Rockwater Resort

Absolute highlight of our Vanuatu holiday ! This resort is impeccable - stunning views, comfortable and amazing rooms and best of all the people! John and Silvana and all their wonderful staff just went above and beyond for us making this part of our trip so relaxing and enjoyable ! We really go to experience Tanna and all its amazing culture :) will be a memory we will Treasure forever! Thank you !

We had an absolutely amazing time at Rockwater. It was definitely a more unique room and resort. We specially loved how closely we were looked after and homely it was. Silvana and John made it feel like we were visiting home. John has plenty of stories to share as well. The coral just next to the resort was amazing. It was a little hard to get out to, but once you got to the shelf, there were so much finish and coral. You can borrow all equipment you need other than life jackets if you need it. But the water is very calm. The food was amazing and fresh. The staff were also so kind and helpful. Silvana organised all of our tours as well. And we had a really good visit to the blue cave, custom village and the volcano. Book with them directly if you can. They can really make it a special experience if you talk to them directly. Highly recommended!

When you arrive at Rockwater Resort, you will be greeted by beautiful, manicured greenery and the endless Pacific Ocean. The chef was immaculate. Every meal was a delight. The ingredients were fresh, and her culinary skills in bringing through the local flavors (while not masking the freshness of the ingredients) made the dishes even more delicious. We stayed in the suite, and the cave really enhanced the experience. Some miraculous sightings: The stars at night were breathtaking. We even saw dolphins swimming by. What left an indelible mark on us, was the kind hospitality shown to us during our stay. Thank you John and Silvana for the wonderful conversations and the help rendered to us with our Air Vanuatu flight situations. Thank you. May you be blessed abundantly in all that you do.

The resorts grounds were very unique and beautiful and the staff truly excellent. Anything you want to do can be organised for you! The snorkelling was also amazing, such beautiful coral. We had a lovely long weekend here and would definitely return (or there's plenty for those who want to stay longer). For anyone looking for a relaxing stay on Tanna this is definitely the place!

One of the best resorts I’ve ever stayed at (and I’ve been to 5-star resorts in the Caribbean, Maldives, Seychelles, etc.) The rooms are amazing, food is great (they have their own garden and grow their own food), and the resort itself is out of this world. On top of all of that, the service is impeccable and the owners are attentive and extremely helpful. I would highly recommend Tanna if you are in Vanuatu, and I would only recommend Rockwater resort. For all the eco-friendly, architecture-aware, and engineering-appreciative travelers and for those just looking for a memorable getaway— you will really love this resort. Unfortunately, I did not have time to snorkel but from what I’ve seen, the snorkeling looks quite special and the area is the island’s only protected marine area. The prices were very reasonable given the location but if it is out of your price range, this is one of the few places where splurging is worth it

Yes, John enjoys talking, so what ? He has built an amazing place, just the most extraordinary resort we've come across in the Pacific Islands. And we've visiited most. From the architecture to the rooms and from the gardens to the dining room, every little detail has been thought of with love and care. Since Air Vanuat has gone belly up, it's not the easiest place to go to, but worth taking an Air Taxi flight from Vila and spending a few days in his paradise, Service is perfect and food is just top and mostly organic. All that's missing is a reading light in the rooms, but the view makes up for it ! Don't hesitate: it's a place not to be missed.

We just recently had 5 nights in a rock suite at this amazing resort on Tanna Island. The accommodation is quite unique in that the owners John and Silvana let the natural landscape of the block determine what the resort would look like. Staying in a suite embedded into the rock is just a brilliant concept. It was so comfortable and the views were amazing. The attention to the landscaping of the paths is brilliant as each path takes you down a passageway that apart from amazing vistas that adjoins the foreshore, the tracks take you into the tropical garden with so many yummy things growing that their kitchen team uses each meal. The attention to detail on all amenities is so very obvious. The resort pool is super also. The restaurant staff are incredibly efficient and friendly, it’s like after one meal you are talking to a ‘mate’ and not a resort employee. It must be a great place to work as a lot of the employees have been with John and Silvana for many years. Tanna Island is remote and in many ways undeveloped to our ‘western ways’ and this means that not all food and alcohol items are available each day…..it is what it is….but you will be well watered and fed. We found the choice of food and alcohol to be excellent. The food that comes out of the kitchen is excellent in that whatever is fresh and available the team does an amazing job and you’re counting off until the next ‘feeding time’. The resort is well placed only about 15 minutes from the airport and all of the Island’s activities can be arranged from the resort. The transport and tours are conducted by local people and are all fascinating in their own way. Of course most people go to Tanna to see the active volcano at night but there is also a super snorkeling trip to the Blue Cave and you can do a tour to a traditional village and to a very beautiful and old banyan tree. Going to the volcano fulfilled a long held dream for us and it didn’t disappoint. It was spectacular and the local guides paid a lot of attention to safety. You are picked up at the resort and dropped off at the resort after your outing. The roads are rough but the island is so lush and beautiful and the drives are fascinating in themselves. One important thing is that you should read Rockwater’s website before you go. John and Silvana have put a lot of effort into providing the best possible information and their FAQs are very comprehensive, some of the best we’ve seen on a website. They are also great to talk to before you go so you can chat to them on the phone. We knew exactly what we needed to wear and take to the volcano and lots about the island. Tanna is more difficult to get to than just flying into Port Vila, but with the amazing attractions here and to have somewhere amazing to stay with these great hosts and staff, it makes the decision to come to Tanna Island a very easy one. Gotta go back!

A delightful stay. Hosts John & Silvana are very caring people, who's first thoughts are for the welfare and enjoyment of their guests. Their welcome on arrival is second to none! The accommodation is unique with a heavy emphasis on the resort fitting into the environment. The staff are lovely and are always with a smile. The view over the ocean is sublime, supported by superb architecture and garden landscaping that reminded us of our time in Santorini. The food is nothing short of amazing! As for the unmissable tour, you have to do the volcano, it's a bucket list trip. You only have yourself to blame if you don't enjoy yourself at Rockwater Resort Ian & Janine

What an utterly unique and stunning establishment. Photos don’t do it justice. When we swam out a bit and looked back at the resort and we instantly appreciated that the buildings are carved into the limestone and coral and are a feature of the slope not the other way round. John and Silvana are amazing hosts. If you are only slightly interested in engineering, please go for a walk around the resort, it would have made a fascinating documentary I think. I am somewhat of a disaster zone and Silvana was always kind and non judgemental about my daily wounds. They are a good double act. Food wise. Every morning fruit is picked from the grounds, pawpaw, manifold, lime, dragonfruit and pineapple - all delicious. Toast with condiments and a hot breakfast available, the sausage is banging. Also baked beans. Lunch and dinner is changed daily depending on what’s good at the market. The reef on the property is spectacular. Just keep an eye on those tidal times. Rooms are beautiful. Others have posted better photos than mine. We loved this place and will definitely be back. Thank you John and Silvana. You are missed.