by boat(Day trip)
- Grilled fish and coconut at the day market
- Coral gardens and the turtles of the lagoon
Getting there
- Airports:
- AUY
- Seaport:
- Reachable by ship or ferry