Introducing Fiji

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Six Senses Fiji

Barefoot luxury brand, Six Senses, brings a wealth of experience in wellness, sustainability and exceptional style to the idyllic island of Malolo in the picture-perfect Mamanuca Islands. Access is via a 45-minute speedboat ride from Denarau or a short helicopter flight from Nadi. Central to the Six Senses ethos, sustainability permeates though every inch of this luxury island paradise without compromising quality, and the resort is proud to be entirely solar-powered with a zero-waste concept and its own water refinery.

Featuring 24 beautifully crafted onebedroom villas dotted along the beach and hidden away in the verdant gardens, along with a fabulous selection of 2 to 5-bedroom residences, Six Senses Fiji is the ideal island escape for couples, honeymooners and families. Each villa has a private plunge pool and a sun-drenched decking area with an outdoor shower, complemented by local artwork and Fijian touches to ensure a sense of place. In keeping with Six Senses focus on wellness, the resort even has its own sleep specialist to ensure you drift off into blissful slumber, whilst your Fijian GEM (Guest Experience Maker) makes every stay personal and incredibly special.

The resort’s executive chef is on hand to look after your cuisine needs and to guide you towards a healthier lifestyle – or you can ignore all advice and indulge as much as you please! At the heart of the resort, Tovolea Restaurant enjoys sensational views across the pool to the ocean, whilst TeiTei pizzeria and RaRa cafe offer delicious creations. There’s also a gourmet deli for those who prefer lighter bites. Daily sundowners are a must at Tovolea Bar as the sun sinks into the shimmering ocean. The crystal-clear water is your playground, with fantastic snorkelling straight from the beach, an array of watersports and all-tide swimming in the breathtakingly blue lagoon.

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Within easy striking distance of Cloudbreak, one of the world’s most challenging surf spots, this is the place to be for those who like to hang ten! There’s even a surf academy here for complete novices to learn the art of wave-riding and for experienced surfers to hone their skills. Back on land, the fun doesn’t stop with cooking classes, cinema under the stars, local village visits and walking tracks. A visit to the Wellness Village is essential for achieving total relaxation, from spa treatments to yoga and from an Alchemy Bar to wellness screening.

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Vomo Island

Acontemporary sanctuary in the picturesque Mamanuca Islands, Vomo Island is an ideal escape for couples and families, with an abundance of space and privacy for everyone to design their own magical stay. Vomo’s range of villas and residences exude elegance and style, with rich hardwood floors, muted tones, magnificent bathrooms, private sundecks and breathtaking views. Beachfront Villas and Havens are tucked amongst the palms and frangipani trees just steps from the beach whilst Hillside Villas are elevated above the resort with far-reaching ocean views. For families, Beachfront Retreats can accommodate a family of five, but for a new level of indulgence and added privacy, the fabulous selection of multi-bedroom beachfront residences come with a private pool and butler service. Little island guests will love the friendly team of Baby Butlers and fun activities at the colourful Kids Village! Food plays an integral role in the Vomo experience – delicious meals using the finest local produce plucked from the herb and vegetable garden and from the ocean are served in the poolside Reef Restaurant or under a palm tree on the beach with tiki torches flickering under the star-studded sky. A spectacular setting for sunset cocktails, we love the adults-only Rocks Bar at the far end of the island, adjacent to the idyllic adults-only pool.

Vomo’s powder-soft white sand beaches rank amongst the best in Fiji and are fringed with crystal clear turquoise waters, ideal for enjoying snorkelling, scuba-diving, kayaking, windsurfing, fishing and hobie-cat sailing. Walk around the island at low-tide, hike to the top of Mt. Vomo for awe-inspiring views or grab a club and enjoy the island’s very own 9-hole pitch and putt golf course! If this all sounds too energetic, simply relax by the swimming pool, find a hammock strung between the trees, escape to the nearby tiny island of Vomo Lailai for a private picnic or luxuriate in a soothing spa treatment.

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Vomo excels when it comes to a romantic escape as well as the place to be for the perfect family holiday, but it’s also a resort with a conscience. For a donation to a local charity, you are invited to take on the Mt. Vomo Sunrise Charity Challenge! Compete against previous guests for the best time as you race up the hill behind the resort. Whether you beat the clock or not, the views are sensational! Vomo also encourages guests to ‘Pack for a Purpose’ and arrive with essential items for local villages and schools on nearby islands.

