The lounge at one of the Residences at Six Senses Fiji. Photo / Supplied
The lounge at one of the Residences at Six Senses Fiji. Photo / Supplied
The Hits breakfast host Sarah Gandy checks into the new luxury resort Six Senses Fiji on Malolo Island.
Getting there: Six Senses provides speed boat transfers from the mainland (a 35-minute journey) and there's a helipad for those choosing to arrive by chopper. The resort also has plans for guests to eventually be able to enjoy the ultimate arrival — by sky-diving in on to the beach (and yes, your bags will be delivered separately).
First Impressions:
A beautiful slice of paradise — we're hit with welcoming smiles and woody scents as soon as we arrive. Six Senses embraces its island landscape with sandy pathways, native plants and thatched villas overlooking a white sand beach. Their hashtag is #outoftheordinary and we quickly start to see why.
We are greeted with a welcoming "Bula!" by our two "GEMs" (Guest Experience Makers — Rosi and Pela — they are assigned to us for the duration of our stay). They offer us a cold towel and a kumquat drink to enjoy while they load our luggage on to the cart. No lining up at reception to check in.
Room: We stay in a Beachfront Pool Villa. The view is magical — sitting on the deck with your feet in the sand staring at Vunabaka Bay. You can get that same sweet view directly from the pool. The room is beautifully appointed with a modern wooden fit out and smells incredible. Various lighting schemes — party and romance are both on the list — a private wine fridge and a tiered bedroom create a space that's easy to spend time in.
Sustainability is front and centre — the coffee pods are biodegradable, there's no "packaging" in the minibar and the entire place runs on solar energy.
Facilities: I'll mention my favourite first — Cluckingham Palace. Eventually this will be home to some very happy hens but currently it's home to Sid — the resort's very happy pig. For the record, Sid is not for eating. She is walked every day and if you're lucky, you may see her out for her mid-morning ocean swim. For the two-legged guests, there's a fitness centre, yoga pavilion, tennis court and spa. The beachside Experiences Centre provides a range of activities including PADI dive certification, water sports and daily excursions. There's also a Surf Academy run by Tropic Surf. A library provides plenty of options for those who came unprepared, and there's a kids club and nannying services available. The Bula-tin newsletter offers a rundown on daily additional activities, including language workshops, visits to nearby villages, and rainy-day activities. There's also an open-air cinema for cosy movie nights under the stars.
View: The entire resort centres on a beautiful white-sand beach. Small islands in the bay provide the quintessential tropical paradise backdrop.
The bed: A comfortable four-poster king bed with mosquito net. We didn't need it during our stay but handy for when it gets humid. Automatic blinds can be opened from bed to reveal views of the ocean — we'd do this with a coffee in hand and let out a good "aaah the serenity" each morning.
Bathroom: White, spacious and fresh with twin sinks, two showers (one outdoors) and an outdoor tub. The toilet was an interesting touch, the type often seen in Japan, described to us as one that "does everything". We're talking a heated seat, built-in spray — the works. Toiletries are locally inspired and there's the usual beauty kit.
Exercise and wellness: Guests can get a wellness analysis to look at certain "bio-markers".
From the results, an on-site expert can then suggest lifestyle adjustments along with fitness activities. Spa treatments can also be prescribed — you're on holiday after all.
Menus at the eateries even have specific meal options depending on your needs and staff can be told not to offer certain things (like free Champagne at breakfast). If you're struggling with sleep there's also the option to have that analysed during your stay.
Spa: Treatments are carried out in private bures set in native tropical gardens. My holistic massage was incredibly relaxing and my therapist even plaited my hair when she'd finished. There's also hot and cold plunge pools, a sauna and steam room.
With a focus on organic wholefoods grown and sourced locally, it's very easy to eat well here. Buffet and a la carte breakfast are both included daily in the Tovolea Restaurant by the main pool. Healthy and more indulgent options are available, with Champagne and mimosas for those wanting to kick things off early. The cocktails list is extensive and includes "living cocktails" — these have a focus on health with a dash of booze — so you can have your kombucha and a little whisky too. Lunch offerings are light and healthy, and dinner features food from the grill. Think seafood and Fijian-inspired cuisine with some great daily specials. Rara restaurant by the marina has slightly different options — fresh pasta and curries. Next door is a deli for takeaway snack options, and guests can enjoy a daily free icecream. I was very happy to discover healthy breakfast pancakes that fitted my wellness plan. A pizzeria by the outdoor cinema is a fun way to eat a little differently — picking herbs fresh from the garden to pop on top was a cute touch.
Pools and an outdoor lounge at Six Senses Malolo Island. Photo / Supplied
Noise:
Glass sliding doors seemed very sound proof and we hardly heard anything from the villa next door. It's a new opening so there were still residences being built. Building noise never affected us but it might be worth enquiring when booking.
Wi-Fi: The best I've experienced in Fiji — good enough to stream a bit of Netflix on a rainy day if need be.
