Resorts
PARADISE RESORT, TAVEUNI
This peaceful, very comfortable and well-run resort is owned and operated by Australian expatriates Terri and Allan Gortan, who have made Taveuni their home since 2006. They were so taken with it when they first arrived that they named it ‘Paradise’ and paradise it is! Paradise Resort, located on a stunning ocean-front stretch is some 40 kilometers from Matei Airport on Taveuni and a visit involves a scenic one hour drive to the northern point of Taveuni island.
Delightfully located amongst 5 acres of immaculately kept gardens, with the palm trees and sea before you and an extinct volcano as a dramatic backdrop, you will be thrilled at the beauty of the resort’s location.
The resort comprises 10 traditional Fijian Bures with en-suite bathrooms, and 7 air conditioned Vales, as well as a restaurant and bar, tour desk and on-site dive shop, and can cater for up to 34 guests at any one time. There is a swimming pool with a sun-deck area for those lazy moments and hammocks strategically located for those sleepy moments!
The bures blend in discretely with the scenery and are built in traditional Fijian style, with thatched roofs and intricately woven ceilings. They are palatial inside, with king-sized beds, spacious living areas and modern bathrooms. All bures are tastefully decorated with locally sourced furnishings and large wooden louvre windows that allow plenty of light in and a pleasant breeze to circulate; they also have ceiling fans, a sun deck and private day bed, as well as the classic Fijian essential – an outdoor shower! Oceanfront bures have their own Jacuzzi. Oceanfront Vale Lomanis are similar in design to the Bures, with a mini-bar, refrigerator, tea and coffee making facilities and comfortable lounge area. These also have their own Jacuzzi.
The food is another highlight of your stay as Allan is an internationally-trained chef and insists that the menus include fresh, local, and mostly organic produce. Incorporating the local styles of cooking into his more traditional methods has proved rewarding and Paradise Resort is known to have one of the best restaurants in the South Pacific. Most special dietary requirements are catered to and Allan will design a dish to meet your specifications, should you wish. Don’t forget about the Indulgent Seafood Dinner – a four course seafood delight featuring fresh Taveuni Lobster for your main course.
The Paradise Spa offers a range of treatments and therapies. One of Paradise’s signatures is the welcome massage on offer to all new arrivals to help rub away any strains of the journey. Massages can last from half and hour to an hour and a half, or you may wish to indulge in a body polish or body scrub!
For those wishing to have a non-diving day or for non-diving partners, Paradise can arrange a great variety of activities. The Taveuni landscape is incredibly beautiful and it is well worth exploring the island and its volcanic peaks, swim in the pools below the waterfalls and marvel at the flora and fauna. Cultural tours, island drives, kayaking and horse riding can all be arranged locally. Cookery and craft demonstrations are very popular and if you feel the need to stretch the grey matter you can have a go at the ‘learn to speak Fijian’ course!
PRO DIVE TAVEUNI
Owned and operated by the resort, Pro Dive Taveuni is the onsite dive shop ready to whisk divers to wherever they wish to go! The expatriate instructors and local guides operate boat dives daily to suit the wishes of the guests. Up to 40 different sites are on offer!
Three custom built dive boats can take either 5, 12 or 22 divers and crew off to the local dive sites each day. All boats have shade, a first aid kit, oxygen and VHF radio. Entry into the water is by backwards roll and there are ladders to get back out of the water. Nitrox is available. A range of PADI courses is available from Discover Scuba Diving to Dive Master.
Stays can be of any length. Prices given below relate to a stay of 7 nights.
Price: from about $2607. Includes: 7 nights full board accommodation (breakfast, lunch and dinner) on a twin/share basis in a Tropical Bure; airport transfers; a welcome footrub; tea, coffee, soft drinks, sodas and cookies; wifi access; a Pro Dive Pack (10 dives on Vuna Reef or Rainbow Reef; one nights dive and 'unlimited' unguided shore dives).
Single ocupancy supplement: from about $844 for 7 nights.