Luxury Fiji holidays: Vomo Island in the Mamanucas has something for everyone
Partial transcript of article by Stephanie Holmes – Travel Editor – nzherald.co.nz. Link to full article below.
The resort is the only one on the 87ha island, so it’s a place you can live your “stranded on a tropical island” dream. However, this version of stranded involves luxurious bures, infinity pools, delectable food, spa treatments and a team of staff ready to assist your every need.
I admit to feeling some anxiety on the flight over, with Omicron raging through New Zealand and the fear of what might happen if I test positive during my holiday.
But at Vomo, this is just another worry that melts away under the heat of the South Pacific sun. The resort is the epitome of indoor-outdoor flow, with the only enclosed space being my beach-front bure, which I have all to myself.
Without meaning to be glib, I start to think it wouldn’t be so bad if I start showing Covid symptoms. If I do, the isolation period would be spent in one of the resort’s hillside bures, with gourmet meals delivered to my door. Tim Tuiqali, Vomo’s guest experience manager, tells me isolating guests can even use the beach on the far side of the island if they’re feeling up to it – there’s so much space here, the risk of close contact with another guest is minuscule.
However, it’s something I don’t need to worry about – I stay safe and well for my visit, allowing me the freedom to explore the island and all it has to offer.
Guests can be as active or sloth-like as they choose. Watersports are complimentary (snorkelling, stand-up paddle boards, kayaks, sailing, windsurfing), and there’s a rugged 2km hiking trail up to a yoga platform at the top of Mt Vomo. The resort used to have an in-house yoga teacher but she left when borders were closed and there were no guests to instruct. Tim tells me they’ve been struggling to find a replacement as there aren’t many qualified yoga teachers in Fiji. “Fijians are already relaxed, we don’t need yoga,” he says with a shrug. Those who can’t live without their daily sun salutation can grab the mat provided in their room and do a self-guided class at their leisure.
Getting on, in and under the water is my main priority, so I go out with a couple of other guests for a morning’s snorkelling. Two of the resort’s activities crew come with us, powering us over the rough waves in a high-speed tinny to White Rock – “it’s actually black but the birds are painting it for us,” the skipper says.
Wearing life jackets, we drift with the current following the reef edge, floating over colourful coral and thousands of tropical fish. I spy parrot, angel, Napoleon wrasse, trigger, and clown, as well as a shock of tiny electric blue fish pulsing like a heartbeat around an anemone.
The boat follows our progress and picks us up after half-an-hour in the water. We whizz over to another spot not far away, tie the tinny to a buoy, then drop back in the water to snorkel with black-tip reef sharks. There’s a pack of them – at least five, maybe more – and they’re big enough to cause shivers of trepidation. But they take absolutely no interest in us, instead chasing fish and weaving effortlessly around us.
As we cruise back to the island, I decide I’m happy to let that be the peak of my active experiences for this holiday and spend the rest of my trip in prime relaxation mode, enjoying a luxurious massage at the spa and plenty of time lying on the beach and by the pool.
At the western tip of the island is The Rocks, the resort’s adults-only area with bar, restaurant, stunning infinity pool and photogenic lounging spots at every vantage point. It’s certainly in the running for the world’s best infinity pool, thanks to its ocean views from a raised vantage point, shady cabanas, sun loungers (both on the deck and in the pool), lush tropical plants and palm trees.
I spend my first evening here, enjoying cocktail and canape hour while the sky blushes pink and fruit bats glide high overhead. As a solo traveller, it’s a great place to have some peace without the background noise of children being cajoled into polite table manners by their parents.
That’s another of the highlights at Vomo – the choice to find a space that completely suits you and your travelling party’s needs. Families can dine together at The Reef restaurant; couples looking for a romantic night can eat dinner at The Rocks. Parents with kids can choose to have a break too – Vomo offers kids clubs and babysitting services, so they can have a night of adult-only time, too.
Read full article HERE.