port vila - P&O Cruises
port vila - P&O Cruises
port vila - P&O Cruises
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<strong>port</strong> <strong>vila</strong><br />
destination Guide<br />
PORT VILA has seen more history and<br />
change than many towns ten or even a<br />
hundred times its size. This city of 35,000<br />
has incredible depth when it comes to<br />
culture, tradition and history.<br />
Vila has something for everyone - whether you want an<br />
adrenalin rich adventure, a chance to get acquainted with<br />
Ni-Vanuatu culture, or time to simply relax and absorb the<br />
tropical beauty. Indulge in some shopping, dine in a cafe<br />
or restaurant in the French Quarter or meander around the<br />
waterfront market.<br />
Did you know<br />
The most northern islands of Vanuatu were first named<br />
by Europeans in 1768. French explorer, Louis-Antoine de<br />
Bougainville called them Les Grande Cyclades. Six years later,<br />
Captain James Cook chartered many of the islands in the<br />
archipelago and gave them the collective name New Hebrides,<br />
which remained in atlases for more than two hundred years.<br />
WHAT TO SEE<br />
QQ<br />
Ekasup Cultural Village<br />
Awarded Vanuatu’s best tourist attraction for the past two<br />
years, Ekasup Village provides an insight into the magical and<br />
mysterious world of ancient Melanesia. This is one of our best<br />
selling P&O <strong>Cruises</strong> shore tours in Port Vila.<br />
AUSTRALIA<br />
BRISBANE<br />
NEWCASTLE<br />
SYDNEY<br />
VANUATU Port Vila<br />
NEW ZEALAND<br />
AUCKLAND<br />
QQ<br />
Cascade Waterfalls<br />
Cascade Waterfalls is an accessible, 50-metre high waterfall<br />
with naturally eroded rock swimming ponds, set amidst<br />
jungle-like rainforest. For the truly adventurous, consider<br />
abseiling down the waterfall! Join one of our Shore Tours to<br />
discover the magic of Vila.<br />
QQ<br />
Travel further afield<br />
Port Vila is a spectacular natural harbour, yet it only<br />
represents a small part of the entire island of Efate. Beaches,<br />
cliffs, villages and spectacularly dense jungle and villages<br />
await discovery by land, air or sea. We have a number of<br />
tours available to help you explore this magnificent place.<br />
PORT VILA IN A NUTSHELL<br />
Port Vila is the trading centre and capital of Vanuatu. It’s<br />
perfectly located around a beautiful harbour on the southwestern<br />
coast of the island of Efate. Here you’ll find a mix<br />
of cultures – Melanesian (Indigenous Ni-Vanuatu), French,<br />
English, Chinese and many others.<br />
POPULATION: 29,356 (approximately)<br />
LANGUAGE: English, Bislama and French<br />
TYPE OF GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary republic<br />
CURRENCY: Vatu<br />
Keep your guide handy. This guide is intended to assist you, regardless of whether you’re on a Shore Tour, touring independently or doing both.
ville<br />
<strong>port</strong> <strong>vila</strong><br />
Everything you need to know.<br />
DOCKING<br />
Your ship will dock at Port Vila’s commercial pier, about five<br />
kilometres from the centre of town.<br />
TAXIS<br />
There are plenty of taxis in Vila. At the dock you’ll find them<br />
lined up just outside the <strong>port</strong> gates. A trip into town should<br />
cost around $15 AUD. There is a minimum fare and taxis are<br />
not metered. Make sure that you have either agreed on a<br />
fare, or the driver switches the meter on if you are using<br />
a taxi for an extended journey. Taxi vans, which wait until<br />
they’re full before heading off, charge around $3 AUD per<br />
passenger for the trip into town.<br />
DINING<br />
For a small city, Vila is surprisingly cosmopolitan. Satisfy<br />
your cravings with a gourmet meal at a licensed restaurant,<br />
a simple snack, a great coffee or Vanuatu’s national dish,<br />
laplap - a unique “packet” of local vegetables and meat or<br />
fish marinated in coconut milk, wrapped in banana leaves<br />
and cooked underground. The water in Vila is safe to drink.<br />
For quarantine reasons, please do not take any food or drink<br />
(other than bottled water) off the ship.<br />
SHOPPING<br />
Vila has everything; there are duty-free goods, and<br />
competitively priced indigenous arts, crafts and clothing. The<br />
markets near the pier where your ship docks are also quite<br />
good. Most shopping is located along Lini Highway in the<br />
centre of town. Please ensure that any items you purchase do<br />
not contravene Australia’s or New Zealand’s strict quarantine<br />
laws. Do not buy anything that is made from turtle shell,<br />
feathers or seeds. Bargaining is not customary in Vanuatu.<br />
SHORE TOURS<br />
There are a range of tours available for you to really<br />
get the most out of your time in Port Vila. Tours can be<br />
booked onboard at the shore tours desk and are subject to<br />
availability. Passengers are required to meet at a specific<br />
location for each shore tour departure. Please refer to your<br />
tour ticket for the correct time and place.<br />
ENVIRONMENT<br />
Coral is an extremely precious marine organism. In an effort<br />
to preserve its natural beauty and habitat please avoid<br />
touching it in all circumstances. During your time ashore we<br />
also ask that you dispose of your rubbish thoughtfully.<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
Please ask permission before you take photographs of Ni-<br />
Vanuatu (indigenous people).<br />
P&O <strong>Cruises</strong>’ agents<br />
While you are ashore, please contact the nearest crew<br />
member in the case of an emergency. Alternatively, the<br />
P&O <strong>Cruises</strong> <strong>port</strong> agent for Port Vila is:<br />
South Sea Shipping<br />
Lini Highway, Vila, Vanuatu<br />
Phone: 678 22205<br />
Emergency Phone (24 hours): +61 2 8424 8947<br />
CLIMATE<br />
Vila’s climate is tropical. The average mid-day temperature is 29<br />
degrees in summer and 25 degrees in winter. It can also be very<br />
humid at times. The wet season is from December to March.<br />
Make sure you stay hydrated and sheltered from the sun.<br />
CREDIT CARDS<br />
Credit cards and charge cards are widely accepted in larger<br />
stores, restaurants and some cafes. Some shops may accept<br />
Australian dollars but will only be able to give you change<br />
in Vatu. You will not be able to exchange your Vatu for<br />
Australian dollars once back onboard.<br />
TELEPHONES INTERNATIONAL & LOCAL<br />
There are public telephones in downtown Vila. Mobile<br />
coverage is generally available as long as global roaming is<br />
selected prior to leaving home.<br />
Port Vila<br />
Iririki Island<br />
Rue De Par<br />
is<br />
Rue Bougan<br />
Rue Pasteur<br />
Market<br />
Kumul Highway<br />
Town<br />
Hall<br />
Lookout<br />
Point<br />
Winston Ch urchill<br />
National<br />
Museum<br />
Rue Dartois<br />
WHAT TO WEAR ASHORE<br />
To make your day ashore as enjoyable as possible, please<br />
wear comfortable flat soled shoes, lightweight clothing and<br />
a hat. You are also advised to bring sunscreen, bottled water<br />
and an umbrella during the wet season. Ni-Vanuatu are quite<br />
conservative, so please dress modestly. Wearing swimwear<br />
downtown is not acceptable. Nude or topless bathing is not<br />
permitted on any beach.<br />
Vila Bay<br />
Cruise Terminal<br />
Wharf Road<br />
500 m<br />
Elluk Road<br />
Note: The information in this guide is subject to change without notice. We apologise for any inconvenience, but P&O <strong>Cruises</strong> cannot accept responsibility for any such alterations. Thank you.