Travel guide: Gaua, Vanuatu
Hotels, cars, visas, lounges — everything you need before you land in Gaua.
Compare transfers in GauaPlan the trip
Start with a transfer, stay or car, then fill in the rest.
Paid links: Aurum may earn a commission if you book through these partners, at no extra cost to you.
- Lounges at ZGUDay passes and lounge access
- Car rental in GauaCompare rental desks and prices
- Hotels in GauaStays for every budget
- Flight delays in VanuatuCheck if you can claim for a delay
- Flights to GauaCompare fares worldwide
- eSIM dataMobile data in Vanuatu
Airport transfersCompare private rides from the airport- Travel insuranceCover for trips and nomads
At a glance
Local facts
Travel essentials for Gaua, Vanuatu — what to expect on the ground. Gaua sits in Vanuatu (Oceania), in a tropical climate band — tropical southern-hemisphere zone with a wet season and a dry season. Nearest airport: ZGU serves the area. Local timezone is Pacific/Efate, which matters for arrivals and check-ins. It sits at -14.22°, 167.59° — useful for weather, daylight, and route planning. Use the live tools below to plan around these facts.
- RegionVanuatu, Oceania
- Climate bandtropical southern-hemisphere zone with a wet season and a dry season
- Nearest airportZGU
- TimezonePacific/Efate
- Coordinates-14.22, 167.59
- Located in the Southern Hemisphere
Gaua is an island in the Banks Islands, in the far north of Vanuatu, in the South Pacific. It is a wild, volcanic island dominated by Mount Garet, an active volcano that rises above Lake Letas, a large crater lake, one of the largest in the Pacific islands, ringed by rainforest and waterfalls. Gaua is remote and little visited, home to small villages living traditionally, and is known among adventurous travelers for its dramatic volcanic scenery, its crater lake, hot springs and the great Siri waterfall, as well as for its strong local custom and traditional music. There are no resorts, only very simple guesthouses and homestays. Gaua is reached by small aircraft to its airstrip on domestic flights, and by boat, with connections through the northern hub of Sola on nearby Vanua Lava. The climate is warm and tropical, wettest around the start of the year.
Book an airport transfer to Gaua
Compare private transfers from licensed partners. Meet-and-greet included.
Tours & experiences
Top tours & experiences in Gaua
Browse Viator’s catalogue of Gaua tours, day trips, and experiences. Most include free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity.
See Gaua tours on Viator →Aurum may earn commission on completed bookings, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.
More partner options for Gaua
Paid links: Aurum may earn a commission if you book through these partners, at no extra cost to you. Partners set their own prices and terms.
WeGoTripSelf-guided audio tours for GauaSearch on WeGoTrip ↗
AiraloTravel eSIM data for GauaSearch on Airalo ↗
Booking.comHotels and apartments in GauaSearch on Booking.com ↗
AviasalesCompare flights to GauaSearch on Aviasales ↗
Welcome PickupsFixed-price airport rides to GauaSearch on Welcome Pickups ↗
DiscoverCarsCompare car hire desks near GauaSearch on DiscoverCars ↗
SafetyWingTravel medical insurance for your tripSearch on SafetyWing ↗
AirHelpClaim for a delayed or cancelled flightSearch on AirHelp ↗
Frequently asked questions
Where is Gaua?
Gaua is an island in the Banks Islands, in the far north of Vanuatu, in the South Pacific. It is a remote, volcanic island dominated by the active Mount Garet and the large crater lake, Lake Letas, home to small traditional villages rather than any town or resort.
What is Gaua known for?
Gaua is known for its dramatic volcanic scenery: the active volcano Mount Garet rising above Lake Letas, one of the largest crater lakes in the Pacific, ringed by rainforest, hot springs and the great Siri waterfall. It is also known for its strong traditional custom and music, and is very little visited.
How do you get to Gaua?
Gaua is reached by small aircraft to its airstrip on domestic flights within Vanuatu, and by boat, usually with connections through Sola, the northern hub on nearby Vanua Lava, or through the capital, Port Vila. As a remote island with only simple guesthouses, a visit needs planning.
Nearby destinations
This page contains affiliate links. If you make a booking through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.