Crystal-clear water lapping gently over pearl-hued sands, where privacy is a no-brainer, waterfront stays come as standard and paradise is everywhere you look. If your mind just conjured up images of Fiji, it’s likely you’re familiar with the bucket-list destination after spending hours scrolling through pics of covetable #influencer trips, or living vicariously through your friends’ holiday snaps.
The scattered islands in the South Pacific Ocean have become synonymous with unforgettable holiday experiences – especially for Australians – and if the destination is top of your list or in the process of becoming a reality, it can be hard to choose exactly which resort deserves your hard-earned cash.
Enter: VOMO Island Fiji. Not only is this resort paving the way in sustainability and marine preservation, it provides you with the kind of service that even top celebs would be impressed by. But, it also allows you the space to become completely aligned with nature. My visit completely reset my over-anxious brain, and reminded me how to slow down, and get back into my body. I felt so at ease that I even managed to conquer a fear (more on that later), so if that’s not a testament to the levels of relaxation available at VOMO, I don’t know what is.
Oh, and if you’re worried that blue seas and sunshine won’t be enough to keep you occupied (can’t relate), there’s plenty of activities and experiences for the whole family, all while synonymously making sure you have seclusion and privacy. Sounds too good to be true? Read on to dive into the details of an incredible stay…
What makes this resort so special?
Just 15 minutes by air or just over 30 minutes by boat from the mainland, VOMO Island is an award-winning island escape offering beach, breathtaking scenery, and luxury accomodation and residences with up to five bedrooms. The resort boasts impeccably curated dining and wellness experiences (more on that later) as well as an extensive kids club, and an adults-only retreat that offers a journey through South East Asia through delicious share plates.
Aside from the main luxuries – who wouldn’t feel special drinking a coconut right outside their beachfront villa? – the resort showed a care and attention to detail that I’ve not experienced anywhere else in the world. It was truly a completely unique experience, that had all of us marvelling multiple times of the day.
Before the visit, the resort team were incredibly helpful. They constantly kept touch through the stormy early days of our trip to make sure we arrived safely on the island, and organised transportation all the way from the front steps of our prior accomodation to the beachfront of VOMO.
Some of the personal touches include:
• A concierge on arrival who is in contact with you for the duration of your stay, able to arrange everything from travel, Bula bus style, for transportation around the island, to a moon boot for any broken bones (don’t ask). A true angel sent from the getaway gods.
• When we arrived at the room, among a spread of snacks mainly sourced from local businesses, there was a welcome platter, and an assortment of toys for my daughter, accompanied by a touching note. Talk about a happy toddler.
• When you hop off the boat transfer to the island, you’re welcomed by staff with a traditional song and necklace, making you feel like you’re the only person to have ever been welcomed there. The same star treatment is provided upon a very sad departure too.
• The standout detail from the whole trip is the staff themselves, who made every single moment of the day enjoyable. Whether it’s a friendly hello on your morning walk, service at dinner, or just general chat with staff at the beach, it’s clear that every person takes pride in their work, and is there to help create an environment that feels happy, welcoming and special.
The reef sharks – and conquering my fear
Located in the Mamanuca Island group of Fiji, on the cusp of the Yasawa Islands, the reefs surrounding VOMO are home to some of the most incredible wildlife I’ve had the privilege of coming across. The resort is a proud member of the Mamanuca Environment Society (MES), an organisation founded in 2001 to protect the stunning marine environment of the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji, so you know you’re in safe hands. AND VOMO also recently welcomed Fijian Marine Biologist Laisenia Rokoua to join the team, leading guest excursions to plant coral and educate travellers on the surrounding ecosystem. In fact, last year, Lai has helped foster three baby turtles (named Flip, Flop, and Oh-Jo) that washed onto Vomo’s shores, whom my daughter was absolutely obsessed with.
VOMO Resort’s Shark Alley dive site comprises two long coral covered slopes separated by a sandy gully: the Shark’s Alley in which white tipped reef sharks can often be found cruising or resting. The shark alley is only a part of the dive, the long slopes have colourful coral cover at the top, home to the usual pretty little reef fish, and larger marine creatures further down the slope. From April to November, chances are high to find young Reef Sharks swimming through the Alley (however, they are often seen outside of these months too) and we had the privilege of swimming with around 4, 2m reef sharks, guided by the knowledgeable team, who know so much about these gentle creatures.
As someone who has spent the majority of their life terrified – read, won’t swim near underwater grates in a public swimming pool – of sharks, the thought of getting into open water to swim with them, is something that would have sent me into an anxiety attack. Being such a small group (the Shark Alley tours are at an additional price to your stay), the team really helped put my mind at ease that we were in the best hands possible, with the welfare of the animals at heart. Fast forward 2-hours and I was jumping off the boat into the blue waters below me, experiencing one of the most moving moments I’ve ever felt. We were completely connected with the creatures and our surroundings.
Is the island sustainable?
