Reviews from Families
Beautiful Hidden Gem!
What a beautiful location to spend a holiday to just unwind, relax and swim in the amazing crystal clear waters at your doorstep. It was very unusual to arrive at night due to our flights being a little crazy from Port Vila, but our contacts in Santo arranged by Stuart were so accommodating, and we found we were picked up at the airport without a worry, commuted to Aore Island by the Captain, and dropped to the doorstep of our accommodation.
My family and I loved the home and it had everything we needed with the little extras that you need but don't think about. The use of the bikes was awesome as we could venture out and explore the island.
We felt completely safe at all times and we loved how the cows were just roaming outside the gates.
We were lucky to venture down to the Resort a couple of times and be treated to a Pizza Night plus some Island Dances which was a real treat.
We definitely recommend staying in this beautiful hidden gem if you want to get away, unwind and relax. You won't be disappoiunted at Aoredise.
One point to note, if coming from Brisbane, fly direct to Santo and don't go via Vila as it can become a little hectic and traumatic which we experienced, but we quickly adjusted to "Island Time" as they call it.
/ Julia & Rodney, Qld - January 2024
Indeed a feeling of paradise
An excellent stay with amazing views. There is indeed a feeling of paradise. Being able to use the SUP and kayak was excellent. We were able to kayak to the nearby Aore resort for coffee and lunch. The barbecue area is fantastic. The house has everything needed for a great holiday. Clean, drinkable water, electricity from the sun, hot water and all utensils required for home cooking. It is easy to stock up on supplies in Luganville and get a taxi boat (which takes 6 mins) to the house. The bed in the main bedroom is very comfortable with a pillow top. The kids were very happy in their beds too. The hammock and sitting chair are also excellent. We would definitely recommend this location too as it is one of the most accessible properties on Aore and is less windy. There is accessible reef right off the beach. No-one could be disappointed staying at Aoredise.
/ Sam, Vic - September 2023
Such an Amazing Time!
We had such an amazing time at Aoredise!
We had spent the first few nights in Vanuatu in a lovely resort, but when we arrived at Aoredise we couldn't quite believe how beautiful it is. So much space for the four of us and a spectacular view.
Aoredise offers the best of both worlds - the quiet and privacy of being on Aore Island but also just a quick boat ride to the mainland with the shops, markets and restaurants.
It is beautifully appointed with everything you need. The kids particularly loved the standup paddle board!
We also loved Sam, so lovely and a great guide.
Thank you for sharing such a lovely part of the world with us, we hope to be back.
/ Michelle, Qld - July 2023
Our 2nd Stay at Aoredise
This was our 2nd stay at Aoredise. We once again had a magical time. Dream spot, guaranteed disconnection while being able to easily access the main axis of Luganville thanks to the taxi boats. Our hosts had left us the contact details for Sam, Santo Friendly Tours, who is really adorable.
/ Severine, New Caledonia - January 2023
Fantastic Tropical Holiday!
White beach, pristine waters with coral and tropical fish a few metres from the front door of a very comfy modern villa. We had a fantastic tropical holiday, snorkeling every day and town is just a short boat ride away. Our 1.5 y/o daughter had the time of her life swimming and playing at the beach with my wife & I and the two older siblings, very safe. Bikes and kayak were great to explore the island. Ten out of Ten! Tankyu tumas and haos blong yu nambawan (Thank you very much and your house in the best)!
/ Craig, NZ - March 2020
A fabulous house with everything you need!
Aoredise is a fabulous house with everything you need. Beautiful views over the water and very relaxing place, we had a great time.
Jimmy worked hard and was very helpful. It was fantastic to see the old WW2 relics and the lookout on Aore. Overall we had a great time and would love to come back. Thank you.
/ The Twist Family, Cairns - January 2020
I can't recommend Aoredise highly enough!
Stuart and June's place is a beautiful little holiday house in an amazing location. Definitely come here if you want to experience a little bit of paradise away from everything. You can just relax. For activities, you can bike ride around Aore Island or go kayaking, paddle boarding, and even snorkeling right in front of the house. Those a little more adventurous, like myself, scuba dived the SS Coolidge wreck with the nearby dive shop. The house has a beautiful BBQ area outside which we used several times while we were there. We did a big shop at the local market in Luganville across the water. If you only have time for one of the major islands in Vanuatu, I would say skip Efate (Port Vila) and go straight to Espiritu Santo and Aore Island (where Stuart and June's place is). I can't recommend Aoredise highly enough!
