To the Edge of the Earth: Witnessing the Fury of Mount Yasur

WORDS: Estelle Hunt PHOTOGRAPHY Brian Usher - [email protected]

A once-in-a-lifetime journey to one of the world’s most active and accessible volcanoes delivers fear, awe and an unforgettable encounter with the raw power of nature on Tanna Island, Vanuatu

I can’t say I was entirely excited when I arrived at Port Vila airport and saw the small plane that was about to take us to the island of Tanna to visit one of the world’s most active and accessible volcanoes, Mount Yasur. But because this was a once in a lifetime experience, I told myself to push fear aside and try and replace it with a sense of excitement with seven other adventurers for the one-hour flight south. Brian, on the other hand, frothed the whole time; camera in hand, ready to face whatever was to happen next as we embarked on a true ‘bucket list’ experience in the middle of the South Pacific.

After our arrival at a small airstrip on Tanna Island, we were transferred to four-wheel drive vehicles – with custom made car seats located in the ute trays to give the best possible views of what was ahead of us. Witnessing the raw island scenery and waving to the friendly locals was an entrée to a day that will live in my memory forever. The hour and a half drive was stunning, weaving through tiny villages, lush tropical rainforests, and offering stunning ocean views as we headed across the island to our seismic destination.

The drive consisted of a river crossing as we snaked our way toward the volcano, and some rugged terrain which looked like a moonscape as we neared the crater.
We drove around the entire volcano, where we had the opportunity to look from various vantage points as we neared the crater for our hike to the edge of the abyss.
“It was like we were on the moon,” quipped Brian as we exited the greenery and into an ash-filled, black sand plain with the backdrop of a beautiful, mountainous caldera directly behind us. Once we arrived near the crater, a short walk led us to the edge of what hell must look like – a charred, smoking, living, breathing, fire throwing abyss sending 4000- degree molten lava and rocks into the air.

The volcano would rumble before spewing the molten lava into the air which was followed by a sonic shockwave which would momentarily take our breaths away. It
was scary and exciting at the same time because we knew the boom was the signal that a lava explosion was pending – a truly natural fireworks display. We were there on sunset, so as night fell, the molten lava illuminated into the darkness, providing a spectacular show of raw nature.

Mount Yasur is one of the world’s most accessible active volcanoes. It is one of the most consistently active on earth and can erupt up to 300 times per day. Hard to
believe that we’re just under three hours from Brisbane and witnessing such a raw manifestation of the Pacific Rim. Mt Yasur is 361 metres above sea level and has been erupting continuously for several hundred years. When we were there, the danger rating was 2. No one accesses the volcano on 3, and a 5-rating means the evacuation of the entire island.

After such a dramatic experience, we then returned to Rockwater Resort – a boutique, adults-only eco-resort run by expat Aussies John and Silvana Nicholls built
into limestone cliffs with panoramic ocean views from every room and direct access to a protected marine area ideal for world class snorkelling. Rooms and suites, surrounded by lush gardens, have been cleverly built utilising hand-crafted local materials and feature limestone walls and Tanna hardwood furniture.It is referred to as ‘the Santorini of the South. After an exhilarating day it was time for dinner, a glass of wine and good sleep before returning to Port Vila the next morning with memories that can only be described as an experience that is Bucket List on steroids.

For further information on Island Magic Resort, please contact Caroline Bird at [email protected]