Where the sun comes to rest

The helicopter lifts off from Nadi and, within minutes, banks over the Mamanuca reefs towards a cluster of thatched roofs on Malolo Island. Below is Likuliku Lagoon, named in the Malolo dialect for its calm waters, which in ancient times sheltered war canoes from rough seas. On its shore sits the award-winning, adults-only Likuliku Lagoon Resort, wholly owned by a Fijian family.

Under the thatch

From the water, the resort resembles an old Fijian village. Its centrepiece is a building designed as a traditional canoe house, with soaring ceilings beneath woven thatch. Only six Beachfront Bures sit a few steps from the sand, each with traditional Fijian interiors and freshly baked cookies delivered daily. After a swim, rinse off the salt under the outdoor shower in your bure’s secluded courtyard, then stretch out on the daybed on the deck. Fijians say Malolo is where the sun comes to rest, and by late afternoon, so will you.

The chief’s lagoon

In 2005, Na TuiLawa, paramount chief of the Mamanuca Islands, declared the reefs in front of the resort a marine reserve.

Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter

Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now.

A pole rising from the water, crossed with a palm frond, marks it as na tabu, so fishing and shell collecting are off limits. With coral growing close to shore, you can snorkel straight from the beach. Turtles breed in the lagoon, too.

Fijians believe a box of blessings, lost from an ancient voyaging canoe, still lies on the seabed between here and Mana, guarded by two giant clams. Above the reef, kayakers, windsurfers and paddleboarders share the calm water. A 15-minute boat ride beyond the lagoon, the uninhabited island of Mociu, or Honeymoon Island, is a nature reserve open to resort guests by invitation and set aside for dry forest restoration and coral and clam transplanting.

From reef and garden

Steamed reef fish in green curry broth with hand-scraped coconut lolo, or coral crayfish ravioli. Both have featured at Fijiana, the open-air restaurant overlooking the lagoon, where executive chef Gregory Llewellyn’s menu changes daily. By the pool, salads come from the resort’s own garden and pizzas from a wood-fired oven. At dusk, cocktails are served at Masima Island Bar, on its own islet in the lagoon, and sparkling wine and chef’s canapes on the cruise around Malolo.

Putting down roots

The guided trek up Mount Uluisilo, Malolo’s highest point, ends at the site of an old World War II American fort, with views across the Mamanucas. A 15-minute boat ride away, locals in the chiefly village of Yaro, some of them relatives of resort staff, share the area’s history with visitors.

Wrap the sulu left in your bure around your waist, as custom requires. Back at the resort, the Na Vanua Conservation Hub is home to the Ahura Resorts Conservation Foundation, whose work supports a local village kindergarten and has helped save the Fijian crested iguana, found only in Fiji, on Malolo. The resort’s environment manager leads tours of the iguana breeding cages and dry forest habitat. Your booking also plants a native tree at the Nayaulevu restoration site, where traditional landowners are regenerating forest. Leave feeling a little calmer and more connected.

Likuliku Lagoon Resort

Seven lagoonside nights for two, with breakfast, lunch and dinner on the house.

• Seven nights in a Beachfront Bure
• Return flights with checked luggage*
• Return airport transfers*
• VIP airport concierge
• My Fiji airport lounge access
• Bottle of Louis Roederer Champagne on arrival
• FJD$200 beverage credit
• Welcome Likuliku lei, cold towel and refreshing welcome drink on arrival
• Plant it Forward
• Hubby eSIM 3GB data plan
• Complimentary Wi-Fi and in-room espresso coffee machine-
• Land-based activities and watersports

Book by November 30.

Call 1300 003 454 or visit MyFiji.com for more info. Terms and conditions apply. *Subject to availability.