/ Mark, Vic - January 2020
This place is amazing!
This place is amazing! Perfect for families. Stuart and June provided loads of information to make our stay as easy as possible. The house has everything you could ask for. We even baked a banana cake. Bikes, SUPs and a kayak are available to use for no extra charge. The snorkeling off the beach in front of the house is great and the BBQ and outdoor seating area is perfect for a beer and just watching the mainland across the water in the late afternoon.
Thanks so much for letting us stay at Aoredise. We had a wonderful time. The kids loved playing on the beach, snorkeling and exploring the island.
/ Peter, WA - November 2019
It really was paradise!
We had an amazing 6 night stay at Aoredise and it was perfect for our family of two adults and two kids aged 3 and 11. The snorkeling and swimming immediately in front of the house was superb, and we enjoyed seeing the clown fish ("Nemo!") come out to defend their little families in the anemones. We enjoyed using the bikes, paddle boards and kayak provided, to view and explore the island in various ways. The boat ride with Obed was super-easy across Segond Channel to the supermarket and market etc at Luganville for self-catering some meals - we also ate at the restaurant one evening just down the road. The house was really well appointed and had everything we needed and more, the design meant that we stayed cool and comfortable despite the high temperatures, and sounds of the sea lapping so close at night was amazingly peaceful. We also appreciated Stuart organizing for Sam to pick us up on the first day and take us on a tour of Santo - including the blue holes, Champagne Beach, Port Olry, etc. We used Sam a couple of other times too, for getting around to various places, he was really helpful and went above and beyond to advocate for us with Air Vanuatu when our flight was delayed. Simply we couldn't recommend or rate Aoredise highly enough, it really was paradise and we would love to return some day. Thanks so much Stuart and June for sharing your home with us.
/ Anna and Andrew, NZ - October 2019
Wow!
Wow, the final five days of our holiday in Vanuatu were simply the best and Aoredise was superb! Aoredise is everything you would expect from an island paradise and more! Stuart and June have thought of everything to make your stay an experience you will never forget. The spaces both inside and outside the house were superb and the new outdoor Nakamal where you can bbq and relax just makes you feel like a local. The guides and boat drivers recommended by the hosts were outstanding, and Stuart provided us so much valuable information to make our stay and getting around Santo effortless. If you are reading this review skip the resorts in Vanuatu and instead support the people like Stuart and June who are willing to share their beautiful homes with travelers like us. Not only you get better value for money but you truly have a home away from home. Aoredise is a place you don't want to miss so book it whilst you can!
/ Christine, Tas - October 2019
What a Fantastic Place!
Thank you Stuart and June! What a fantastic place in such a beautiful spot! We really enjoyed our time here. The bike rides around the island are great and we loved the lunch and drinks at Freshwater! The kids loved snorkeling as well and made friends with "Nemo" who comes up very close when you approach him. Plenty of nice reef fish as well.
Special mention to Sam and Obed who made the various boat trips and transfers very easy.
Thank You!
/ Bas, Esther, Nils & Marten, Vic - September 2019
A Slice of Paradise
We loved our stay at Aoredise, it truly is a slice of paradise. It has everything you might need and then some. Stuart was quick to respond, gave us tons of information before the trip, booked our transfer from the airport for us and checked if we had arrived safely because it was a public holiday. We spent a very relaxing week on Aore and hope to return some day. Thank you Stuart and June!
/ Heike & Dirk, Germany - August 2019
Absolutely beautiful with everything you need!
The location was idyllic, with an incredible outlook onto Santo. We loved going to sleep every night with the sounds of gentle waves only metres from your door. This off-grid home had everything we needed including games, boards, bikes and a kayak. We loved being able to bike ride around the island and also visit the local resort for dinner and drinks. We snorkeled and kayaked about the island and it was beautiful. Aore Island is far enough away from the main town to feel remote and special, but easy to access (less than 10 minutes) by the taxi boats who drop and pick you up right from the front door! Stuart and June are so helpful and guide you through how to get around the island and Santo. We almost didn't have to organize a thing and as we arrived so late on our first night we felt like we were in a James Bond movie when we were picked up at the airport by their driver and then speed-boated across the channel in the dark of night!
