Things To Do On Mystery Island In Vanuatu: For Cruise Passengers & More

If you’re visiting the South Pacific by cruise, you’ll have to check out the best things to do on Mystery Island in Vanuatu! This island is one of my favorites, and it may be small, but you’ll for sure be kept busy!

Tucked away in the South Pacific, you’ll find the beautiful destination of Mystery Island. This paradise is a popular stop for cruise ships, where the mainly uninhabited beaches become lively with locals and tourists.

Honestly, there is pretty little information online about this spot, and not too many tours available.

Understandably, this leaves a lot of confusion about what the heck to even do here. Like it’s an island, the beach should be okay, right?

I was lucky enough to visit Mystery Island as part of a larger South Pacific cruise departing Sydney. Even though I mainly backpack, I do love a cheeky cruise as a way to unwind and just chill while all the logistics are taken care of.

Nevertheless, let’s get into what to do on Mystery Island, from snorkeling in clear waters to experiencing local performances, and of course, my top tips for visiting.

1. Snorkel From The Beach

The beach here is gorgeous, and you can easily just snorkel straight from the shore. No doubt this is one of the best things to do on Mystery Island!

You’ll easily be able to rent some gear, or if you’re organised, bring your own.

Some spots have reefs that are close to shore, which is awesome for families. Just watch out and try not to damage the coral!

Some of the best spots are:

• The Southern end of the old airstrip
• The beach, which is about a 5 minute walk on left hand side when you step off the tender boat
• The western side of the island

2. Hire A Sun Lounger

If you’re keen to relax and soak up the sun, you can hire a sun lounger from the friendly locals who come from the nearby Aneityum Island.

A sun lounger will cost you around 500 vatu / $5 AUD for the whole day. They are set up on a couple of different beaches around the island, so you can go for a wander and book wherever takes your fancy.

You can also get a fresh coconut, a massage, or some local souvenirs from the sellers nearby.

3. Take A Boat Tour

A few local guides at the jetty offer short boat tours the Island , where you can check it out from a different perspective.

Though, to be honest, you can get a similar view from the tender boats, which will transport you from the cruise ship to the island.

Types of boat tours available:

• Glass Bottom Boats
• Kayaks
• Deep Sea Fishing
• Reef Snorkeling

No doubt one of the most popular types is one that’ll take you out further on the reef for some snorkeling.

Here, you’ll find undisturbed marine life that hasn’t been hassled by thousands of cruise passengers. The coral is healthier, and the fish are larger than what you’ll find closer to the shore.

There is even a chance to see turtles!

4. Go Shopping At The Markets

Now, if you’re keen to bring home some local souvenirs, you should definitely visit the markets at Mystery Island.

The friendly locals who come from neighbouring Aneityum Island set up the markets along the beach and on the pathways around the island.

Here you can find sarongs, postcards, toys, clothes, and plenty more. You’ll also be able to try some delicious food and drinks, such as freshly cooked lobster, banana pie, and coconut water.

The prices are reasonable and you can pay with Australian dollars or Vatu, the local currency.

5. Get Your Hair Braided

Getting your hair braided is definitely a sign use been on holiday! You’ll see heaps of people wandering around the ship from as little as a single braid, to their whole head done.

The locals are experts at braiding, and using colorful beads, ribbons, and flowers, they’ll create something special for you to remember your holiday.

Of course, doing they means you’ll also get the opportunity to interact with the friendly locals and learn more about their traditions here.

Generally, the prices for hair braiding on Mystery Island range from $10 to $20 AUD.

6. Enjoy A Massage

If you are looking for another way to get pampered during your visit to Mystery Island, why not have a massage?

Come chill out and get a massage the way the locals do it!

The main spot is run by Jimmy, who’s been giving massages for over 10 years. He’s taught his crew some cool moves and how to use natural oils to really relax those muscles.

The massage costs only $35 AUD for an hour, and it is well worth it.

This is just a fraction of the cost you would pay on the cruise ship, plus you don’t have to worry about the masseuse upselling you, which is pretty standard practice.

7. Relax In The Sandy Shallows

Perhaps you aren’t too interested in snorkeling and instead just want to bob around in the sandy shallows and relax.

