Drift into a state of pleasure on Castaway Island. Photo / Supplied
Drift into a state of pleasure on Castaway Island. Photo / Supplied
Megan Singleton has a fine time on Castaway Island, where cocktails come with umbrellas.
1. Discover another side of Fiji
This Outrigger Resort is quintessential Fiji. Designed like a village, paths lead through lush jungle to each bure. Snorkelling in front of the resort is great and you get free use of all non-motorised aqua toys like kayaks, paddle boards and the catamaran.
They also have jet skis, banana boat rides and scuba diving. There's a kids/family pool with its own snack hut and an adults pool surrounded by deck chairs.
Step through the little trough of water that is placed on your veranda early in the morning so you don't walk into your luxurious Fijian bure with sandy feet.
The high ceiling is covered in tapa cloth and the bathrooms are modern with stone and timber. A separate lounge area is great for happy hour or air conditioning should you need it.
3. Kids' programme
More than a babysitting service, the kids learn how to make flower leis, basic Fijian language, have dance classes and crab races. Older ones can take part in marine education and soon coral planting. You can book your own nanny (meimei) for the week too.
The Beach Olympics is Fiji vs the World - adults are allowed to participate. Nighttime nature walks and night snorkelling is fun, plus bonfire nights for the family mean you'll hardly see your little cherubs.
The beach at Fiji's Castaway Island. Photo / Megan Singleton
4. Dining
The four eateries include Sundowner Bar, which is upstairs with a woodfired pizza oven. Perfect for a cocktail before dinner. Downstairs is the main restaurant, Water's Edge, which serves a buffet and a la carte breakfast, lunch and dinner. Nuku Maru is casual dining poolside (oh, and there's a swim-up bar in the adults pool) and 1808, the fine dining Fijian Asian restaurant under new head chef Markus Nufer, denotes the year the Chinese first landed in Fiji.
5. Cloud Nine
Book a few hours on this floating pontoon lounge bar, about a 10-minute boat ride from Castaway Island. This privately owned lounge bobs on the reef and opens at 10am. The trick is to get here early to grab one of the few day beds. Bring free snorkelling gear and your towel from the resort to jump in for a look around, your book, and your wallet for the wood-fired pizzas and a cocktail with an umbrella in it.