Another highlight nearby was to dive the SS President Coolidge, which is just across the channel, it was spectacular! This property really has everything you could want right at your fingertips. We highly recommend it and wished we'd had more time to explore the whole island!
/ Natalie, Vic - July 2019
Found: Nirvana
Simply bliss. When looking for a piece of paradise, Aoredise is the most ideal place. Suited to both families and couples, Stuart has put together a wonderful place that compliments its surrounds perfectly. Everything is incredibly well though out from bikes to water sports, linen and every cooking utensil one could ever need!
A beautiful beach condo with prime positioning and easy transport to Santo through local boatsmen who are forever available to help for daily transfers to early morning and evening trips for flights. A place worth putting on the list for sure.
/ Belinda, Qld - June 2019
Exceptional!
Beautiful location, well designed house and remarkably equipped. Without doubt one of the best Airbnb's in the world! Aoredise is aptly named. We were 100% satisfied and will recommend Aoredise to all our friends. Thanks again!
/ Jeremie, France - June 2019
A Memorable Stay
Aoredise is a very nice house with great extras, such as a completely equipped kitchen, the nice terrace with BBQ, kayaks and bikes. The taxi boat service is very reliable. The owner takes extremely good care of his house and is friendly and helpful. Thank you for making our stay so memorable.
/ Olivier, Switzerland - May 2019
We loved it!
We are a family of five that had a wonderful stay at Aoredise. Tons of privacy, large garden and great beach. Our three teenageers forgot about their phones and tapped into the paddle boards, kayak and the underwater world, both snorkeling in the backyard and diving the SS Coolidge. Lion Fish, small and bigger patches of coral. Quiet, away from town but with easy water taxi transportation only 5 to 10 minutes away. We loved it!!
/ Tjeerd, China - April 2019
Perfect Aoredise
It is easy to say something is "perfect" in paradise. But, to truly create "perfect", it takes a lot of hard work, insightful vision and a deep consideration for the location, the local residents and the very lucky guests who get to share these attributes and this great place. Santo is a very special place, Aore Island is a remarkable, adventurous location, Aoredise is the perfect combination of comfort and remoteness which makes the whole spectrum of special experiences "once in a lifetime". We have travelled a lot and notice all the small details in remote paradises where someone has gone beyond the normal level to make sure you have an incredible and comfortable time, which is not usually that easy due to the exotic location. Stuart and June have obviously exceeded this level to make sure your time here is amazing, well resourced and supported and comfortable. As a result, we have already passed on the details of Aoredise to many friends and family who have not previously stayed in Santo, as the perfect option. Most importantly, on our special last night under the shimmering stars, next to the glistening sea, we vowed to return again very soon to Santo for our 5th visit and to definitely stay and create more unique memories at Aoredise. We travelled with 3 young children aged 5, 3 and 1. Yet there was so much to do, at a nice even pace at Aoredise and on Aore Island, let alone visiting the magic locations on Santo. Our 8 day/7 night stay included the following: Day 1: Arrive Santo, shop LCM Luganville, dinner Aoredise Day 2: Lunch, swim and massage at Freshwater Plantation (pick up in their car), dinner Aoredise Day 3: Day use of Overwater Tree Bungalow and special lobster lunch at Hideaway Paradise Beach Bungalows (approx. 10 mins south of Port Olry), transfers courtesy of Glifford, Nice Day Tours, dinner Oceanic Restaurant on the way back home Day 4: Bike ride and coffee at Aore Is Coffee, dinner Aoredise Day 5: Bike ride, lunch and swim Two Canoes (pick up in their car), dinner Aoredise Day 6: Mavea Island Trip, BBQ lunch and Ri Ri Blue Hole tour with Glifford, early dinner Natangora Cafe on the way back home Day 7: Swim in pool and early dinner Aore Island Resort Day 8: Scheduled breakfast Aore Coffee, Depart Santo Most importantly, not mentioned above, is all of the countless swims, snorkels, paddles, floats, meals, exploring, activities, quiet moments and special family time at Aoredise.
/ Adam, Brisbane - January 2019
A Magical Stay
We had a magical stay at Aoredise! The villa has stunning views and exceptional tranquility. There is everything you need in terms of facilities, both recreational and practical. The island of Aore is beautiful! We were so happy we are going to try to come back very soon and for longer!
/ Severinne, New Caledonia - January 2019
It was just perfect!