Well, thankfully, certain parts of the island have coral right by the shoreline, and others you will find quite sandy.

If you are looking for a sandy spot, then I recommend visiting the side of the island the cruise ship anchors. This is a lot more sandy and less rocky, so you can relax knowing you aren’t going to stand on any coral.

8. Walk Around the Island

Mystery Island is pretty small and you can walk around it in less than half an hour. The pathway is sandy, flat, and honestly, you’ll be fine walking around it barefoot.

Along the way, you can appreciate the gardens planted by the locals, some trees and lovely flowers, as well as the beautiful ocean views.

By walking around, you’ll see some of the highlights here, and let’s be honest, how often in life can you say you’ve walked around an entire island?

9. Learn On A Fire Walking & Kastom Magic Tour

One, for sure, unique tour on Mystery Island is the Fire Walking and Kastom Magic Tour.

You’ll head over to Aneityum in a boat, where you are greeted by a group doing a traditional welcome performance.

After this, it’s time for some “kastom” magic involving coconuts, which is a demonstration of their spiritual beliefs and practices. You also learn about the significance of kava in the culture here.

The highlight is for sure the impressive fire walking, but you won’t catch me giving it a go!

This is done barefoot over the hot stones, as well, and of course without showing any signs of pain or injury.

10. Visit the Tiny WWII-Era Airstrip

One of the most unusual parts of Mystery Island is the large grassed airstrip that takes up most of the land.

The airstrip was built by the United States Military to serve the island of Aneityum during World War II. It was used as an emergency landing strip for military aircraft, as Japan was winning the war in the Solomon Islands to the north.

Mystery Island had the potential to become a major player if they advanced into Vanuatu.

Today, the strip is used twice a week as the airport for the nearby major island of Aneityum. The flights can be quite interesting as boxes of live lobsters and crabs are stacked beside passengers.

11. Enjoy Music & Dance Performances

You can’t miss watching and supporting the performances by locals from nearby islands.

As there are limited interactions with tourists out this way, locals come here when cruise ships arrive, and entertain the visitors with their traditional songs and dances.

This is usually held on the beach, where a stage is set up with colorful decorations and instruments.

I highly recommend supporting them and donating as this will go straight towards their community and make a massive difference.

12. Try Some Kayaking

Mystery Island is a beach lover’s paradise, so of course, there will be a chance to kayak on the waters that surround the island.

You can book a clear kayak and snorkel tour through your cruise ship or with Mystery Island Tours, a local company that operates on the island.

Now you will have 90 minutes to kayak your way around the reefs, and with the kayak being transparent allows you to have a pretty cool view underwater.

13. Go Stand-Up Paddle Boarding

Sticking with the water activities, you can also give stand-up paddleboarding a go here.

Again, you’ll be able to book this through your cruise line or Mystery Island Tours.

The tour lasts for around 1.5 hours, and don’t stress, you’ll have the opportunity to practice in the shallows before paddling between Mystery Island and Aneityum.

14. Join A Kava Ceremony

Now, if you’re a Kiwi or Aussie, good chance you’ve heard of it before. But in case you haven’t, kava is a drink made from the roots of the kava plant, and is a super popular drink in Pacific island countries like Vanuatu.

If you go to Mystery Island, you can check out a kava ceremony at the Mystery Island Kava Bar.

They usually serve kava in a coconut shell or a small bowl. You should drink it in one gulp and then spit out any residue.

Don’t stress, you may feel a numbing sensation in your mouth and tongue, which is normal. It can also make you feel relaxed, calm, and euphoric, which, if you’re stuck on a ship with your family, isn’t a completely bad thing.

15. Try A Guided Village Walking Tour

For those keen to see Aneityum, a guided village tour is the perfect choice. This way, you’ll get a chance to see the unique local culture here, and really have the chance to learn in depth, instead of sitting on a beach all day.

When you arrive at Aneityum, there will be a guide there who’ll show you around their village of Keamu.

This is where you’ll get to see traditional houses, schools, old church ruins (from one of the first churches in Vanuatu), the local clinic, and even the police station.

As you keep walking around the village, you’ll get lots of chances to meet people, snap some pretty sweet pics, and buy souvenirs.

16. Become Cannibal Soup

Well, that’s literally one thing I thought I’d never write.

