Want to visit somewhere truly unique!? Well you can at Port Vila's Hideaway Island. Not only is this place a spectacular marine sanctuary alive with brightly coloured fish but it also boasts the world's only underwater Post Office!
Underwater Post Office
From our cruise ship we hired our driver Tek, who suggested that we bypass the town and check out Port Vila's popular attractions, Hideaway Island was at top of his list. For the short journey from the mainland Mele Beach to Hideaway Island you catch a free, glass bottom ferry. Once ashore a small fee is charged at the entrance - vt1250 (adult), vt600 (5-12), under 5 free (approximately AUD $15 adult and $7 child).
Glass bottom ferry
Before you catch the ferry make sure you check out the local handicraft market at Mele Beach. Our driver Tek waited at Mele Beach for us until we returned from Hideaway Island.
Mele Beach markets
If you would like to hire snorkeling gear you can pay a bond and get your money back on return. If you don't have your own gear I definitely recommend hiring it. From the beach you can snorkel straight out and see an abundance of colourful coral reef and marine life.
Paradise - Hideaway Island
It's an easy swim to post your waterproof postcard, which you can purchase at the entrance to Hideaway. The post office sits in approximately 3 metres of clear, tropical water and when it's manned by staff donned in their scuba gear a flag bobs above, otherwise you can post your unusual mail in the letterbox situated beside it.
Hideaway Island beach
The post office is made from a large fibreglass water tank with a hole cut out for the counter. Opened in 26th May 2003 it is secured to the ocean floor by chains onto underwater rocks. Post cards are collected daily and instead of an being stamped with ink to show the card has been sent, the post office developed an embossing cancellation device.
You are not allowed to take your own food and drink (although we had our water bottles) but you can purchase reasonably priced food and drinks at the Hideaway Beach Bar. It is also advisable to take reef shoes as the island is made up of coarse coral, not sand. If you are wanting to relax and unwind, a number of deck chairs or picnic tables are available.
Hideaway Beach Bar
Relax at Hideaway Island
We thoroughly enjoyed our time on this holiday getaway and nothing makes you feel like you are on holiday than visiting a tropical paradise which is Hideaway Island. Now we just wait have to wait for our postcard to return to us from under the sea in Vanuatu to Townsville, Australia.
Hideaway Island
No comments:
Post a Comment