Exploring Mt Yasur volcano on Tanna island in Vanuatu
This terrifying yet magical site attracts thousands of tourists each year and you wouldn’t believe how close it is to Australia.
I had no idea what to expect when we were en route to visit an active volcano — but I was certain it was going to be epic.
Vanuatu, which is just a 3.5 hour flight from Australia, lies directly on top of the Pacific Ring of Fire, and what many people may not realise is that its 83 islands are home to a bunch of volcanoes.
You can do a multi-day hike to peer into the craters of Mt Benbow and Mt Marum on Ambrym, or head to more dormant volcanoes such as Nguna, just off Efate’s Havannah Coast.
But the most famous and most easily accessible is Mt Yasur on Tanna Island which attracts thousands of tourists each year.
I had the pleasure of visiting Mt Yasur during a recent trip to Vanuatu and while I was absolutely terrified when our tour group were told we were heading there during our two-day stay on the island of Tanna, the moment I witnessed it for the first time I was in awe.
Given its remote location, it’s only accessible by four-wheel-drive and with an experienced local driver, but this is something your accommodation will sort out for you.
Getting to the volcano is a bumpy 1.5 hour ride but well worth it and all part of the fun.
Once you arrive, you are given a thorough safety briefing by the local company who own the site — Entani — before another 20-minute or so drive up to the volcano.
It’s all taken very serious which is comforting to know given how terrified I was about the possibility of it suddenly exploding.
My mind was put to ease when I learned the company receive updates from the geo-hazard office stationed in the country’s capital, Port Vila, on the level of volcanic activity and whether it is safe for the guests to visit.
They also have a complex set up near the ash plain, and the staff stationed there report back to Entani daily.
Once we were given the all-clear, we hoped back into the 4WD for the journey up to the volcano.
You could see the smoke billowing from a distance and the roar getting closer and closer — and the excitement of what I was about to witness was kicking it.
When we arrived, it was a steep-ish five-minute walk up to the rim of the volcano.
The mighty roar of the volcano put shivers down my spine. As I stood at a safe distance on the edge and peered down, I could see the lava bubbling and exploding causing the ground beneath me to tremble.
“It’s undoubtedly the best feeling you will ever get from an active volcano,” our tour guide and reservations officer at Vanuatu Tourism Office, Jeremy Wilson, told me.
He said from the rumbling of the earth, to the mild odour of sulphur, its thick ash cloud and spectacular fireworks, the experience will give you goosebumps — and it did.
“All of those mixed emotions will definitely leave a substantial signature in your mind, heart and soul.”
The best time to visit is sunset, when the molten lava glows even brighter against the darkening skies.
Something that many people may not realise is that it’s quite cold and windy as the sun fades and not unbearably hot as you would expect. So be sure to take a jacket.
Mt Yasur has been erupting continuously for almost 800 years and continues to do so several times an hour. It has remained at Volcanic Alert Level 1 since the May 27, 2016.
“It is monitored constantly by the Department of Geo-Hazards and Meteorology Vanuatu,” Jeremy explains.
“The monitoring uses seismometers that measure ground activity, video camera feeds and satellite imaging which senses thermal activity and sulphur dioxide emissions.
“This monitoring is to ensure the safety of both those who live on Tanna and visitors to the volcano.”
He said if the alert level rises to level two, which is a low to moderate level of seismic activity, access to the volcano is restricted and it is advised that no one travels to the volcano. “White Island was at risk level two,” he said, speaking to the tragedy in NZ in 2019.
It was hard to look away as Mt Yasur continued to put on a spectacular show of regular explosions with chunks of molten lava spewing towards the heavens. I was told some can get to the size of a car.
One quick glance through TikTok will show you just how popular the site is with endless videos from tourists showing the volcano in all its glory.
One TikToker described it as “unbelievable” as he watched the volcano explode after the sun went down.
“It’s completely dark now. You can tell that these are the gates of hell. This is unbelievable,” he tells viewers.
“I cannot describe feeling.”
Jeremy calls it the ‘Eiffel Tower of Vanuatu’ and while it is a spectacular sight, he says there’s also some negative impacts on surrounding communities by what is called “Volcano Ash Fall”.
“The consequences of this phenomenon do affect the surrounding villages,” he tells me.
“When this happens, it disturbs the food safety of people living in those affected areas and prevents them from having a safe balanced diet.
“The ash can cause water contamination and destruction of crops such as vegetables.
“Sometimes the spread of the sulphur becomes unbreathable, especially for newborns and children who have to be evacuated to a safer location.”
How to get there
The volcano is located on Tanna island and the best and quickest way to get there is from the capital, Port Vila, either by Unity Airlines (charter) or hopping on an Air Vanuatu flight. Either way it’s about an hour in total of flying time.
Meanwhile, to get to Vanuatu, Virgin Australia operates direct services between Brisbane and Port Vila which takes about 2.5 hours in total. From Sydney it’s three hours and Melbourne 3.5 hours.
The newly relaunched service operates up to five times a week, with connection flights through domestic airports such as Sydney and Melbourne.
What else you can do in Vanuatu
Vanuatu is so much more than a flop-and-drop beach destination. It offers a diverse range of life-changing adventures, whether that’s hiking an active volcano (yes, you can do that too on Mt Yasur), paddling in the waters of a blue hole, diving a world-famous shipwreck or sharing a laugh with locals over a cup of freshly made kava.
In fact, visiting a kava house should be high on your bucket list — it’s an intoxicating non-fermented beverage native to the Pacific Islands. If you don’t like it in liquid form you can get your hands on it as a chocolate at Gaston Chocolat located in Port Villa.
Nearby is Noa Noa and Eau Des Iles for all your body, hair and wellness needs. You can also check out the Port Villa Handicraft markets and if you’re on Tanna island, the Lenekal markets where they sell local fruit and vegetables. Head to Yakel Kastom Village — it’s one of the world’s last tribal societies where villagers embrace traditional life. They welcome tourists.
To change things up a bit, Paya Loco do cooking classes. It’s run by an Aussie couple on their spectacular property about a 20 minute drive from the city centre in Port Villa.
Boom in tourism
Vanuatu has returned to 73 per cent of its pre-Covid tourism levels when comparing January-June 2019 to the same period this year.
Around 38,330 tourists have visited the country in the first 12 months since borders reopened (July 2022 to June 2023) and it is forecasted to exceed 45,000 tourists for 2023.
It’s particularly a destination Aussies love to visit given its proximity, stunning islands and local experiences.
“I think it is the Aelan (island) way of life that Australians love and take home in their hearts when they travel to Vanuatu,” Vanuatu Tourism CEO Adela Issachar Aru tells me.
“Australians come for our beautiful blue holes, waterfalls and beaches but they quickly realise it is so much more than that.
“Every day is an adventure as they get involved with the people and place, the Vanuatu way of life is on the surface for everyone to experience. They are always surprised by how close Vanuatu is to Australia (two hours from Brisbane) but how different life is.
“I would encourage all visitors to take the time to head to the local food and handicraft markets and Tok Tok (talk) with the Mamas and give Vanuatu Made products a try. Also, make sure you head out with one of our local tour operators – they have great stories to tell and will have you smiling all day.”
This writer travelled to Vanuatu as a guest of Vanuatu Tourism and Virgin Australia
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