Journalist Eva de Jong’s recent article captures something we don’t often see so clearly from the outside – a writer who genuinely understands VOMO’s idea of luxury. Not gold taps or distant formality, but a way of life shaped by ease, warmth and the freedom to simply be.
Her story touches on the quiet rituals that define the island — the sense of space, the calm, the staff who feel more like guardians of your day than traditional “service.” She notices how effortless family travel becomes with Baby Butlers and our long-hours Kids Club, and how rare it is to feel truly unobserved on a fully booked private island.
She moves from The Rocks to the reef, from the Bula Bus to the yoga deck atop Mt Vomo, describing the island in a way that mirrors how our guests talk about it. Not as an escape from life, but as life lived differently. Slow evenings, warm breezes, reef adventures, folded towels waiting in the villa — small gestures that create our way of life.
Read a snippet below. Or click here for the full article.
Vomo Island: Baby butlers and extreme luxury at Fiji’s exclusive private island resort
Resort Review – Eva de Jong – Multimedia Journalist – NZ Herald
Despite the island’s small size, the resort somehow manages to feel like a private retreat, and I rarely spot fellow guests when wandering around; an increasingly rare form of luxury.
While guest sightings are scarce, staff in pristine uniforms are never more than a glance or gesture away. No glass is ever left half empty, and at every chance, staff hand out bottles of chilled Fiji water. I’ve never been so hydrated in my life.
For those who wish to explore, one can walk around the island or take a free Bula Bus. Eager to take advantage of the service, my friend and I called the bus to take us to a spa treatment, only to discover, after an embarrassingly short ride, that it was located just 500m away. Hopping off, we thank the driver, who appeared unfazed, and we get the impression that no request is too trivial when staying at Vomo.
Of course, there are many luxury resorts in the world, but what sets Vomo apart is its stunning location among the Yasawa Islands. Even at a dinner in a tropical downpour, golden lightning illuminated the dark sky while frothing waves crashed against the rocks below the restaurant table. Surrounded by
nature (even during its tantrums), work and life worries can’t help but fade from your mind.Of course, while some elements are wild and rugged, others are perfectly ordered. At the resort, lawns are freshly cut, frangipani trees neatly clipped and each time we leave our villa, we return to folded towels, and straightened and rearranged beds. While we weren’t travelling with family, each villa is gifted four hours of a “Baby Butler” to look after children so parents can enjoy some free time. Meanwhile, at the Kids Club, children can be dropped off at 9am and picked up as late as 9pm. One staff member tells me they sometimes walk children back to their rooms after their parents have gone
to sleep.One can’t look at the beautiful ocean for long before being tempted to hop in and explore the vibrant reef and marine life. Fortunately, the resort runs guided snorkelling and dive trips to help guests do exactly that. One morning we take a 10-minute boat trip out to one of the best snorkelling spots in the crystal-clear lagoon beside a small rock island. After gearing up, we duck underwater, and the unusual world that greets us is so expansive and startling, I gasp –
something that, as I quickly discovered, leads to inhaling water through one’s snorkel. Swarms of brightly-coloured reef fish dart curiously around us, and I spot an octopus almost perfectly camouflaged against a piece of frilly coral. Other guests tell me about encounters they’ve had with reef sharks, manta rays and dolphins in the sparkling waters that surround Vomo.Of course, snorkelling isn’t the only relax-and-unwind option on Vomo. A short walk through the tropical forest behind the private residences will take you to a large wooden platform, the resort’s Yoga Deck, where yoga classes are held. There is also a wide range of marine mineral facials and hot stone massages available at Kui Spa. It depends on how you like to travel, but I felt a slight guilt at the level of luxury on Vomo.
