After Christmas in Sydney, JJ and I flew to Fiji for a New Year mini-break. We spent 5-days enjoying the quiet, uncrowded side of Viti Levu island at a small, sustainably designed, family run resort. Relaxing, kayaking, snorkelling, surfing and yoga in a pristine tropical location was the perfect start to our 2023.

Fiji is one of the few destinations that’s super quick and easy to visit from Australia. A direct flight from Sydney to Nadi only takes 4 hours! On arrival, we were met by a driver from Matanivusi Beach Eco Resort. The airport road transfer took about 2 hours (one way). Matanivusi Beach is located on Fiji’s Coral Coast, halfway between the international airport in Nadi and the capital city, Suva.

MATANIVUSI BEACH ECO RESORT

With just 12 beachfront rooms, all with ocean views, we experienced complete peace and tranquility. The buildings are nestled amongst the natural jungle along the shoreline. Our room included an outdoor deck and comfy interior with a king-sized bed, bathroom and lounge furniture. Decor includes warm timbers and mosquito nets for that tropical feel. Rooms have no TVs or hairdryers but some do have aircon.

All meals are included in room rates; cooked breakfast, lunch, 3-course dinner and all-day tea/coffee. Bar drinks, snacks and barista coffees are charged extra. Matanivusi’s restaurant and bar was designed with the intention of maximising the lagoon outlook.

The food on offer is a mix of Fijian, Indian and contemporary dishes using the freshest ingredients. Fruits are grown around the property, vegetables cultivated in the surrounding villages, Yellowfin Tuna and Mahi Mahi are caught locally. Everything we ate was SO. DELISH. Beautifully presented too.

INCLUDED ACTIVITIES

There’s a big emphasis on surfing at Matanivusi. All boat trips to local surf breaks and guiding are included. Guests (like me) who aren’t proficient surfers, are free to get onboard the surf boats and go snorkelling instead🤿 If you’d prefer to explore closer to the resort, there are kayaks and SUPs available to borrow as well. Alternatively, you can just chill by the pool and gaze out to the stunning South Pacific.

Matanivusi endeavour to have a yoga teacher onsite throughout the year. They offer a free daily class whenever teachers are available and cater to all levels. The yoga studio is built on an elevated wooden deck next to a 200+ year old banyan tree surrounded by lush green forest. It’s a pretty amazing space, I looked forward to my practice there every morning.

In addition to the inclusions I’ve already mentioned, the resort can arrange other activities and day trips (charged extra). Some of the things on offer were; scuba diving, river rafting, guided hikes, local village/school/church visits, golfing, day spa, sightseeing and shopping.

JJ and I had a phenomenal time at Matanivusi. The other guests, owners and resort staff were all lovely. We especially enjoyed their pirate-themed NYE party, nobody escaped walking the plank☠️ Just before midnight we watched fireworks on the beach, then popped open the champagne. It was the most fun we’ve had celebrating a new year for ages🥂

Pin this post for later:

Related posts: