TAMANU ON THE BEACH RESORT AND SPA
White Sands Road, South Coast Efate, Vanuatu
OUR Thoughts on Tamanu On The Beach Resort and Spa
With only 15 well-appointed villas and a highly-regarded restaurant, Tamanu On The Beach is a great beachfront property. Holiday accommodation on Vanuatu’s Efate Island is generally centred around the capital – Port Vila, but there are more and more developments now appearing on spectacular locations previously a little off the beaten track. However, with the sealing and reformatting of the circle island road around Efate, these beautiful resorts have been made more readily accessible. Tamanu On The Beach is located off the main circle island road approximately 7km down an unsealed gravel road, but access has definitely improved with the sealing of the circle island road.
Along with the spacious living space, the bathrooms are a true feature of the villas at Tamanu. Every villa bathroom is a natural work of bathroom art and include a roofed, walled courtyard. The coral-lined walls of the courtyard are designed to have a gap between the top of the wall and the roof to enable air flow through to clear steam etc. Bathrooms have a step-up walk-in shower with rain head and most recently built villas feature a couples-sized, raised bath – so designed that guests bathing may enjoy a view through the interior of the villa to the ocean from the bath. It’s all very romantic taking a bath with a glass of bubbles in hand while enjoying the stunning beach views.
Tamanu On The Beach offers a full resort experience for guests. To complement the restaurant, bar and lounge area there is a swimming pool, a spa facility and an ocean pool set within the natural rocks where the inner ocean reef meets the land. Guest services include complimentary wifi, full a la carte breakfast (included in the room tariff), a Tour Desk, guest laundry, DVD/book/games library and room and pool service meals. All guests receive a welcome fruit cocktail and there is a shuttle service into Port Vila on weekdays.
With its terrific natural beachfront location and the benefit of being only 20 minutes away from Port Vila Town, this is an ideal option for both shorter and longer get-away-from-it-all breaks in the sun.
Click here for the Resort Map with room numbers relating to room type and location.
Your Accommodation Options
Three of the four original villas at Tamanu on the Beach are located to the left of the restaurant and reception as you arrive at the resort. All the other units are spread out along the beach to the right of the central facility as you face the ocean. The original villas set the tone for the whole resort with their Caribbean/Plantation style and this has been continued in the more recent additions. The Plantation/Caribbean style includes a nice little furnished veranda leading to an open-plan interior with high ceiling and exposed white-painted roof trusses, banks of glass louvres and an open-air walled courtyard bathroom off the bed/living room - the effect is light and fresh and very relaxing. The original villas are known as Beachview Villas. Each one, while being set back a little from the beach to give privacy from the resort’s open air dining terrace, has a pleasant lawn and a sea view from the veranda.
Some of the more recently added villas can be described as being “absolute beachfront”, while others enjoy beach and sea views (framed by the beachfront villas) from their positions one row back. No matter which accommodation, every villa offers a beach/sea view from the veranda. All accommodation offered is air-conditoned complimented by ceiling fans and flow-through louvred windows.
Room Categories (In ascending order of tariff)
Beachview Villas (Numbers 1,2 & 3 on Resort Map above):
The Beachview Villas look quite small from the outside, but, inside offer good space for a couple. The sense of space is enhanced by the height of the ceiling and the numerous louvered windows.
Ensuite bathroom with shower.
Maximum Occupancy: 2 Adults
Existing Bedding: 1 King Bed which may be split into 2 Single Beds
Additional Bedding: No additional bedding accommodated.
Coral Garden Cottage (Number 6 on Resort Map above):
Gorgeous Coral Villa with your own private open air bathroom. Enjoy tropical garden views, This room features a separate sitting area and balcony with swing hammock and chairs. Only a short walk to the beach.
Maximum Occupancy: 2 Adults or 2 Adults & 1 Child
Existing Bedding: 1 King Bed which may be split into 2 Single Beds
Additional Bedding: 1 Day Bed
Coral Beachfront Villas (Numbers 4 & 5 on Resort Map above):
Coral Beachfront Villas are very spacious open-plan units with a major lounge room space. These villas were actually built from bleached coral stones which had washed up on the beach and the effect, in conjunction with the plantation building style is pleasing. Coral Beachfront Villas are all handily located to the restaurant and lobby.
Ensuite bathroom with shower.
Maximum Occupancy: 2 Adults or 2 Adults & 1 Child
Existing Bedding: 1 King Bed which may be split into 2 Single Beds
Additional Bedding: 1 Day Bed
Beachfront Villas (Numbers 7,8 & 9 on Resort Map above):
Exceptional, spacious, light and airy open-plan villas right on the beach frontage.
Ensuite bathroom with double shower and couples bath.
Maximum Occupancy: 2 Adults & 2 Children
Existing Bedding: 1 King Bed which may be split into 2 Single Beds and 2 Day Beds
Additional Bedding: No additional bedding accommodated
Beachfront Plunge Pool Villas (Numbers 10,11 & 12 on Resort Map above):
The 3 Beachfront Plunge Pool Villas offer the same layout and facilities as the “Beachfront Villas” but with the addition of a private plunge pool. Beachfront Plunge Pool Villas could easily be described as “Honeymoon Villas” as each one would be an ideal location for a honeymoon. These Villas are sited furthest along the beach from the restaurant and almost right on the sand!
Ensuite bathroom with double shower and couples bath.
Maximum Occupancy: 2 Adults & 2 Children
Existing Bedding: 1 King Bed which may be split into 2 Single Beds and 2 Day Beds
Additional Bedding: No additional bedding accommodated
2 Bedroom Plunge Pool Villas (Numbers 14,15 & 16 on Resort Map above):
The three 2 Bedroom Plunge Pool Villas are simply superb. Located one row back from the beach but with a good view of the beach and the ocean between the Beachfront Villas. Each features 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, a lounge area and a nice veranda and a patio containing the private plunge pool. These villas are ideal accommodation for 2 couples sharing or a bigger family.
Ensuite bathrooms with shower.
Maximum Occupancy: 4 Adults and 2 Children or 2 Adults and 4 Children
Existing Bedding: 2 King Beds, either or both of which may be split into 2 Single Beds and 2 Day Beds.
Additional Bedding: No additional bedding accommodated.
Getting to and from Tamanu On The Beach
We will include arrival and departure airport transfers in package arrangements as required/agreed. Tamanu on the Beach is located approximately 30-minutes’ drive from Port Vila Airport and around 20 minutes from the centre of Port Vila Town. The room tariff includes daily weekday return shuttle services to and from town.
The Port Vila “Taxi-Buses” do operate out as far at Tamanu, but finding one passing by at a time to suit can be a bit hit-and-miss. Renting a car for a day or two is a good way to get to see the rest of Efate Island and a car can either be prearranged and included in your package price or organised direct with the resort once you arrive. At the moment there is a 7km drive along what can be a fairly rough road, (especially after a period of rain) to join the sealed main road around Efate.
Kids Club
The Resort operates the “Kokonas Kids club” with trained staff open Monday -Saturday 9.30am to 3.30pm. Rate is charged per child for either a full day or a half day (payable directly to resort).
Check-in/Check Out
Standard check-in and checkout times are:
Check-in: from 2:00pm
Check-out: 11:00am
Early check-in can be arranged if unit to be occupied is available
Complimentary late check-out is granted when available
For a day at the beach, a unit may be booked, (when available) for a stay up to 4:00pm at a cost of 50% of an overnight stay.
The information on this page is correct as at 12 September 2023 and is based on our supplier contracts which are valid for stays to 31 March 2025. All information shown is subject to change without notice.