158 MAY 2017
The size of Blue Lagoon Beach
Resort makes it an easy place to truly
relax. Our bure, one of the most
private at the resort, is still just a
minute’s walk from the beach, pool
and restaurant. We have to think of
nothing more than making our way
from hammock to sea to pool and
back to the bure for naps. If we
weren’t on Fiji time before, we are
now – well and truly.
It is so peaceful here, I am tempted
not to engage in any of the activities
on offer – except for a bracelet
weaving workshop, which I do with
the teacher and one other guest on a
woven mat near the sea. Thankfully
Joseph encourages me to take the
scenic boat trip to the famous caves,
hidden on the pretty island of
Sawailau. We access the first cavern
down an old staircase, where a crack
in the roof allows light in to illuminate
the stunning limestone formations. We
sit on the rock Brooke Shields sat on
inBlue Lagoon(where she was first
visited by “Aunt Flo”) and enjoy the
sights and fresh temperatures of the
cave. Then it’s time for the more
adventurous members of the group to
hold their breath and duck under a
rock into cave number two, surfacing
into pitch black. Our eyes slowly
adjust to the darkness in the deep
cavern, where we explore all the nooks
and crannies and are entertained by
the brilliant acoustics.
Mantaray Island Resort is our next
stop and while our beachfront room
here is luxurious, there are also budget
accommodation options available –
bunk rooms for backpackers or small
bures with shared bathroom facilities.
The drawcard of Mantaray Island
is the snorkelling and diving
opportunities. We sign up for our
intro dive certificate, and have a
mother/son bonding experience during
that first dive that will last us through
the next year of curfews and
homework negotiations. Diving gives
us access to the stunning underwater
world of coral reefs with their
incredible fish, stingrays, turtles and
ocean foliage and we exit the water an
hour later feeling that we have
experienced something truly magical.
The dive courses are reasonably
priced and provide a relaxed entry
into the world of scuba-diving because
you don’t need to go very deep to
access the reef.
The sunsets on Mantaray are a
must-see, and we add to our growing
number of Fiji sunset swims – this one
sitting pretty high on the list. Anddon’t miss the papaya daiquiri at this
resort – I can still taste it!
That night I take to my king-size
bed – lulled by the sound of the ocean- while Joseph heads to the outdoor
hammock and sleeps under the stars.
It’s only been a week but already he
believes beds are overrated.
On return to Denarau, after seven
days in a serene Yasawa bubble, we
are both shell-shocked by the noise at
the luxurious Radisson Blu Resort.
We immediately realise how ridiculous
this is, but it’s worth pointing out to
illustrate the effect the Yasawas have
had on us. Raddison provides a great
transition before heading back to
Auckland, and we enjoy lazing by the
pool and sampling the great food – the
Thai-inspired Chantara restaurant is
our pick for dinner, and Blu Brasserie
for breakfast overlooking the sea.
We leave Fiji as significantly more
relaxed versions of the people who
had arrived eight days earlier – and
while the return to reality has come
all too soon for us, we make it armed
with soothed nerves, a suntan, a plan
to return to do our intermediate
diving course and a bag of kava
for emergencies.AW W
Nicola was hosted by Fiji Tourism.
“We have to think of nothing more than
making our way from hammock to sea.”
LEFT: Joseph relaxes on a hammock – a
place he found so comfortable he opted to
sleep on it overnight.Denarau destination
On arrival at Denarau we stayed at
the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa, where
we utilised the Waitui Beach Club, a
leisure area exclusively for guests
aged 16 years and above. The
generous pool has a swim-up bar,
and there is also a Champagne bar,
restaurant, poolside cabanas and
complimentary evening sundowner
cocktails. The menu choices here
have been have been balanced by a
nutritionist so you can avoid the
overeating temptations provided by
some resort buffets, and we can
vouch the meals are delicious.
This is a great option in Denarau for
those wanting a quieter, adults-only
resort experience.