Port Resolution

Port Resolution on Tanna's eastern side is where James Cook anchored in 1774 and named the bay after his ship, and it has been rising ever since: earthquakes have lifted the sea floor enough that the anchorage Cook used is now partly dry land. Steam and hot water come up through the sand along the shore, heated by Yasur a few kilometres inland. A village guesthouse sits above the bay.

The landscape

• The hot springs - steam and hot water coming up through the beach sand.
• The uplifted shore - ground raised by earthquakes since Cook anchored here.
• The 1774 anchorage - the bay Cook named after his ship.
• The village - the settlement above the bay, with its guesthouse.

When to go

April to October is the dry season and the road is passable. November to March is wet and the track becomes very difficult. Yasur activity affects ash fall on this side.

Good to know

The road across Tanna is rough and takes around two hours in a four wheel drive. Accommodation is very basic with no power. Customary fees apply for access to parts of the shore.

Nearby

Mount Yasur is west, and Lenakel is across the island.

Key facts