Private pavilions in Pacific paradise to tempt investors

An artist's impression of the proposed Frangipani Resort. Photo / Supplied

Purchasers and investors are being sought for 39 individual strata-titled "pavilions" - or accommodation chalets - that will comprise the proposed Frangipani Beach Resort and Day Spa in Vanuatu designed by an award-winning Australian architect Greg Gibbs.

Located at Havannah Harbour on the main island of Efate and only 25km from the capital of Port Vila, the eco-tourism development will be built on the shores of a marine sanctuary.

"The concept for Frangipani is to embrace sustainability without compromising luxury or the environment," Ross McLauchlan of Link Business Broking says.

"The developers have taken the world's best environmental practices, combined them with smart designs and six-star finishing methods, to develop a plan for a resort that is expected to attract strong interest."

The private pavilions will range from one to four bedrooms and will include sculptured glass showers, bidets and private plunge pools enhanced by white and yellow frangipani floral designs set within gold mosaic tiles.

"Each pavilion will boast high quality fixtures like European latex king-sized beds, luxurious Italian bed linen, temperature-controlled Vintec wine fridges, inbuilt Italian coffee machines and exquisite furnishings and accessories," McLauchlan says.

The gated boutique resort, which will accommodate up to 90 guests, will also feature a Bisazza mosaic glass tiled lap pool and glass-floored day spa suspended over the sea.

Plans for the resort include a sunset cocktail bar and jetty restaurant set 37m out into Havannah Harbour where guests can indulge in their favourite tipples or dine on "the finest cuisine".

It is proposed the resort will have five "exclusive restaurants" fitted with kitchens designed by Italy's leading kitchen equipment manufacturer Angelo Po. The Natagora House restaurant will feature a dance floor with a baby grand piano and Piano Bar. Other restaurants include a sushi and oyster bar, a teppanyaki restaurant, and a Vittorio coffee boutique and gelato bar.

A further attraction at the resort will be an exclusive boutique that will incorporate extensive glass sculptural finishes by renowned glass artist Shar Feil-Moorman and offer guests a range of exclusive Italian fashions.

"A private yacht with a butler available for the use of resort guests is among just some of the planned luxuries that are impressing investors," McLauchlan says.

Frangipani has been three years in the planning and is scheduled to open early 2011 with "all plans, permits and approvals now in place".

McLauchlan says that despite the luxuries and beautiful design, a point of difference for the resort will be its "environmental engineering" designed to reduce its reliance on potable water by more than 30 per cent of normal usage for a resort of the same size.

"Not only will the resort use less water but what it does use will be available for reuse with an on-site water recycling facility to treat water to a level beyond world Class A Standard before being reused for garden irrigation."

"The resort's plans include a 150,000 litre underground water tank that will be installed to store rainwater. The tank will be designed to be topped up with pure, underground spring water if required," McLauchlan says.

"It is this water supply, filtered and treated using reverse osmosis technology to meet stringent world standards that will provide the resort with all its water needs for the pavilion kitchens, the restaurants, or to top up the individual plunge pools and day spa."

McLauchlan says solar lamps will also be integrated into the garden design to light pathways, the swimming pool and all the resort's restaurants.

"With Vanuatu only a few hours away by air and with Air Vanuatu flights leaving Auckland up to four times a week, investing in one of the newest eco-friendly resorts could be a smart decision."