Governor-General Peter Cosgrove says there's plenty of more recovery work on Tanna, a Vanuatu island flattened by Cyclone Pam in March.
Sir Peter toured the island and met Vanuatu Prime Minister Sato Kilman on Thursday.
He said it was good to see schools, hospitals and resort facilities up and running.
"Still, there is plenty of work to do," Sir Peter told AAP in a statement.
"What I see is a government and a population focused on not giving up and not sitting back, but continuing the effort."
The governor-general is no stranger to cyclone destruction, having taken charge in 2006 of the Cyclone Larry reconstruction task force in the Innisfail region of north Queensland.
Sir Peter said the extent of the devastation of Pam was much wider than Larry given Vanuatu's population is spread over many islands.
"Keeping in touch with the devastated smaller communities is a real challenge," he said.
"With Larry, the devastation was really severe but it was over a more concentrated area."
The governor-general will travel to Tonga on Friday to represent Australia at the coronation of the new king, Tupou VI.
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