CHAMPAGNE BEACH VANUATU

VISITED JAN 2019

Most people's idea of a tropical beach - sweet



LOCATION

CHAMPAGNE BEACH is located in northern VANUATU. At 15 degrees south it is well within the tropics - actually closer to the Equator than CAIRNS on the Australian mainland. So unlike NEW CALEDONIA this place would be a good mid-winter beach visit. NC tends to be a bit cool, unless you find a sheltered location. 
You will find details clearer if you can click-expand image.
(all satellite images modified from GOOGLE EARTH)

CHAMPAGNE BEACH is about 2/3 up the east coast of ESPIRITU SANTO, which is the northern-most big island of VANUATU.
The beach is 54 km north by road (46 km in a direct line) from the island's biggest town LUGANVILLE, another popular call-in for cruise boats. That town is located in the narrow channel between the south-eastern island and the mainland above-left of the "100M" place marker.  

This is a great location for cruise liners because the bay off the beach gives good shelter from the south east trades which blow in this area more often than not.
Note nearby LANNOC BCH - only 0.7m away by foot. I didn't visit because "NOORDAM's" tourist map had a dodgy scale and was unclear in areas. Maybe next visit.
I haven't indicated the village of HOG HARBOUR which is just above the "L" of LANNOC - very low profile: I did't notice it from the ship moored mid-bay as shown.

The beach itself is compact - abt 350m long. The cleared area in back has sheltered market stalls, food outlets and a toilet block. Note the pier close to the beach left side - access to the beach very easy: I even saw from a distance my friend Barbara bring her wheelchair-bound mum Gertie ashore - now I don't say all wheelchair people could do this but Barbara is an old hand at accessing unlikely places with mum and wheelchair.

South part of beach from the ship - north part hidden by small headland. Note smooth ocean. Those protective  headlands do a great job.



THE BEACH

OL' JIMMY WOULD LOVE THIS PLACE
JAMES A MICHENER wrote his "TAILS OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC" when stationed at nearby LUGANVILLE. He maybe had this place in mind when writing his beach descriptions because for sure it is a model for the perfect tropical beach. About 350m long with blinding white sand, plenty wide enough even at full tide, crystal clear water which doesn't shelve too quickly (and LADY TEZZA who likes such things reported plenty of fish - I swam around with no goggles or face mask so things were kinda blurred), no lack of tree canopy shade in back of beach.

Arrivals pier. Plenty of non-pushy locals standing around offering tours so you don't have to take the ships' more expensive excursions. However to me a few hours on this gorgeous beach is a fine way to spend the time.

From the north end. Beach is surrounded by forested headlands and hills on 3 sides which adds to the tropical paradise thing.

From the south end. Note lack of waves - the orientation of the bay combined with typical local winds means this place would rarely get onshore winds and swell from the north and north-east. This is in the latitudes when the SE TRADES blow more often than not.
South end attracted more people as the day went on - has more shade and some coral rocks near the southern headland keeping snorkelers busy.
Outrigger rides were available for a reasonable sum.

No shortage of shade.

South-end fin-flappers. I also noticed a brace of snorkels near a buoy about 80m off mid beach - check underwater rocks on 5th GOOGLE EARTH image from top of this page.
Okay, some of you dudes are wondering why I don't give a SNORKELLING REPORT. Here's the thing - I've seen the best coral in the world before global warming and over-tourism kicked in, so everything I check these days is pretty ordinary (to me). And it might sound conceited but from experience I just KNOW the above locations would not be world class. But for people who have not snorkelled coral and associated fish etc the above would probably be pretty good. Me? At 73 years old I just can't be bothered.

IN BACK OF THE BEACH

Behind the beach is a cleared area with maybe 30 roofed market stalls offering the usual touristy clothing, trinkets, tours, food and drink, massages and hair braiding. There is also a toilet block 2nd row north end.

PROBLEMS
I heard a few people back on the ship complaining of SAND FLIES. Now those little devils love me but I had no bites (it's rare to actuallly NOTICE sand flies). But I did see a few of what we Aussies call BUSH FLIES - these are big bitey flies, the good news being they are a bit slow to avoid the slapping hand. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if some visitors equated bush flies on the beach as sand flies.
BLUEBOTTLES (the Pacific's smaller Portuguese Man of Wars)? Um, I think this beach's orientation and usual winds is all wrong for frequent visits.

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