Along with other key stakeholders in the region, VOMO are committed to the promotion of environmental awareness and to protect the marine and terrestrial resources in the area. To support this cause-worthy initiative, a nominal fee of FJ$5 is added to the room charge per stay. It is entirely voluntary and the fee may be removed if guests choose not to participate.
The island team has also implemented some steps towards making VOMO single-use plastic free. They started small by eradicating the use of plastic straws, and then introduced their our own bottling plant that provides guests with purified drinking water in sealed reusable glass bottles. The team also commissioned their own scented soaps and lotions (provided in beautiful ceramic dispensers), allowing them to do away with small single use plastic bottles that hotels currently use.
Aside from this, the island uses grey water collection and recycling, grow and source their own organic produce, use electric buggies for transportation of goods around the island, and hold regular ‘clean up’ days to keep the beaches and waterways clear of stray debris.
What are the rooms like?
VOMO Island Fiji offers a total of 34 beach, hillside or private residences at the resort.
I stayed in a one bedroom beachfront villa, and it was the dreamiest combination of land and sea. At the front, there was a deck overlooking the sea, with an outdoor wash area to get rid or any sand that followed you out of the ocean. It was the perfect place to lie out in the afternoon, before enjoying a cool outdoor shower.
The interior was contemporary and modern in a neutral palette, and with all the amenities, including a complimentary daily wash and fold laundry service, and a well-stocked mini bar. The bed was almost *too* comfortable, with a dressing room at the rear, privacy curtains to separate the bed from the lounge area and very large bathrooms with free standing bath tub and walk in shower.
Activities & Experiences
If a lay-down-and-don’t-move kind of holiday isn’t your thing, there’s no need to be worried about not having enough to do. In fact, when we arrived, we were told that most people arrive expecting to try everything the island has to offer, only to realise that by the end of their trip, they’ve fully embraced relaxation mode instead. And I can confirm that other than meal times, we rarely saw people outside of their villas. Bliss.
VOMO Island Fiji has a huge offering of activities especially at the resort’s Ocean Play hub, which can be enjoyed at any time of day. Kayaks, paddleboards and windsurfing boards are all offered complimentary and group and private snorkelling lessons are available, as well as other excursions. Fiji fishing, scuba diving and island trekking are also available for those who like to explore and adventurous activities available include fliteboarding and snorkelling safaris.
The island also offers a fitness program, dubbed VOMOfit, which involves a range of workouts and challenges, conducted by the island based instructors. Each morning at 7.30am, guests meet at Reception to participate in the complimentary classes which could be anything from a walk to the yoga deck on Mt Vomo to do some stretches, or being put through your paces using the free weights in the gym.
Other ways to keep fit are on the 9 hole pitch and putt golf course at VOMO – a challenging little course that can be played by all guests, no matter what your skill level is. There are also tennis courts with a synthetic grass surface that are floodlit for night use.
Food & Beverage
There are two restaurants/ bars for guests to enjoy during their stay. The Reef restaurant, open to all resort guests, is the main eatery on the island. Led by VOMO’s Executive Chef Iain Todd, hailing from Tasmania, the food and beverage selection fits perfectly into the tropical environment, and boasts produce sourced from domestic and international suppliers – complemented with ingredients straight from VOMO’s own gardens. Think a combination of a la carte and buffet at breakfast, three course menus for lunch, and dinner with a side of entertainment in the evenings.
As for the adults-only option, The Rocks restaurant, you can expect an eclectic and delicious Asian menu selection to enjoy in the restaurant or at your deck chair or cabana by the poolside, and an extensive dinner menu that changes regularly and features stand out cuisine and hand-crafted cocktails for sipping as the sun goes down.
Wellness offerings
The Kui Spa is the resort’s own little sanctuary, where guests can enjoy signature treatments and wellness therapies. The stand-out element is the spa’s Sodashi products which are 100% chemical free and produced in Australia, using only natural sources from the earth and sea, including extracts and essential oils of the highest grade.
We had the full-body couple’s massage which was an unbelievably relaxing massage that uses smooth stroking movements with light to medium pressures to encourage an increase in lymphatic circulation and balance the energy meridians in the body.
The spa offers everything from facials, to pedicures, manicures and after-sun treatments. There really is something for everyone.
Final thoughts
VOMO Island Fiji is more than just a luxury destination; it’s a total reset of the mind, body and soul. Before heading there, I – along with most of the country – had been experiencing a severe case of the post-summer blues, and had noticed my anxiety peaking, and my routine slipping. Of course, there are many other ways to alleviate anxiety that are much closer to home, and the privilege of being on a beach at a luxury resort is going to play a part in fuelling that recharge. But the trip became more than that. The lessons learnt while there taught me about myself, my strengths, overcoming obstacles in my mind, learning to reconnect with nature and feel fully grounded in a way that I haven’t felt before. VOMO showed me that living slowly and intentionally is something we could all do with a little more of in our lives, and although my tranquil walks alongside the Pacific ocean have been replaced by the dull hums of the M1 tunnel, the impression the resort, and every person I met there, left will be long lasting.
To enquire about your own stay, please visit: https://vomofiji.com/
