Join me on my adventure to the dreamy island of Tavarua, aka the heart-shaped island. This little 29 acre slice of heaven is located off the western coast of Viti Levu in the Mamanuca Islands. It’s a prime surfing destination known worldwide, but you don’t have to surf to enjoy your stay. The resort offers amenities galore for a guaranteed good time both on and off the island. You can surf all day or simply relax poolside with a book.
Getting to the island
A shuttle bus will pick you up from Nadi International Airport or a nearby hotel, then taxi you over to the boat landing. I was picked up from the Tokatoka Resort after spending five days in Nadi. For most of the bus ride, I observed the natural scenery of surrounding farm land and sugar cane fields. At the boat landing, be prepared to walk a short distance in shallow water to get in to the boat. Porters will be there to help you load your luggage onto the boat.
Before you know it, 30 minutes have passed and Tavarua is in sight. As the boat approaches the island, the faint sounds of singing and clapping grow louder. Once you are close enough to step off the boat, the friendly island staff greets you with a warm smile and shell lei. You will also immediately notice what the main island lacks in its beaches.
Bures
The island has 16 private bures (cottages) that are all facing the ocean. You are literally just a few steps away from the ocean. Even the smallest bure holds at least five people comfortably. Each bure is equipped with a mini fridge, air conditioning, hair dryer and other basic toiletries. As expected, there is no TV, but they have one up at the restaurant’s bar. The water in the bures are safe for showers and brushing teeth, but not recommended for drinking.
The Restaurant
You won’t go hungry on this island. Enjoy three buffet-style meals daily at the open-air restaurant. The local chef prepares fresh meals featuring a variety of different cuisines. They even have a garden behind the restaurant, where they grow their own greens. Now that’s as fresh as you can get! With ample seating and a view of the surf break “Restaurants,” you can comfortably relax while devouring your meals. At the right side of the restaurant you’ll find the fully stocked bar.
Water on the island is sourced from rain water catchments, so they ask you to conserve as much as possible. The bar supplies clean filtered water that is safe for drinking and you can also purchase bottled Fiji water if you prefer. Since bottled beverages are pricey on the island, your best bet is to buy what you need on the main island and bring them over to Tavarua.
Wifi
The resort’s wifi plans are very pricey, so I highly recommend renting a portable wireless hotspot. I rented my device from TravelWifi (formerly Tep Wireless) and it was a lifesaver! If you need a reliable internet connection on-the-go, then this is a no-brainer. Plans are customizable by day/month and destination.
Amenities
It’s surprising how much an island of this size has to offer. When you’re surrounded by such beauty, even being bored is perfectly fine. Take a look at what they have in store for you.
- Fishing and surfing boat trips
- Fitness Center
- Full size tennis court and basketball half court
- Swimming pool and hot tub
- Ping pong and pool table
- Skateboard half pipe
- Island spa
- Boutique and mini mart
- Rentals: paddle boards, soft tops, kayaks, snorkel gear.
Surfing
This was a unique surfing experience, since I’ve never had to take a boat out to a surf break. With four boat rides going out on a daily basis (weather and conditions permitting), you can surf to your heart’s content. There are eight surf breaks just a short boat ride away including the famous Cloudbreak, Restaurants and Namotu Lefts to name a few.
When I first arrived on the island, the waves were pumping! Then the conditions got a little windy and choppy, which made things difficult. A few days later, the waves mellowed out, but the conditions were completely glassy. It was the perfect day for a trip to Cloudbreak. I managed to catch a few waves while getting murdered by jellyfish. Believe me when I say, it was all so worth it.
Fishing
The fishing boats are available to make four trips each day. Since the daily sign-up sheets were practically empty, it felt like a private fishing charter each time. This was my first time fishing from a boat, and it was peaceful yet exhilarating at the same time! While it isn’t necessary, we brought our own light gear and mostly went jigging with damashi rigs. If you just want to go along for the ride, they have a trolling rod already set up. Give it a try – you might end up bringing in a large tuna or marlin! I was delighted to have caught such a variety of reef fish. We kept one for our dinner and shared the rest of our catches with the locals/staff. The kitchen cooked our catch and dressed it up like a fancy gourmet meal.
Snorkeling
Check out the giant clams nestled in the protective reef surrounding Tavarua. Within a short swim out over the reef, you will find the underwater nurseries that house these beautiful creatures. They are placed in cages to protect from predatory marine life. This is part of an ongoing project to aid in the re-population of Fiji’s endangered giant clam species. The clams can be spotted by the electric blue color of the inner flesh parts.
Animal Life
Take a stroll around the island. It’s quite peaceful and almost eerie. You can make a complete loop around the island in about 15 minutes. I’ve encountered soaring fruit bats, scuttling crustaceans, various birds and even cats. There are two resident cats on the island and they are extremely friendly. One of the cats would visit our bure every night just for the company. Other guests have reportedly seen turtles laying eggs in the sand and a reef shark passing closely along the shoreline in broad daylight.
Until we meet again
The inevitable end of the week came all too soon. Tavarua Island Resort undoubtedly delivered an amazing experience. I have made so many unique memories to last a lifetime. That being said, it was especially difficult to part ways with the warm and friendly staff. Their genuine personality really grew on me as I got to know them throughout the week. One of the staff members, Dani, was the sweetest person! She visited us just to talk, hang out and see how we were doing.
Tips
- I would suggest using water resistant luggage or something you won’t mind getting dirty. During the boat transfer to and from the island, it can get pretty rough, causing ocean water to splash up and on to your luggage. You also might get a little extra sand here and there. It’s nothing major, but worth noting!
- Don’t forget to pack a travel adapter/voltage converter so you can plug your devices into Fiji’s wall sockets. Fiji operates on a 240V power supply with a Type I plug configuration (three flat pins in a triangular position). Before you plug your device in, make sure it can accept 240V, or else you’d need to get a voltage converter.
- Bring extra water bottles or flasks to refill your drinking water at the bar. Unless you’re planning on drinking Fiji bottled water all week – which isn’t a bad idea – having some extra refill containers on hand will save you a few trips.
- Save money by purchasing your bottled water, soda and alcoholic beverages on the main island instead of Tavarua.
- If you are bringing your own surfboard, I would recommend packing a lightly padded day bag for protection on boat rides out to the breaks. The rides tend to get bumpy, causing items to shift and bounce around.
