Jayne DArcy - Vanuatu & New Caledonia

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Tropical weather brings light and life to sandy beaches and azure waters. Throughout the islands, strong communities show off their countrys attributes to a soundtrack of drumming and dance.

Hog Harbour (), Santo, Vanuatu
PETER HENDRIE / LONELY PLANET IMAGES

In Vanuatu and New Caledonia youll find a touch of the exotic in the everyday. Life here is always entertaining, whether youre being surprised by turtles peeking out of the sea, sidestepping crabs at the market, or eyeing up unruly mounds of kava before it gets pounded up at a kava bar. Getting around the islands where these gnarly roots are grown may not be simple, but youre guaranteed a welcoming smile, basic lodgings and an insight into local life if you do visit. Wherever you go, take in the little pleasures that pop up each day, whether its bright flowers strewn on your bed, fresh coconut milk ready for drinking, or being in town during a harvest festival.

Take the kids to Vanuatu; the ni-Van children are a lot of fun, and theres always beachside hermit-crab action for entertainment. Letting the young uns peer into a live volcano will give a whole new meaning to future geography classes. Theres plenty to do for adults, too. Party in Noumea and practise your French. Discover the worlds second-biggest reef on a diving trip. Yachties flock to the Pacific, and the ni-Van in particular know how to extend a warm welcome. Sound like too much work? These countries are also ideal for anyone keen on doing nothing but relaxing.

Noumea is decidedly French, with its food, language and architecture making you wonder exactly which hemisphere youre in. Port Vila crouches around a bay which, on cruise-ship days (and there are plenty of those), is a hive of adrenaline-boosting activity. It doesnt have the la-di-da factor of neighbouring Noumea; instead, its a down-to-earth collection of dusty, low-rise buildings where carvings and boar tusks jostle for space with bright Mother Hubbard dresses, and fresh raspberries are lined up invitingly at the fruit and vegetable market.

Finding island paradise is a frangipani-scented breeze in New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Less than half an hour after arriving in Vanuatu you could be chilling in your lagoon-facing room and settling into island life with an icy welcome cocktail. In New Caledonia, even the cheapest island bungalows are charming. Getting around is easy too, with reliable flights, ferries and roads making connections from coast to mountain to atoll simple. Off the main islands, Vanuatus bungalows are basic affairs, but who needs electric lights when they just dull the stars?

Girls with painted faces, Port Vila, Vanuatu
TOM COCKREM / LONELY PLANET IMAGES

From rustic abodes with their own deserted beaches, to glamorous resorts taking up entire atolls, island life is life in Vanuatu and New Caledonia. Choose between Vanuatus black-sand beaches and volcanic islands dotted with blue holes, or New Caledonias white-sand beauties, and get to know both countries vibrant cultures. Great snorkelling and diving is a given almost anywhere you choose to lay your towel and true island-paradise experiences are possible either in, or just a short ferry ride from, the capitals of Port Vila and Noumea.

Lifou, New Caledonia
BLAINE HARRINGTON III / CORBIS

Island People

Vanuatus ni-Van can out-smile even the happiest traveller. Theyre keen to share their unique culture, whether thats by inviting you down to the local kava bar or organising a local guide so you dont miss a thing. Its down-to-earth living; great importance is placed on family, land and pigs. New Caledonias mix of cultures is also intriguing; central Grande Terre is friendly cowboy country, while the other islands have stronger indigenous connections. Join in on the mammoth food-preparation efforts to understand more about local life.

Kanak dancers, le des Pins, New Caledonia
STEPHANE FRANCES / 4CORNERS

Underwater Adventure

With its luxury-liner wreck and expansive under water American dumping ground from WWII, scuba divers (and snorkellers) love Vanuatus Santo. There are plenty of dive sites off Efate, too. The bigger resorts make a divers life easy by running their own dive schools. New Caledonia, home to the worlds largest lagoon, has plenty of fishy action for under water adventurers. Dives off Noumea range from explorations of underwater pathways in marine reserves to wreck diving. Theres also drift diving off Ouva and gardens and caves perfect for experienced divers off le des Pins.

Wreck diving off Luganville, Santo, Vanuatu
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC / GETTY IMAGES

Local Culture

With independence beckoning (therell be a referendum in 2014), now is a good time to celebrate the Kanak culture of New Caledonia. Its rich in carvings, music and poetry, which come together in a crash of colour and sound at regular cultural events. Vanuatus islands each have their own distinct dances and sculptures, and kastom (traditional) villages are still vibrant and easy to find. Listen out for traditional flute and tamtam (slit drum) playing, and for vibrant voices emanating from church choirs or popular reggae-infused festivals. In both countries, look out for ancient pottery and elaborate, intricate masks and costumes.

Dancers on Tanna, Vanuatu
WILL SALTER / LONELY PLANET IMAGES

Active Volcanoes

Theres magic going on throughout Vanuatus volcanic islands and Tanna is a hotspot, literally. Home to the John Frum cargo cult, its also the site of an accessible volcano, Mt Yasur (), which is a simple 45-minute stroll off the main road. Join the convoy of 4WDs from Tannas west-coast resorts to watch the sparks and lava fly as the sun sets. Its intense and, yes, occasionally dangerous. Add spark to your trip by staying in a treehouse bungalow nearby and falling asleep to the rumbles of grumbling Yasur.