Living and working locally in Vanuatu, it’s not often that you take time out to holiday here. This year with the kids coming back to celebrate Christmas altogether, we decided on a getaway to Aoredise. It was just perfect. The house had everything you’d want for a relaxing holiday and the personal touches by Stuart & June were special. It was even decorated for Christmas time. Really Lovely. Great sized fridge for self-catering (6 of us), lots of places to just chill or play card/board games. Fully equipped with water sports equipment, in excellent condition. There are even bikes to explore Aore Island, which we did, discovering nearby WW2 bunkers. The thumbs up from the kids for the sound system. Decorated in a modern yet relaxed tropical style, we all were very glad to have stayed there. PS. Stuart even went the extra mile in making sure an item we left behind was returned to us. Thanks Stuart.
/ Hester, Vanuatu - January 2019
Lovely Relaxing Place
Aoredise is a lovely relaxing holiday house with everything in place to make it easy to stay on a tropical island. Nothing was left out - from first-aid kit to ice cubes & paddle boards to hammocks. Thank you for your personal touches, and for making it so convenient. Five stars!
/ Charlotte - December 2018
Best Holiday!
Amazing place. Stunning location. Beach at the front door. Bikes to ride around island and explore. Stand up paddle boards and kayak we used every day. Other snorkel equipment was there too, even the shoes (however we did bring our own). Lots of things to do nearby on Aore and across in Santo. Go to the Millennium Caves if you can!! Amazing! (Need to be pretty fit though, it's strenuous). Eddie the taxi guy was great and Sandy the boat guy picked us up on time every time we called him and got us safely across the ocean .. even in the dark! Stuart and June are excellent hosts and communicated really well, very thoughtful and helpful. Best holiday myself and my 4 kids have had and our first overseas trip all together. We will be back! Love Aore, love Vanuatu.
/ Judy - October 2018
Absolutely Loved it!
We have just spent 8 nights at Aoredise and absolutely loved it. The beach is nice and we were able to snorkel at any time and see interesting things. The house has everything you would need and all the comforts. We loved sitting on the front deck in the morning to have our coffee, beautiful way to start the day. There are lovely gardens and plenty of room for kids. Really can’t fault anything, thank you for the opportunity to stay in your home and look forward to staying again.
/ Terry - October 2018
The perfect place to end our trip to Santo!
Lovely, comfortable, well appointed holiday house in a beautiful location. We really appreciated the comfort of Aoredise after the more rustic experience of the bungalows at Lonnoc Beach and Port Olry. It was everything we could have wanted for the end of our trip. The owners were very helpful with advice and prior arrangements. Getting to and from Luganville by water taxi is quick and easy. The beach in front of the house was wonderful for swimming. We enjoyed using the bikes provided to explore the island.
/ Andrew & Karen, NZ - July 2018
Thankyou for the wonderful holiday!
What a wonderful time we had at Aoredise - the perfect mixture of things to do, along with time to relax and enjoy the house and the location. Aoredise was just lovely. Apart from doing the Millenium cave tour on the Monday, the rest of the time was spent on Aore. We went to Aore Coffee for Saturday breakfast, and ate at Freshwater Plantation, Two Canoes and the Aore Resort. It was great having the bikes. We loved the peace and quiet of Aoredise, snorkelling straight off the beach, and my son floating on one of the inflatable rings. The house had everything we needed and would have loved to spend more time there. Alas, we have to return to school, work and real life! Already there is talk of "next time we come....". Thank you for the wonderful holiday!
/ Felicity, Vic - July 2018
The best of Vanuatu
This is the real Vanuatu. Aoredise is a very special part of the world. Stuart and June have created paradise on Aore Island. They really have thought of everything and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
Aoredise was absolutely perfect for our family of six. The kids loved trading their iPads for hermit crabs. We used the bikes to check out sites on Aore Island. Aore Resort is just a leisurely ten minute stroll, and is excellent for massages, lunch, dinner and hair braiding for the girls. And a little further up the road, Aore Roastery and Freshwater Plantation - bat cave, farm animals, coffee, fish, chocolate ...
A short boat ride across to the mainland and you're off exploring the beautiful Santo including Million Dollar Point for blue starfish and Port Olry for the best view in Santo - highly recommend the lobster mornay (an absolute must).
We can't recommend Aoredise highly enough, we miss it already. Such an awesome experience, thank you.
