Tavarua Island Resort sits on the small Fijiian island, Tavarua, and holds up to 50 guests in the small tropical Bure’s (Fijian wood and straw huts). This is what I imagine heaven to look like! Crystal-like, soft, white sand beaches, and aqua clear blue water. If you want to relax, enjoy the warm Fiji culture and spirit, and love to surf, this is your dream destination.
We rented out the entire resort with 50 of our closest friends, which I highly recommend doing. It was like a tropical summer/surf camp for adults! All of the food and activities are included, although you do pay for drinks with a tab at the bar. The accommodations are simple, but clean and cozy, and the food is fresh and quite scrumptious, especially the “Fiji night” feast with local favorites. There is always fresh fruit and lots of options for all palettes. This is a great place to bring kids as well, as they can enjoy the pool and water activities. Food is served family style at a buffet.
You can choose to either helicopter in, or take a boat. I recommend taking a helicopter at on your way there, because the views are spectacular from above, especially the aerial view of the heart shaped island, and you land right at the resort.
Watching friends surf at restaurants, a surf break located just in front of the resort.
Take a boat out at dawn and surf Cloudbreak (or just watch from the boat and take your snorkel gear like I did!) It’s really a beautiful scene to take in.
Take out a SUP or grab some snorkel gear and search for the blue starfish and other marine life through the clear blue waters.
Grab your friends and take a boat out to the famous two story floating bar Cloud Nine and don’t miss out on the delicious wood fire pizza oven and signature Fiji rum cocktails, while you lounge on the day beds listening to the DJ. Feeling HOT from that Fijian sun? Jump off the 2nd story railing to cool off like we did!
Hang by the pool and enjoy the great drinks (the tropical rum drinks are divine) and the view from the resort. Take a short (VERY SHORT!) walk around the island. There is also a well equipped gym on the property, and we scheduled a yoga teacher to come in from a nearby island.
Each week when new guests arrive, there is a Kava ceremony, where the Chief of the Village welcomes your group to the island, with an evening of dancing, eating and drinking – and guests present offerings for the Chief.
The Kava ceremony is an important aspect of visiting any village and it is customary to present a gift of Yaqona (Kava root) to present to the head of the village. Make sure to bring a gift of Kava root with you, or old clothes to gift to villagers. You can purchase Kava root at a local market when you arrive in Fiji, near the airport. The chief, or leader of your group, (the eldest man in your group) presents the root to the Village Chief. The ceremony then begins as villagers grind up the Kava and strain it through a cloth bag into a large wooden bowl placed in the middle of the room. It is then offered to your chief and then passed around the circle for all to drink.
The History of Tavarua Island
{Excerpt from The Tavarua Island Resort, find more info here}
150 MILLION YEARS AGO VOLCANIC ERUPTION CONCEIVED OVER 330 TROPICALS ISLANDS IN THE HEART OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC. TROPICAL FORESTS, RICH CULTURE, THRIVING REEFS & WHITE SAND BEACHES FORGED THE ISLAND NATION NOW KNOWN AS FIJI. IN THE WEST, A SMALL HEART SHAPED ISLE WAS HAILED AS ONE OF THE RICHEST FISHING GROUNDS AND AN OCTOPUS OUTPOST FOR THE HIGHEST OF CHIEFS. IMAGINE THE SURPRISE OF THE TAVARUA NATIVES IN 1804, AS THE TALL SAILING VESSEL HMS ARIEL NEARLY RAN AGROUND ON THE VIVID REEF SURROUNDING THE ISLAND. SINCE THEN EXPLORERS OF A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT AMBITION HAVE TRAVELED TO THIS PRISTINE AND THUNDEROUS REEF SYSTEM.
In 1982 Dave Clark and a few others set out to surf the breaks around the island, and set into motion one of the first true surf camps in history. Tavarua island resort was born, with a focus on preservation, sustainability and cohesion among local villages.
PACKING TIP!
THE ISLAND LIFESTYLE IS VERY CASUAL. ALL YOU NEED ARE SOME SWIMSUITS, COVER-UPS, SHORT AND TEES, SANDALS AND SOME SNEAKERS AND WORK OUT GEAR FOR THE GYM. BRING A FEW DRESSES FOR DINNERS, ESPECIALLY THE FIJI NIGHT DINNER AND KAVA CEREMONY, BUT FLATS ARE FINE FOR THE WEEK – GIVER YOUR FEET A VACAY TOO.
Until next time…BULA!!
The Traveling Daydreamer 