Craig Cove Airport

Craig Cove Airstrip operates on a limited schedule from a grass strip on the southwestern coast of Ambrym Island, connecting the village of Wuro to Port Vila and other Vanuatu islands via small aircraft. The airstrip's existence shapes life for the surrounding communities, where road infrastructure is minimal and inter-island travel depends entirely on these flights. Ambrym itself is defined by its two active volcanoes – Mount Marum and Mount Benbow – which draw visitors from around the world. But the airstrip is not a busy transit point: it sees a handful of flights per week, each carrying perhaps a dozen passengers. Understanding how this airstrip works is essential for anyone planning to explore one of Vanuatu's most dramatic and culturally rich islands.

Getting There

Craig Cove Airstrip is located near the village of Wuro on Ambrym Island. The nearest city with international connections is Port Vila on Efate Island, approximately 300 kilometres to the southeast. To reach Craig Cove, travellers must take a domestic flight from Port Vila's Bauerfield Airport or from Santo-Pekoa International Airport on Espiritu Santo. Air Vanuatu operates flights to Craig Cove on a weekly schedule – typically Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays – with arrival times corresponding to the busiest periods: Monday 1 pm, Tuesday 12 am, Wednesday 1 am, Thursday 11 pm. These unusual hours reflect the aircraft's routing across multiple islands. From the airstrip, Wuro village is a ten-minute walk along a dirt track. Alternatively, local drivers with utes (pickup trucks) may offer rides for a small fee. There are no taxis or rental cars at the airstrip. Visitors should arrange any onward transport in advance through their accommodation or a local guide. The road from Craig Cove to other parts of Ambrym is rough and often impassable after rain; a 4WD vehicle is recommended for journeys beyond Wuro. Walking is the primary mode of transport for short distances.

Inside the Terminal

The terminal at Craig Cove Airstrip is a single, open-sided structure that combines check-in, waiting area, and luggage collection. A wooden counter serves as the check-in desk, where a staff member manually processes tickets and weighs bags on a standing scale. There is no air conditioning – the building is designed to catch the sea breeze. Seating consists of a few plastic chairs; most passengers stand or sit on the concrete floor during the wait. The atmosphere is informal and unhurried. There are no shops, cafés, ATMs, or public telephones. Drinking water is not provided, so passengers must bring their own. The toilet is a basic pit latrine behind the terminal. On departure, passengers are called to walk across the grass to the aircraft – typically a Twin Otter or similar small plane. There is no jet bridge or luggage carousel. Arriving passengers collect their bags from a pile unloaded directly onto the grass. Security is minimal: bags may be inspected by hand, but there is no X-ray machine. The entire experience is efficient in its simplicity, but travellers should be prepared for a lack of amenities and potential delays due to weather.

Craig Cove Airstrip and Wuro

Craig Cove Airstrip is the principal point of entry for visitors to Ambrym Island, a place that offers a combination of volcanic intensity and cultural depth rare even by Vanuatu standards. Ambrym is home to two active volcanoes, Mount Marum and Mount Benbow, whose summit craters emit a constant orange glow at night. Treks to the volcanoes are the main draw for tourists, requiring several hours of hiking through rainforest and across lava fields. Local guides are essential and can be arranged through guesthouses in Wuro or nearby villages. The island is also known for its traditional customs, including the famous land diving (naghol) on Pentecost Island to the south, but Ambrym itself has its own unique rituals and art forms. Villages such as Wuro maintain a largely subsistence lifestyle based on gardening, fishing, and pig farming. Kastom (custom) ceremonies involving masked dancers and slit drums are still practised and occasionally performed for visitors. The black sand beaches on the west coast are striking, and the island's interior is a network of cinder cones and lava flows from eruptions over the past century. Accommodation on Ambrym is limited to a handful of guesthouses and bungalows, mostly in Wuro and nearby Ranon. Electricity is intermittent, supplied by generators. Internet access is virtually non-existent outside of a few satellite connections. For those willing to adjust to these conditions, Ambrym offers an experience far removed from Vanuatu's more touristy islands like Efate or Tanna. The airstrip itself is a symbol of the island's connection to the outside world – a thin line of grass that brings in supplies, mail, and visitors, and that closes for days at a time when rain softens the strip. Understanding the role of Craig Cove Airstrip is to understand Ambrym's rhythm: flights arrive, life stirs, and then the island returns to its quiet pace until the next plane appears on the horizon.

Practical Information

Craig Cove Airstrip is open for flights only on specific days and times. Based on current schedules, operations occur on Monday (arrival around 1 pm), Tuesday (arrival around 12 am), Wednesday (arrival around 1 am), and Thursday (arrival around 11 pm). These times may change; always confirm with Air Vanuatu or your travel agent. The airstrip is closed on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. There is no official website or phone number for the airstrip itself. For flight bookings and inquiries, contact Air Vanuatu's head office in Port Vila (+678 23843). For on-island assistance, the Ambrym Island Council or local guesthouses may help. Practical tips: bring all essentials with you – water, snacks, sun protection, insect repellent, and a flashlight. Pack light, as baggage allowance on smaller aircraft is often limited to 15 kg per person. Cash is necessary; there are no ATMs on Ambrym. The nearest bank is in Port Vila. Flights can be cancelled on short notice due to weather or runway conditions, so build flexibility into your itinerary. One concrete piece of advice: contact your accommodation at least a week before your flight to confirm that someone will meet you at the airstrip – mobile reception is patchy, and arriving without transport can be a challenge in the tropical heat.