Aore Island: Tours, Accommodation & Local Experiences

Where Is Aore Island?

Aore Island is a small tropical paradise located just off the coast of Luganville, Santo, in Vanuatu’s northern islands.
Only a 5-minute boat ride from Santo’s mainland, Aore offers calm beaches, coconut plantations, coral reefs, and a warm, authentic island community. It’s often described as the hidden jewel of Vanuatu  close to town but a world away in peace and simplicity. Whether you’re visiting for a day or staying a week, Aore Island combines natural beauty, local culture, and adventure all at a relaxed island pace.

Aore Island Accommodation

 Stay at Beachfront on Aore, right on the beach or Aore Tree House airbnb or Aore Bush camps with sweeping views our private island home surrounded by tropical gardens and ocean views. The houses offers quiet comfort and direct access to the beach  perfect for swimming, snorkelling, and watching sunsets. Guests enjoy a self-contained stay with offerings of housekeeping, ferry transfers ( Boat taxi), and the option to join island tours or cultural experiences nearby. There are no crowds, no noise  just coconut palms, reef water, and friendly faces.

Things to Do on Aore Island

Aore Island isn’t about resorts or crowds  it’s about slow travel and local life.
Here are some of the most popular activities and free things to enjoy:

• Snorkel straight off the beach – coral gardens and tropical fish are just metres from shore.
• Ride a bike around the island and visit small villages, beaches, and farmlands.
• Walk through jungle trails and discover local gardens, cocoa trees, and vanilla vines.
• Watch sunsets over Santo with a cool drink and the sound of waves.
• Join the locals for weaving, cooking, or a kava night under the stars.

Everything on Aore is close  it’s safe, peaceful, and perfect for exploring at your own pace.

Aore Island Tours & Experiences

1. Aore Island Boat Tour

Circle the island by boat with local guide Mata.
Swim at hidden beaches, snorkel coral reefs, and stop for fresh tropical fruit along the way.
Duration: Half day Cost: 12,000 Vt (~AU$150)

2. Cocoa Plantation Tour

Learn how Vanuatu cocoa is harvested and dried. Taste raw cacao and see how it becomes local chocolate make some chocolate and see how it is made.
Duration: 4 hours Cost: 8,000 Vt per person

3. Vanilla Farm Visit

Tour a small family-run vanilla plantation and see how vanilla pods are hand-pollinated and cured.
Finish with a sweet vanilla coconut drink.
Duration: 1.5 hours Cost: 3,500 Vt per person

4. Food Forest & Permaculture Walk

Explore a sustainable farm where coconuts, pineapples, and spices grow naturally under the trees.
Duration: 2 hours Cost: 3,000 Vt per person

5. Jungle Walk to the Lookout

Hike through lush tropical forest to the Aore Island Lookout, with views over Santo and the Coral Sea.
Duration: 2 hours Cost: 2,500 Vt per person

6. Weaving & Island Cooking with the Mamas

Spend a day learning traditional skills  weaving baskets, cooking Simboro, and sharing stories over lunch.
Duration: Half day Cost: 5,500 Vt per person

7. Kava & Kai Kai Feast

An authentic evening with local families — kava drinking, a Kai Kai pig on the spit, and island songs by firelight.
Duration: 3pm–5pm Cost: 8,000 Vt per person