Different holidays suit different types of personalities, so luckily there’s a destination just a few hours away that offers plenty of options for those craving excitement and those who just want to put their feet up.
It might be hard to believe, but not everyone is going to feel comfortable at a luxury resort, while others get seasick at the mere thought of stepping on a boat.
And then of course there are plenty of holidaymakers, like my friend Kristin and I, who are happy to bask in the sun on land and at sea in Fiji, just a three-hour flight away from Auckland.
Keeping your feet on land at the Sofitel Resort certainly has its benefits – eating at the fine dining restaurant V being a top one. Their fennel-encrusted prawns and laksa crammed with ocean delights such as lobster and mahi-mahi fish were easily among the top five taste sensations of my entire life.
But if fine dining doesn’t take your fancy (or fit your budget) there’s always their casual dining section, Salt, with a menu of burgers and sushi that might be a better option when you’re travelling with children.
Staying at a resort also allows you the chance to take in some of the island-based tourism ventures. I had the opportunity to experience the Sigatoka River Safari – and the jet-boat ride to a remote Fijian village was unforgettable.
During our heart-thumping ride, the skipper entertained passengers with a commentary about Fiji’s cannibal past, tribal life and the devastating effects that cyclones have had on the small villages.
When we got to our destination, locals presented us with a kava ceremony, and an authentic Fijian luncheon, including an amazing eggplant curry, rotis, spinach and tuna dishes. There was also singing and dancing – which hardly sounds stressful, but if I did need to unwind after the jungle excursion, a full-body massage back at the Sofitel oandara Day Spa was definitely the way to do it.
An hour and a half of this pampering left us both feeling happy and relaxed, but there’s always room for more rest and recreation on holiday. We were more than happy to find ourselves enjoying a cocktail onboard the Reef Endeavour later in the day, as it departed Denerau for a four-night tour of the Yasawa Islands.
I’d heard several rumours about the Captain Cook Cruise, and admittedly they had me wondering what to expect. one friend warned that we would be woken early in the morning with the greeting “Bula” sounding obtrusively through the loud speakers.Another told us to start practising so we could perform a skit about our native country. I’m happy to report both of these rumours were unfounded.
Nevertheless, you can’t help but establish some form of group camaraderie onboard the ship – you get seated with strangers, and regular excursions in glass-bottom boats meant that you were soon on friendly terms with your fellow passengers.
A cruise such as this is particularly good for families with school-age children as there’s always something to do. Better still, couples get a break during dinner when a warm-hearted nanny named Alumeci minds the youngsters. one couple confided this was actually the part of the day that they looked forward to most of all.
There are normally at least two of these boat trips leaving a day – one starting at 9am and the other at 2pm. one morning, extra-keen passengers could even go on a 6am walk up a nearby hill on the southern part of Yasawa Island.
You can choose to stay on board but most passengers take advantage of snorkelling around the amazing coral reefs, which can also be seen from the glass-bottom boat that takes people ashore.
Before leaving for an outing, everyone is given a woven mat and a beach towel so they can enjoy the best of the island’s beaches in comfort – not that there’s much to worry about as most have white sand and palm trees for shade.
There was the chance to buy gifts and jewellery from the shell and handicraft markets on some of the island visits.
one evening trip included a traditional feast cooked in an earth-oven – similar to a hangi – a kava ceremony and dancing. The Yasawa Lounge back on the Reef Endeavour for drinks was lively that night.
A particularly spectacular sight was the caves of Sawa-I-Lau where The Blue Lagoon, starring Brooke Shields, was filmed. It cost $10 to swim there and although it was cold compared to the normally warm 28ºC water, it was well worth seeing.
We also got a peek at Turtle Island, which was the honeymoon destination of choice for doomed couples Britney Spears and Kevin Federline, as well as Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson.
The ship itself looks impressive, although it’s termed a “small ship”, it’s 73m long and can sleep up to 150 people, but generally there are fewer than 100 passengers on board at one time.
The facilities include a swimming pool, spa and gymnasium, as well as luxurious beauty treatments and dive courses.
It feels like there’s always something to look at or to do in Fiji. There seems to be more downtime if you stay at a resort, but the cruise was so much fun that we both said we’d love to do another one and take our children next time.
The truth is, when you’re in Fiji, where the weather is beautifully hot, it doesn’t matter whether you’re at a resort or cruising the islands – it’s all good.
