Port Vila Day Tour with Kids Review
Are you looking for a day tour in Port Vila, Vanuatu?
For those who prefer a day tour with a local, Holiday Makers offers a half-day and a full-day tour of Vanuatu’s Efate Island from Port Vila.
It is hard to find updated information online on the Holiday Makers tours from Port Vila, but I picked up a brochure at our hotel.
If you are interested in a Holiday Makers Day Tour of Efate Island from Port Vila, read this review and click on the picture of the brochure for contact information.
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Booking a Holiday Makers Tour and Hotel Pick Up
After picking up the brochure at the front of the Moorings Hotel in Port Vila, Vanuatu, I liked not only the number of things listed on both the day tour and half-day tour, but also that there is a female tour operator.
As Vanuatu just recently opened back up, we searched the items on the day tour to find that some of them have unfortunately closed. We knew school wasn’t in session in January.
We visited Lelepa Island on the Lelepa Island Day Tour, which we all enjoyed, and after speaking to the other families on the tour, they all suggested visiting Blue Lagoon and Turtle Sanctuary.
Early the next morning, we signed up for that day’s Holiday Makers Half-Day Tour, option #2. We also discussed hiring a taxi to drive us to each location, but figured the tour would be an easy way to get around Efate Island.
A couple of hours later, a tour van arrived to pick us up at our hotel.
Holiday Makers Day Tours from Port Vila Options
Half-day tours from Port Vila run from approximately 8:30 am to 1:30 or 2 pm, and the full-day tour runs from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Holiday Makers half-day tour #1 includes:
- Tanna Coffee Factory
- Visiting a Chocolate Factory
- Cultural Village
- Blue Lagoon
- Visiting Schools
- Rarru Cascade Waterfalls
- Naiwe Beach, Turtle Sanctuary
- BBQ Lunch
Option #2 includes:
- Eton Beach
- Blue Lagoon
- Rarru Waterfall
- Naiwe Beach, Turtle Sanctuary
- BBQ Lunch
The full-day tour includes:
- Chocolate Factory
- Blue Lagoon
- Eton Beach
- Cultural Village
- Queen of the Forrest
- Old Mining Place
- Visiting a School
- Lunch Buffet
- Coconut Demo
- Coconut Plantation
- WW2 Airstrip
- Hot Springs
- WW2 Coca-Cola Bottle Shop
- Saviour Beach
- Afternoon Tea
- Tanna Coffee Factory
- Mele Lookout
Port Vila Cultural Village Visit
We were surprised to find out that the first stop on our tour was the Cultural Village, but due to recent rain, it was too muddy to walk to the waterfall, so the tour had alternative activities.
As I wanted to see everything offered on the tours, we did not mind the swap. Of course, we wanted to see the waterfalls, but we understood it wasn’t a good idea after the rain.
On the way to the Cultural Village, we picked up another family, and as we drove through Port Vila, the tour guide showed us the Chief’s house, talked about the government, and told us about Port Vila.
We also learned that money from the tour goes to help with children’s school fees.
When we arrived at the Cultural Village, one of the warriors came to greet us. Soon, the Chief showed up and invited us in.
Three of the warriors put on a show with a welcome dance before taking pictures with each family.
After the welcome dance, we walked around and saw a couple of stands with souvenirs.
Eton Beach
After visiting the Cultural Village, we drove about 35 minutes outside of Port Vila to Eton Beach.
Eton Beach is located on the east side of Efate Island. We learned that everyone lives on the coast, as the center of the island is filled with wild pigs. The west side of the island is British, while the east side of the island is French.
Though our tour was on a Saturday, the beach was practically deserted. A few locals were on the beach to the left and around on the other side of the water to the right, but the actual beach was empty.
The water at Eton Beach is clear, and when we were there, it was very shallow, and we could walk a fair way out.
While we could have spent hours on Eton Beach, we didn’t have long before boarding the van and driving past the coconut trees to Blue Lagoon.
Blue Lagoon and Morning Tea
Apparently, there are 3 entrances to the Blue Lagoon in Vanuatu.
The oldest entrance is 10 years old, the one in the middle is 5 years old, and the newest entrance is just a year old. Each entrance to Blue Lagoon is owned by a different brother in the same family.
We entered the Blue Lagoon at the middle entrance, called Whakaton Blue Bay, which is cheaper than the original entrance.
Picnic tables and shelters are available by the parking lot. Locals were swimming in the water and swinging from a rope swing.
My oldest was determined to swing from the rope swing, but it looked a bit high for her, so we swam down to the part of the Blue Lagoon where the oldest entrance is to use that rope swing.
Even though there are different entrances, anyone can access the Blue Lagoon once inside.
The oldest entrance was filled with more people, mostly tourists. There is a lower rope swing, and someone helped my daughter get the rope and taught her how to swing off of it.
All along the Blue Lagoon, the water is clear and cold. We could easily see fish swimming, and I was bitten by one, which was scarier than it was painful.
When it was time to get out of the water at Blue Lagoon, our guide had a tropical fruit snack waiting for us, and cookies and coconut water for the kids.
We would have loved more time at Blue Lagoon.
It feels like a place we could have spent hours at. Had we had more time in Vanuatu, it is likely that we would have taken a bus or a taxi to Blue Lagoon for the day.
Turtle Sanctuary and Lunch
One place we weren’t sure about is the Turtle Sanctuary. Reviews didn’t look great, but the people we met in Vanuatu told us the kids would love it, and it is one of the reasons we booked this day tour from Port Vila.
As soon as we arrived at the Turtle Sanctuary, it was time for lunch. The kids’ plates arrived first and included sausages, chicken, fruit, and vegetables.
While the brochure mentions vegetarian options, we didn’t specify any dietary needs, but my plate had enough food for me, even though I gave away the sausage and beef. The lunch plate also included chicken, salad, fruit, and fries.
After lunch, we walked down the beach to where the turtles are. As the reviews said, the turtles are fenced in. Five turtles are living at the Turtle Sanctuary.
We were able to get into the water and swim with the turtles as well as feed the turtles. A staff member is in the water as well.
Though there are 5 turtles, we did not see them all. We only saw the ones that swam up to us.
Tanna Coffee Factory
While we were meant to end the tour after visiting the Turtle Sanctuary, our guide asked if we were interested in going to a coffee factory.
It was further than our hotel, but yes, we did want to visit the coffee factory.
The staff at Tanna Coffee Factory gave us a quick tour, and then we ordered coffee to go. Hot chocolate, milkshakes, and snacks are also available to purchase.
Instead of driving back into town, we asked the tour driver to drop us off at the entrance to Hideaway Island, which was on the way from Tanna Coffee Factory.
We wanted to see the underwater post office off of Hideaway Island.
Port Vila Half-Day Tour Wrap Up
We weren’t quite sure what to expect on our Holiday Makers half-day tour as we booked the day of, but it was another enjoyable, kid-friendly day trip from Port Vila.
Our guide was informative and kind. We never felt rushed, even though we did not get to spend as much time as we would have liked on Eton Beach and in the Blue Lagoon.
Knowing we signed up for a half-day tour that required driving on both ends, we didn’t expect to stay at each location for long. The Holiday Makers half-day tour is a great way to see part of the island of Efate in a short amount of time.
Though the brochure said that the tour ended at 1:30 pm, that was not the case. Our tour ended at least an hour later.
I go back and forth with the Turtle Sanctuary. Yes, it was amazing to swim with the turtles and let the kids feed them, but I don’t like that they are fenced in. Either way, I am glad we were able to experience swimming with the turtles.
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