Tiny island offers idyllic setting for quiet retreat

Press, 28 June 1983, Page 27

Tiny island offers idyllic setting for quiet retreat

“You realise this is a peaceful paradise when the lapping waves and rustling leaves are the loudest sounds you hear,” said the American couple from New York. They were referring to Toberua Island, one of Fiji’s bestkept resort secrets. The four-acre tropical garden with its halo of golden sand sits low in the crystal clear waters off the east coast of Viti Levu, near Nausori Airport. Only 14 bures accommodating never more than 30 guests offer discerning travellers an exclusive hide-away, rare in this commercialised world of mass tourism. Let there be no misunderstanding: Toberua is an up-market resort, certainly not for the budget-conscious holidaymaker. Double occupancy of a bure at Toberua costs SF9O (SNZI3S) a day and a further SF3O (SNZ4S) a day per person should be allowed for meals. The tariff, however, does include a wide range of aquatic activities. Other unexpected little bonuses that mean a lot: a well-stocked library; personal maid service; evening serenades outside each bure; dinners cooked to guests’ prior specifications and served on quality chinaware; guests return from dinner to find their bure tidied in their absence, the bed turned down and fresh towels in the bathroom.

Equally pleasing is the refreshing absence of annoyances common in other resorts around the world. At Toberua there is no constant jangle of canned or amplified music; no need for security; no need to carry money or to sign meal or drink dockets; no need for insect repellent (there are no biting insects); and no need for mechanical air-conditioning, thanks to the fresh Pacific breeze wafting through the doors and windows of the well-designed, beautifully finished bures. Toberua Island is 48km from Suva, and well outside the rain belt that spoils the capital’s climate. To get there: take a taxi from Suva (SFIS for the 28km trip) or Nausori Airport (SFS per person for the skm trip) to Nakelo Landing. Regular launch transfers leave Nakelo Landing for the 20km river trip at 11 a.m. daily and costs SFIO adult and SF6 child. Special launch transfers to connect with flights can be arranged at a special charge of SF4O. Mr Michael Dennis, the resort’s manager, is a New Zealander who spent his younger years at New Plymouth and Mount Cook. He is a former national ski-ing representative. Mr Dennis has had a close family association with the tourism industry. His father, Mr Lawry Dennis, was manager at the Hermitage,