Located
some 180 km south of
the Solomon Islands,
these northernmost
islands are reputed
for the friendliness
and warmth of their
inhabitants and
the beauty of their
surroundings.

The Torres take their name from Captain Luis Vaez de Torres who was a member of the Queiros expedition and the Banks owe theirs to the bota-
nist Joseph Banks who came over with James Cook in 1774.
The Banks and Torres islands, in the northenmost part of Vanuatu, include some 13 islands, of which 7 are inhabited. The others are mainly tiny islets of white sand or volcanic rock. Since the 8th of December 1994 they form the Torba province with a population just over 10 000.

BANKS ISLANDS

Lying 65 km to the south of the Torres Islands, the Banks extend over 144 km lengthwise and include two main islands : Vanua Lava and Gaua.
In these virgin islands, the fauna is quite varied, and along with the crabs, the lobsters and the prawns, you can find turtles, wild pigs, Pacific boas, giant turtles and alligators who apparently escaped from Bishop Patterson’s ship in 1860 and managed to survive and reproduce until a cyclone devastated them in 1972, leaving only 5 survivors.

Vanua Lava, the biggest island

Vanua Lava, with an area of 330 km2, is the biggest island and has its own airstrip, at Sola. The highest point is Mount Tolap in the south of the group, with 946 m. To the north, Mount Sere Ama (921 m) overlooks an active volcano, with 2 smokeholes and 2 small lakes where the water level changes constantly.
On the western coast, two magnificient waterfalls cascade down from the top of the rocks into a beautiful natural pool carved out with the passage of time, flowing to the sea. These are the Sasar waterfalls accessible by boat. Join them for the annual events.

Neighbouring islands

You can reach Ravenga, Kwakea,Nawila and Mota by boat. Motalava and Gaua, also known as Santa Maria, second island to be served by Air Vanuatu in the Banks is the most popular. It is famous for its dances, dancing stones, a multicoloured statue called Tamata and the sleeping mountains. On Gaua, visitors will find the largest volcanic lake in the South Pacific, an active volcano, an enormous waterfall (124 m tall) and a cultural vibrancy characteristic of the Banks and Torres.
To the north-west, the incredible Reef Islands constitute a group of islands with superb white sand beaches and coconut trees, they are not inhabited and team with fish, so a good spot for game fishing.
Game fishing in the Banks has the highest record for heavy weights in the world.
To the very north, Ureparapara, an old volcano no longer active in the shape of a horseshoe opening out into the ocean, offers the unique opportunity of sailing right into the heart of the crater by boat.

Accommodation

Call the Torba Province for information and accommodation: 678-38550/ 77 79002, and local tour operators Custom dancers Custom dancers from the Banks are known to be superb dancers and they are not an uncommon sight on Sola, or at Port Vila in some of the hotels, or at any one the cultural events, indeed some even represent Vanuatu overseas. Around the first week of September each year is Vanua Lava Day (1-5 sept.) All welcome - contact 38550.

Custom dancers

Custom dancers from the Banks are known to be superb dancers  and they are not an uncommon sight on Sola, or at Port Vila in some of the hotels, or at any one the cultural events, indeed some even represent
Vanuatu overseas. Around the first week of September each year is Vanua Lava Day (1-5 sept.) All welcome - contact 38550.