Cosmopolitan Australia – June 2017

For a place with a reputation for

being a family friendly getaway

or a romantic escape for two, it

sure is a good place to take the

girls for a long weekend. If you’re

after sun, sand and laughs (and

drinks – lots of drinks), a resort

is where you want to be for a mix

of luxury, beach bumming and

local culture.

Enter Nanuku, the down-

to-earth resort with a five-star

punch. Standing against a back-

drop of lush rainforest-covered

hills, this thoroughly boutique

resort has just 18 villas – so you

don’t feel like one of thousands

treading the vibrant green lawns.

Most of the villas have their own

private swimming pools, over-

looking the ocean. It’s tranquillity

(and privacy) at its absolute best.

It’s easy to lap up the Fijian

culture – many of the team who

work on the resort live in the

local village and happily share

tales of their everyday home life.

If you’re after a more immersive

experience, you can visit a local

village, meet the chief for a Kava

ceremony and do an easy trek up

to a beautiful swimming hole –

#instaopportunity. Worried about

feeling voyeuristic looking into

the locals’ homes? Worry not –

the genuine warmth you’ll be

greeted with will make you feel

instantly at ease.

There are a million and one

ways to spend your time with

your mates at Nanuku (basket-

weaving, cooking sessions, river

paddle boarding through the

rainforest, catching freshwater

prawns, visiting local markets,

snorkelling, er, sitting at swim-

up bars...), But if there’s only one

thing you do between mimosas

and mojitos, it’s taking the trip

out to the private island the resort

takes its name from. Arrival is

by jetski – so rockstar – and the

team bring everything, and take

everything back, to preserve the

island’s natural state of beauty –

so eco-friendly. This is true bare-

foot luxe. With feet in the sand,

you’ll be served the best kumquat-

infused lychee martinis ever!

The team can even organise for

you to stay overnight, if you’re

an adventurous squad.

Nanuku has all the usual bells

and whistles of a five-star resort.

But what gives it the edge is its

attention to detail and relaxed

manner. You’re made to feel truly

special, with surprise personal

touches at every moment. The

team are so fun you pretty much

make new friends on your friend-

weekender. Guaranteed you won’t

stop laughing for a single minute.

A stay at Nanuku Auberge

Resort starts from $3980 for

two guests based on a min.

three night stay inclusive of

all taxes. The tariff includes

all gourmet meals, select non-

alcoholic beverages, wifi, IPTV

and in-villa movies, use of

select non-motorised sports

equipment including bicycles

and selected cultural activities.

Nanuku.aubergeresorts.com.

In Europe, you hear

‘we’re going away for

the weekend’ all the

time. It’s part of the

culture. Australians,

though, tend to think

a big trip is where it’s

at. So we happily go all

year without a holiday,

just to blow it all on

one off-the-scale trip.

But actually, lots of

small holidays are

better for your stress

levels, state of mind

and happiness. And

there is so much just

a few hours’ flight away

that we’re crazy not

to spend more Fridays

hot-footing it to the

airport for a few days

of fun. So whether you

go with your friends,

your partner or your

own fine self, it’s time

to hop on the weekender

bandwagon. For the

love of God, think of

your Instagram feed.

T FIJI

H

E

F

R

IE

N

D

• W

EEKEND

ER

Feeling like you need some

cocktails on the beach, wine

over dinner and sore cheeks

from continuous laughter?

Take the squad to Fiji!

Private beach,

gourmet food,

cocktails and a

welcome crew. It’s

the simple things

at Nanuku...

✈

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