Islands east of the Coral Sea where any visit is too short

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33995, 8 November 1975, Page 12

Islands east of the Coral Sea where any visit is too short

The New Hebrides, that offbeat, slightly raffish, totally fascinating collection of Islands east of the Coral Sea, are scattered north to south like a fling of confetti.

This is a territory where tourists are not yet imposed upon,, where you can still wander along a white beach on the edge of an impossibly blue lagoon with only the lap of the tide to break the silence. Hotels tend to be modest but the standards are high, a little investigation will disclose a gourmet restaurant or two. All in all the result is as near to the traditional picture of a South Pacific outpost as you’re likely to find these days. An hour and a half by Fokker Friendship from New Caledonia brings you over Efate Island’s endless acres of coconut plantations, mostly Frenchowned in this Franco-Brit-ish Condominium. Hebridean officials, soot brown and sturdy, in starched khaki, whisk you through the few formalities with a minimum of fuss.

Thatched roofs It goes without saying that you’ll stay at Le Lagon. that lovely cluster of thatched roofs strung along the edge of Erakor Lagoon. This would be a notable hotel anywhere. Le Lagon never discloses any sign of hustie or crowding. You can hobnob with your fellows round the pool, splash together in the translucent lagoon, meet in the bar, or chat on the terrace. For lovers of peace and solitude the rooms and bungalows dotted among huge trees and slender palms provide a blissful escape. At Erakor you can indulge in blatant lotuseating without stirring from the grounds of Le

Lagon. Right at your elbow is the beach — a choice of pirogue, trimaran or cruiser on the lagoon. At the back of your bungalow 7 is a snappy ninehole golf course, dotted with traps in the form of graceful palms, brilliant hibiscus, bougainvillea and allamoanda. There is dancing several nights a week with Saturday the big night, when the locals join the visitors at a sumptuous barbecue. Active volcano

You can fly down to Tanna, the location of Yasur, the world’s most accessible active volcano. Just lately restrictions have been eased on visits

to the weird subterranean volcanic tubes at Yasur’s base on the Sewe ash plain. Back at Vila, shopping in the scruffy little township is an adventure. Travellers fossick in the Chinese and Vietnamese shops, dark aromatic treasure houses. Recent changes in the Condominium customs tariff have made the New Hebrides a duty free area. And remember the French influence. Leave yourself plenty of time in Vila. This is a destination where things tend to crop up, adventures materialise, opportunities arise.

You’ll hear tall tales of the islands, listen to local gossip that owes as much to the imagination as it does to fact.

KATHLEEN HANCOCK, of Wellington, writes of a recent visit to the New Hebrides.