Finding the Lap of Luxury

Tony Pittar scoured the world looking for the perfect location to build his dream resort. It needed to be pristine, to be surrounded by lush tropical gardens, ideally within reach of an uncrowded surf break and big enough to ensure discerning guests were offered complete privacy and luxury.

In the end he settled on beach and lagoon-front land about 20 minutes outside of Port Vila in Vanuatu and built a new level of luxury in the archipelago, Eratap Beach Resort.

Tony hails from Sydney, a keen surfer he wanted to build an elegant resort to cater to couples and families (Eratap welcomes children during school holiday periods only) and offer guests everything from doing absolutely nothing to surf safaris, spa treatments, kayaking, snorkeling, fishing and village visits. But he wanted to do it in complete style.

Thankfully Vanuatu doesn’t do opulence, it wouldn’t suit the climate, the culture or the customers. Casual elegance it does do and Eratap Beach Resort does it very well.

With only 14 villas the resort is ‘boutique’, every villa fronts the white sand beach or gorgeous lagoon and every one enjoys uninterrupted ocean views and comes with its own beachfront fare for lounging, dining or viewing the spectacular sunsets.

All six one-bedroom villas consist of two pavilions, one for the lounge room and the other for the bedroom which is air-conditioned and comes with an ensuite bathroom with bath, shower and an additional outdoor coral-walled shower courtyard.

All are spacious at 70 square metres plus outdoor areas.

In addition there are two ‘honeymoon’ villas, as well as two and three-bedroom accommodation. All are fully equipped and decorated with stylish modern Melanesian touches with timber and glass shutters opening directly on to beach and water views.

For a totally private indulgence spend a little more and pretend you’re honeymooning. It may sound clichéd but the honeymoon villa really does ooze romance and seclusion, the faré is equipped with a table and chairs for private candle-lit dinners, a cane daybed and a private inground pool as well as private beach access. The entire resort faces north west and enjoys views over the water to several small uninhabited islands which can be visited by boat with a picnic lunch supplied by Eratap’s fabulous kitchen.

Situated directly on the main beach of the resort are two new stunning two bedroom deluxe villas with their own private pools just metres from the sea. These villas are large and offer two master bedroom wings and a separate lounge room, two covered decks and a foyer. Each bedroom has an ensuite with bath and an indoor and outdoor shower. The separate lounge room has leather lounges, satellite TV, and beautiful views across the ocean. All three buildings are air conditioned. The design of these villas make them ideal for couples, families or friends travelling together.

The airy reception area and restaurant at Eratap enjoy tranquil views over the beach and bay and is the perfect setting for some local favourites, including Vanuatu’s famed beef and Poulet fish. Day guests are welcome to dine at the resort from 1100 but need to book in advance and tables are limited for visitors.

The menu ranges from basic lunch fare including salads and steaks to pastas and their speciality, seafood.

Everything is fresh otherwise it’s not offered and as much as possible organic fruit and vegetables are used.

Considering the facilities, which include a pool, pristine beaches and waterways, a perfectly preserved reef for snorkelling, kayaking, picnicking on deserted islands and a welcoming local village, the rates, which range from AU$580 upwards are extremely reasonable. Check the website for more at: www.eratap.com