Eretoka Island

Eretoka Island (often called Hat Island) is a small island off the coast of Efate in Shefa Province, Vanuatu, notable for its cultural and archaeological significance.

The island contains traditional burial sites and landscape features associated with local chiefly history, including the place associated with Chief Roi Mata, which is part of a protected cultural landscape. Visits are typically short and focus on the island’s cultural heritage and shoreline scenery.

Eretoka forms one of the components of the Chief Roi Mata Cultural Landscape and contains burial and ritual sites linked to regional oral histories and pre-contact social structures. The island’s significance was recognised in international heritage listings for its cultural importance.

Situated just off the western coast of Efate near Port Vila in Shefa Province, Eretoka is accessed by short boat trips from Efate and lies within the tropical lagoon and reef environment surrounding the main island.

• UNESCO site: Part of the UNESCO-listed Chief Roi Mata Cultural Landscape, recognised for its historic and ritual significance in Vanuatu.

What to See #

• Chief Roi Mata's grave: Contains the burial site associated with Chief Roi Mata, a cultural and sacred location protected as part of the Chief Roi Mata Cultural Landscape UNESCO inscription.