06 Nov 2023

Sipping bubbles on Champagne Beach & Million-dollar views at Luganville

A rainy morning cleared away to a stunning landing for champagne on Champagne Beach. Squeaky white sand and light blue sea - it couldn't be better! After an hours swimming and snorkelling, it was ringside seats on the beach for the incredible water music of the Leweton Village's water dancers from Gaua Island in the Banks Islands. Their water music has been practised on Champagne Beach for hundreds of years and is passed on through the Ni-Vanuatu woman. In 2008, they became famous worldwide through a tour of Europe, Australia, Asia and the USA after hundreds of thousands of people experienced their unique music and performance.

In the afternoon, we had buses to take us to Luganville to see Million Dollar Point (where the US Navy bulldozed hundreds of vehicles after the war), the local market and a tiny WWII museum featuring the story of SS Cooleridge that hit US mines accidently in the Luganville Harbour. 

The highlight of the afternoon was undoubtedly the swim in the crystal blue freshwater pools surrounded by towering fig trees and huge swings. 

The beautiful 20-minute Zodiac cruise down river took us home across crystal clear water, with huge bats (Flying Foxes) coming out in the last light.

It was BBQ night on the back deck of Heritage Adventurers and cocktails at sunset wrapping an incredible day on Discover the Secrets of Melanesia.