Yasawa Islands

Soaring above the Pacific Ocean waves like emerald teeth, with nothing else around to interrupt the glistening turquoise horizon, the Yasawa Islands look like a collection of lost worlds. This lush, rugged archipelago is so remote it was left undiscovered until British navigator Captain William Bligh stumbled across it in May 1789 following the legendary mutiny on the Bounty, becoming the first European to sight them. Until the 1980s, visitors to the Yasawa Islands were mostly limited to cruise ships, but today these captivating islands are a highlight on a holiday to Fiji.

This limit on tourism has helped preserve an age-old Fijian culture that is steeped in history and legend, a place where traditions are cherished and the way of life remains as it did centuries ago. Small fishing villages with limited infrastructure and bures made with local materials and thatched roofs are dotted throughout the islands, where friendly locals proudly greet visitors with a traditional meke dance. You will also be encouraged to join in a kava ceremony, an integral part of Fijian culture. Traditionally used to unite families and strengthen connections to ancestors, the ceremony involves sharing a bowl of kava, a beverage made from the roots of a pepper plant and unofficially Fiji’s national drink.

The Yasawa archipelago’s pristine natural surroundings are another legacy of its isolation. More contoured than their southerly neighbours, the Mamanuca Islands, the Yasawas rise up like jade tusks, surrounded by sugar-white beaches so fresh you feel you’re the first to leave footprints behind. The glassy waters that lap the sands are a gateway into another untouched world, filled with vibrant coral reefs home to a rich variety of tropical fish. From May to October, manta rays come to feed in the nutrient-rich waters and you can swim, snorkel and dive alongside these magnificent beasts.

Yasawa Island Resort

Paradise Cove Resort

Journey further into the islands’ ancient volcanic peaks and you’ll discover another natural wonder – the Sawa-i-Lau caves, near the mesmerising Blue Lagoon. Swim through a chain of half-submerged chambers, the water bathed in light filtering in from above. You’ll find you’re following in the ripples of actress Brooke Shields, as 1980 movie The Blue Lagoon was filmed here.

Even getting to the Yasawa Islands is part of the adventure. Quick seaplane and light aircraft transfers from Nadi offer spectacular birds-eye panoramas of these sprawling far-flung isles. A more affordable, albeit much slower, transfer option comes in the shape of the island-hopping Yasawa Flyer catamaran from the port at Denarau, offering a relaxing way to soak up views of the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands enroute. When you catch your first glimpse of the Yasawas soaring up from the ocean, you’ll feel the same wonder and awe that Captain Bligh did over 200 years ago.

Life revolves around family. Everyone works together to look after the people and protect the land

Discover the Yasawas

Sawa-i-Lau Caves

In the far north of the Yasawa archipelago, the legendary Sawa-i-Lau Caves are unmissable. Carved by perpetual waves, these magnificent chambers are hidden within an impressive jungle-clad island. The cathedral-like first cave is accessed via steps but the second requires a little more courage… a very short but very worthwhile swim through an underwater tunnel!

Manta Rays

From May to October, majestic manta rays glide effortlessly through the plankton-rich channel between Drawaqa Island and Nanuya Balavu Island. Easily accessed from Paradise Cove Resort (see page 19), we highly recommend taking the opportunity to swim with these graceful giants!

Kava Ceremony

No visit to Fiji would be complete without participating in a traditional kava – or yaqona – ceremony. This ancient ritual is as much ingrained in life today as it was centuries ago. Most resorts throughout Fiji offer guests the chance to be part of a kava ceremony and it’s the perfect opportunity to make new friends and learn about Fiji’s history and culture from the happiest people on earth!

Village Visits

Alongside the spectacular scenery, it’s the nation’s people who make Fiji such a special and memorable country to visit. The sense of community that runs through every village and town is palpable and visitors are warmly welcomed. Take the time to visit a local village in the remote Yasawas and you’ll be rewarded with a deeper understanding and respect for Fijians and their humble and modest way of life.