/ Tim & family - April 2018
A beautiful haven to unwind and relax in
We had a wonderful seven days at Aoredise. The house was very comfortable for the four of us (Mum, Dad & two teenage boys). The kitchen has everything we needed to cook up our feasts of local produce, beef & fish.
Snorkeling at Two canoes is fantastic - we think the best on the Island but out front of Aoredise and Cindy's Reef are pretty good too.
We had great fun on the bikes & had many adventures - riding through the plantations, meeting & chatting to the locals, lunch at Freshwater Plantation (great food - their cocoa balls are amazing!), dinner at the Resort (the seafood platter was great & well priced).
The boys mastered the stand-up paddle board & the kayak was well used. Lots of fun but also plenty of chillaxing time lazing around with a good book.
/ The Wards, Sunshine Coast - April 2018
Fantastic Family Holiday
Paradise on Aore Island is the perfect description! We spent six nights at Aoredise with our two two young kids and had a fantastic family holiday.
Aoredise had everything we needed including kayak, SUP and snorkeling gear. When the kids had worn themselves out there were a stack of DVDs available to help manage some "down time".
There are bikes available to explore the island, or simply use the supplied phone to organize a lift to Freshwater Plantation for lunch. The Aore Resort restaurant is within easy walking distance, where we enjoyed some local entertainment on the Friday night.
Stuart and June were most accommodating and even organised our taxi from the airport and boat ride across to Aoredise on the first night.
We can't recommend the place and experience highly enough - we will be back!
/ Michael - April 2018
Perfect Family Holiday!!!
We stayed at Aoredise over Christmas with our 2 young children and had the most relaxing, fun filled two weeks. The house contained everything you could possibly need (especially appreciated the washing machine for salty, sandy clothes!) and having the flexibility to self-cater if we wanted made it so much easier than taking tired children out to restaurants at night. Incredibly safe for children- our days were filled with snorkeling, kayaking, climbing the big shady tree, sand castles, hermit crab chasing, Santo beef on the BBQ, trips to resort up the road for pool time, Freshwater Plantation (amazing food), Two Canoes (superb snorkeling), babysitters (Lizzy and Rowena were great) and lots of movies and games supplied for entertainment when the rain came (which was not too often). So easy to organize and lots of people to offer local tips along the way - Thank you Stuart and June for a truly amazing family holiday!
/ Troy, Meegan, Bella & Hunter - January 2018
Laid Back Style
Aoredise was a truly magical place to stay. Waking up your own little beach and taking a morning dip in the crystal clear water followed by a rinse under one of the two outdoor showers overlooking the beach was heavenly. The place was beautifully and thoughtfully set up with everything you could possibly need or want for your stay. A particularly thoughtful touch was the provision of a mobile phone to use to arrange tours and to call the water taxi. The massive garden was immaculately maintained and provided yet another place for kids to play and explore. The beds were very comfortable and linens fresh and crisp. The cherry on top was the effortless and laid back style the place was enrobed with. Just gorgeous. Thanks again Stuart and June!
/ Michelle, Wollongong - October 2017
Once in a Lifetime Vacation
I cannot say enough good things about our stay at Stuart and June's place! . The accommodations are charming, clean, comfortable, and best of all, right on the water. Because Vanuatu is more remote and primitive than most island destinations, I was concerned that there would be a lack of amenities. But the solar powered house contained all we needed for our comfort: a fridge and small stove, running water, warm showers, and even a washing machine. While there is no air conditioning, and the climate is very tropical, every room had large ceiling fans . So those, along with a gentle ocean breeze are all you need. I loved the large ,covered front porch where we spent much of our time relaxing and " hanging out". And what a view! I often said "pinch me! Am I really here ??" The house sits directly across from Luganville, the second largest " city" in Vanuatu. It's necessary to reach it via water taxi. Stuart provided us with phone numbers for 2 locals that are readily available when needed. They were always there with boats within 10 minutes. I would highly recommend exploring luganville and the island of Espiritu Santo. There are untouched gorgeous beaches, breathtaking scenery, small resorts and some nice places to eat. It's also possible to get a feel for how the local people really live. There are small villages up and down the east coast, and probably many throughout the island which are not easily accessible. Truly this was a once in a lifetime vacation for my family and me. And Stuart and June's place was the perfect setting to enjoy this laid back, untouched paradise!
/ Judy - April 2017