Okay, so one of the most random things to do on Mystery Island is the Cannibal Soup photo opportunity.

You’ll find that the Cannibal Soup is a large metal pot that is set up near the beach, surrounded by wooden poles and fake skulls. The pot is filled with water and has fake flames underneath.

Basically, you’ll climb into the pot and pose for photos, while local islanders in traditional clothing pretend to cook you.

Now there is a charge for this photo opportunity, around $5.00 AUD per person, which goes to support the local community.

Now I understand if you’re a little bit conflicted by this, but it’s not disrespectful, but rather a cheeky reference to the island’s past.

17. Meet Some Local Wildlife

Now this one is entirely up to you, as no doubt there are some questions regarding the ethics of this. But on Mystery Island, you will have the opportunity to take photographs with some unique animals.

This generally includes lizards and birds, whose owner has brought them across to the island for curious tourists to admire.

Now, to hold these animals or take a photo, you will be charged around $5.00 AUD.

Again, I cannot speak as to how these animals are looked after, but if you question it even slightly when you see the treatment of the animal or its conditions, please don’t partake.

18. Join A Snorkeling Tour

One of the best things to do on Mystery Island for cruise ship passengers is to join a snorkeling tour.

There are different types of snorkeling tours available, and some of the most popular ones are:

Mystery Island Drift Snorkel: This tour takes you on a short boat ride to a Marine Protected Area, where you can snorkel through an undisturbed coral reef ecosystem. You’ll need a good level of fitness, and it costs $89.99 for adults and $59.99 for children.

Clear Kayak and Snorkel: On this tour you’ll paddle the waters in a glass bottom kayak, revealing the beautiful reef below. Then you can dive in for a snorkel to take a closer look. For this, the price is $99.99 for adults and $89.99 for children.

Now, to actually join a snorkeling tour, you’ll need to book in advance.

19. Get Your Passport Stamped

Now you’ll have the chance to get a cute lil Mystery Island souvenir stamp in your passport if you’re keen.

Just remember, you’ll need to bring your passport off the ship. This is usually offered in a small hut or table around the market area.

You’ll need to pay a small fee of $2.00 AUD /  200 vatu to get your stamp.

Just be careful, as sometimes souvenir stamps can cause issues with travel at a later date.

My partner got a stamp from Mystery Island and never had an issue with traveling after this. I have also had a souvenir stamp from Aitutaki in the Cook Islands and didn’t have any problems either.

20. Rent A Private Beach Hut

If you’re keen to relax, then for sure rent a private beach hut, which’ll give you a bit of comfort, privacy, and luxury.

There are different types of beach huts available, from thatched roof huts, to clamshell cabanas (not as fancy as it sounds).

You’ll find each one has its own benefits, such as sun lounges, massages, snorkel equipment, drinks, snacks, and Wi-Fi.

You can book online at Mystery Island Tours. The prices depend on the type and duration of the rental, but they are generally $59.00 to $145.00 AUD.

21. Grab A Drink At The Tiki Bar

Now, after all the adventures and swimming are over, make your way to the Tiki Bar for a cold one.

You’ll find it behind the cabanas and beach huts on the opposite side of the island from where the cruise ship anchors.

It offers a selection of drinks and snacks, which can be perfect if the tender lines are long heading back onboard for lunch, or if you just need a lil pick me up.

How To Get To Mystery Island?

So, wanna check out this island? Here’s how you can get there:

• Cruises are the way most people visit. Lots of cruise companies go there, like P&O Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, and Princess Cruises. They usually have Mystery Island as one of their stops.
• If you want to visit independently, you can fly to Mystery Island and stay nearby in Aneityum. There are direct flights from Port Vila with Air Vanuatu.
• Another option is by boat. You can charter a yacht or a catamaran from Port Vila and sail to Mystery Island.

Wrap Up: The Best Things To Do On Mystery Island

No doubt Mystery Island is a pretty damn cool cruise stop, and dare I say it, one of my favorites in the South Pacific.

This little slice of paradise, which honestly is pretty tiny, will easily be able to entertain the 1000s of cruise ship passengers that visit at a time.

Seriously, there are so many things to do on Mystery Island, you don’t really need to stress and book something, especially if you don’t mind chilling on the beach.