Erromango, bush walking, hiking and trekking
Erromango is largely unpopulated and undeveloped. Today, the island's main source of income is Sandalwood (the season runs from June to August each year) supplemented by coconut crabs. Extracting Sandalwood from the native forests is all done by manual labour, much the same as during the Sandalwood boom of the 19th Century. It's a lucrative business and Sandalwood planting is becoming popular.

There has been logging around Ipota in the South during the 1970s and 1980s. There's said to be a huge pile of logs (about 15000 cubic metres) at Ipota abandoned by a Malaysian logging company in 1984 after the government banned log exports. It's been reported that the native forests in the South are recovering well 20 years after logging.

Erromango is close to Efate and airfares are relatively cheap. It's a good place for trekking and bush walking. The Kauri forests are the best known attraction but remoteness and big kastom fees are a deterrent. There's plenty of forest so birdwatching is good. There aren't many flights and a visit to "Erro" will take at least five days. Walking plans and routes are described on our Walking Erromango page. Erromango is not the easiest island to visit but it is quite possibly the most unspoilt.

Bungalows
Commercial accommodation on Erromango is limited with only one bungalow and one guesthouse at Upongkor village (Dillon's Bay). Elsewhere, accommodation can be arranged in the villages or camping is not impossible.

Transport
There are two airstrips on Erromango, one in the northwest (Dillon's Bay) and another in the southeast (Ipota). Air Vanuatu flies to Erromango three times a week (March 2007): Monday (Ipota only), Tuesday (Dillon's Bay) and Sunday (Dillon's Bay and Ipota). In May 2006 a return airfare from Port Vila was 19033 Vatu to Dillon's Bay and 21058 Vatu to Ipota. Tourists with a return Air Vanuatu international ticket are entitled to a 20% discount on these fares. Note the Dillon's Bay airstrip may be closed if it's raining due to low cloud cover and/or wet conditions. Exchange Rates.

There's only one road on Erromango, from Upongkor to the Dillon's Bay Airstrip, so most transport around Erromango is by speedboat or walking. A speedboat charter from Dillon's Bay to Pongkil Bay is about 5000 Vatu and to South River about 10000 Vatu. Note, at Pongkil Bay there's no estuary so getting ashore often involves jumping onto the rocks/reef and you may miss your step when there are any waves (good fun!).

Last updated: August 2004 by Stephen