Iririki Island Resort & Spa

Iririki occupies its own island in Port Vila's harbour, a green hump of tropical gardens facing the capital's waterfront, connected by a free 24-hour ferry that takes about three minutes—a commute that never stops feeling like a small holiday in itself. The island was once the British Resident Commissioner's seat in condominium days; today it is Vanuatu's most complete resort, ringing its shores and hillsides with fares, suites and villas.

Accommodation splits between classic waterfront fares on stilts over the harbour's edge, hillside rooms with big views back to town, and family apartments; an adults-oriented infinity pool and a separate family pool complex sensibly divide the constituencies. Days fill with snorkelling off the small beaches, kayaks and paddleboards, the day spa's pavilions, and the short hop to Port Vila's markets, cafés and duty-free streets—an ease of combination no out-of-town resort can match.

Dining spans a waterfront grill, casual poolside kitchens and bars that make the most of harbour sunsets, plus an in-house casino for the evening-inclined. Efate's blue holes, the Mele Cascades and round-island touring are all straightforward from this base. For travellers who want resort island atmosphere with the capital two minutes away, Iririki is the harbour's obvious answer.