Vanuatu Golf Open
Posted on: Monday, Jun 27, 2011
August 16 to 21 will see this year’s Tusker Vanuatu Golf Open with professionals and amateurs arriving from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands. There’s prize money of $50,000 up for grabs. Apart from the golf, the social interaction off the course has become legendary. Golfers will deny this, of course, but the social side is probably of higher importance than whacking that little white ball about! For more info, www.vanuatugolfopen.info.
The Anchor Inn is one of the places the locals like to hang out – and why not, cold beer, good food and a harbour view – but it can also be a great place for tourists to drop in, enjoy a sunset and see how the expats unwind. There can be live music, footy on the big screens and a good value meal – last Friday was Val’s special corned beef with mustard for 1000 vatu ($10.50).
It’s not that long ago that kindling was used to start a fire and was a noun, not a verb. Now electronic books come in a Kindle version and, for mine, there’s no better application than for travel guides. They can travel with you electronically, can be downloaded anywhere in the world in seconds, there are no shipping costs and they are less expensive than paper versions. For example, David Stanley’s Moon guides to Fiji and Tahiti are available as eBooks for US$9.99. Here are links:
The Tiger IV launch to the Mamanuca islands in Fiji has been around for yonks, providing friendly and efficient transfers to island resorts, but ferry schedules sometimes don’t tie in with international flight arrivals and departures, meaning some visitors have to spend a night in Nadi (not that there’s anything wrong with that!). For those who want to get straight to their resort no matter what time, Mamanuca Express is a new 24 hour water taxi & boat charter service operating seven days a week from Port Denarau Marina. The company provides express transfers to all resorts in the Mamanuca Islands and/or pick up from island resorts and transfer to Port Denarau. The company has two new vessels, the ‘Gemini 1’ (six passengers) and the ‘Maxi’ (33 passengers). A third vessel will also be added to the fleet in the near future. 
Had an email yesterday asking about honeymoon bonuses in Vanuatu. Most resorts offer honeymooners a bonus, like a bottle of bubbly and flowers in room on arrival or massages and a room upgrade. Sunset Bungalows, for example, has a Stay 7 nights Pay 5 nights special including cooked breakfast daily and honeymooners also get a bottle of bubbly, flowers in room and a romantic dinner for two in the restaurant or on the room balcony. There are also ‘romance packages’ to be purchased that can include massages and spa pampering, romantic dinners or a secluded beach drop off for a gourmet champagne picnic.
You’ve got to hand it to Tourism Fiji for creative marketing. While the majority of visitors arrive from Australia and New Zealand, they are cleverly targeting the potential European market. They have 10 brightly decorated ‘Bula’ buses cruising around Rome and Milan and they estimate that around 12,000,000 people would have seen the buses since they started operating in April this year.
To target the French they have chosen to advertise the ‘Fiji Me’ brand on LED displays during four matches being broadcast live during the Rugby World Cup in September. The estimated audience is 1,650,000. 
Recently I had lunch at the Storey Bridge Hotel in Brisbane and a rib-eye steak with chips and coleslaw and a glass of wine set me back $44. Made me think of the emails I get from people who have the conception that dining out in Vanuatu is expensive. Of course, it can be, but there are also great value options. Chill Restaurant, for example, has a lunch menu for 1200 vatu (AUD$12.80) that gives a choice of mains (sample menu below – changes each week), and includes a beverage and a harbour view. 
Australian rugby legend David Campese has confirmed his attendance as one of this year’s Coral Coast Seven’s ambassadors and will also be bringing a team to compete in the 2011 event (to be held at Sigatoka 18-19 November). Campese’s team will be one of 24 competing this year, including seven other international teams from Australia and New Zealand, for the major prize money of FJ$30,000. 
The Insider’s money is on Fiji in this form of the game, having played quite a few touch games when visiting. You see, one of the rules in touch rugby is that you have to hand over possession every time you are touched, which explains the wild flair the locals have in their game. Should be a lot of fun!
Starfish Blue in Fiji is on the market. It would make for a lovely place to live but it is being sold as a business. The asking price is AUD$640,000, which doesn’t buy much real estate in Australia these days. The property has a five year history of successful rentals (most years at 85%) and there are three air-conditioned bedrooms with bath that have a nightly rate of F$475 double, F$525 for up to four people and $575 for the whole house (up to six people). Suncoast Taxis and Tours will pick up guests from Nadi airport.
As the current owners say, “Land. They are not building any more of it. And waterfront land with a thriving coral reef steps off the shore?” The property is located on the north of the main island, on a hill next to Wananavu Beach Resort, looking out at three islands. Guests (or residents) at Starfish Blue are welcome at Wananavu to dine or use the water sports and other facilities. Nearby Volivoli Resort also makes Starfish Blue guests welcome. Swimming and snorkelling out front, the diving is very good, and what a view! For more information, email Beth at
Latest Comments