Banks Islands

The Banks Islands are an archipelago in northern Vanuatu, part of Torba Province, consisting of several volcanic islands and smaller islets. The group includes larger inhabited islands and numerous smaller uninhabited islets, with a mix of volcanic interiors, crater lakes, reefed coasts and village settlements.

Boat and small-plane links connect the islands, where visitors find coastal villages, traditional cultures, and volcanic landscapes suitable for hiking and snorkeling. Notable local sights include crater lakes and reef passages, and visitors should plan for limited tourist infrastructure and irregular transport.

These islands were settled by Melanesian peoples and have long histories of inter-island contact and local custom. European contact and later colonial administration affected the islands from the 19th century onward, while traditional village life remains important today.

The Banks group lies in the northern part of Vanuatu, north of the larger islands of Santo and Ambrym; the islands are scattered across the northern Vanuatu arc and are separated by short inter-island sea passages.

• Geology: The Banks Islands form the northern part of Vanuatu's Torba Province and are volcanic in origin, with rugged interiors and fringing reefs.
• Travel note: Travel between islands is by small plane or boat; services are limited and schedules are irregular, so allow flexible time when island-hopping.

What to See #

• Vanua Lava: Vanua Lava is the largest island in the group and hosts the main settlement and administrative centre of the Banks Islands.
• Gaua: Gaua is a volcanic island featuring Lake Letas, a crater lake that fills the island's central caldera and is a notable local landmark.
• Mota / Mota Lava: Mota and Mota Lava are smaller inhabited islands with coastal villages and traditional subsistence activities.