Vanuatu
Hideaway Island
Post a waterproof postcard from the world's only underwater post office, then snorkel the sanctuary reef.
The ferry crossing from Mele Bay takes minutes; the island sits barely a hundred metres off Efate's shore. Below the swimmers, in three metres of clear water, stands a post office. When a flag flies from the float above it, staff are down there, embossing waterproof postcards for anyone who dives to hand one over.
Vanuatu Post opened the underwater office in May 2003 with the blessing of local ni-Vanuatu landowners, and it is still the only one of its kind anywhere. The mechanics are genuinely worked out: cards are marked with an embossed cancellation rather than ink, snorkellers who cannot reach the counter get a hand from staff, and out of hours a sealed post box on the office takes late mail. The reef is the deeper reason to come. The island sits in a marine sanctuary where fishing is banned, which is why life crowds the coral within a fin-kick of the beach, and dive boats work some twenty sites within fifteen minutes of the beach. Day visitors cross on the short ferry, snorkel straight off the sand, and eat at the toes-in-the-sand restaurant between swims.
Couple
Post cards to each other from three metres down, then claim a fare on the sand for sunset with the reef still drying in your hair.
Family
Children who can snorkel can mail their own postcard, and the beach entry, ferry ride and sanctuary fish keep a whole day effortless.
Friends
Split between divers on the morning boat and snorkellers off the beach, then compare fish counts over a shared table at the beach bar.
- The underwater post office opened in May 2003 in about three metres of water and remains the world's only one, embossing cards instead of inking them.
- A flag rises on a float when postal staff are in the water, and after hours a sealed box on the office itself takes late mail.
- The island sits in a marine sanctuary where fishing is banned, so reef life crowds the coral straight off the beach.
- Some twenty dive sites lie within fifteen minutes of the island.
The signature coconut curry at the On the Beach restaurant is the plate to ask for, eaten with your toes literally in the sand.
Fresh local fish leads the menu; take it at a fare table over the reef you have just snorkelled, cocktail alongside.
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Mount Yasur
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