© Captain Cook Cruises
© Captain Cook Cruises

The Luxury Travel Guide to Vanua Levu

© Captain Cook Cruises

The Complete Guide to Luxury Holidays on Vanua Levu

If the compact collection of busy five-star resorts on Fiji’s main hot spots, like Denarau Island, the Mamanucas and the Coral Coast are not so appealing to you, then perhaps you seek the serenity of Fiji’s less-visited island, Vanua Levu. The large island northeast of Viti Levu is much less populated by locals and tourists, making for a special place to really experience that famous “Fiji time“. On top of that, the luxury resorts scattered across the island go above and beyond to help you appreciate why travelling a little longer to get to Vanua Levu is well worth it. So whether you’re treating your loved ones to an unforgettable holiday, celebrating a special occasion or simply treating yourself, let us guide you through what makes this part of Fiji so special with this luxury travel guide to Vanua Levu.

Before we begin this luxury guide to Vanua Levu, take a moment to bookmark The Complete Luxury Travel Guide to Fiji. Trust us, there’s a lot of essential tips there.

10 Luxury Activities on Vanua Levu

  • Scuba dive at world-famous dive sites, such as Rainbow Reef and the Namena Marine Reserve
  • Get the castaway experience on a deserted island or sand bar with a gourmet picnic
  • Rejuvenate with a Fijian Bobo massage
  • Fly over the islands and azure waters on a scenic helicopter flight
  • Experience an exciting sports fishing trip
  • Treat her to a private dinner in a candlelit sea cave
  • Indulge in fine dining at Vanua Levu’s luxury resorts
  • Escape to an adult-only paradise
  • Treat the little ones to a day in an award-winning kids’ club
  • Try sailing for yourself on a Hobie Cat sailboat.

For more information on each activity, see the 10 Luxury Activities on Vanua Levu, or learn more by simply continuing read…

luxury guide to vanua levu© craigles75 on Wikipedia

How to Get to Vanua Levu

The entry airport into Fiji is on the island of Viti Levu. Vanua Levu is Fiji’s second-largest island, located northeast of Viti Levu where the most luxurious transport connections are by flight. There are options for domestic airline flight to private charter flights. Alternatively, see 6 Ways to Get to Vanua Levu (& Get Around Vanua Levu) for more options.

Vanua Levu by Plane

For those arriving in Fiji via Nadi International Airport, a quick and convenient way to get to Vanua Levu is via a domestic flight to Savusavu Airport. Flights take approximately one hour. Flights to Savusavu are also available from Suva Airport (Viti Levu) and to Labasa Airport (Vanua Levu). Head to our Vanua Levu Transport Guide for more information on flying to the island.

Private Flights to Vanua Levu

For something a little special, enjoy the intimacy of your own private flight from Nadi with charter flight operators offering private plane, seaplane and helicopter flights to Savusavu. More of charter flights can be found in Where to Hire a Plane or Seaplane in Fiji.

luxury on vanua levu© Mark Snyder - Tourism Fiji

Luxury Services in the Vanua Levu Resorts

The magic of staying in a luxury resort in Fiji is that there are all those little extra services to turn a holiday into a special holiday. Whether you’re looking for child-free seclusion, something special for your own little ones, or an unforgettable location to say “I do”, there are five-star services to make your Fiji time just the way you want it.

Adult-Only Services

For those seeking peace and tranquillity on the island of Vanua Levu, they can certainly find it at the luxury resorts. Namale Resort & Spa is Vanua Levu’s only complete adult-only resort with a small number of bures, each with its own unique style wrapped in luxury. The policy of only allowing guests aged 16 and above keeps the resort constantly serene. Alternatively, while the Koro Sun Resort is open to all ages, their unique Edgewater Floating Bures are for adults only, making the whole area a peaceful haven to enjoy with your loved one. Learn more about adult-only holidays here with our The Adult Only Guide to Vanua Levu.

Kids’ Clubs

A family holiday on Vanua Levu promises to be a fun and educational holiday, at least for the kids when staying at either the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort or Koro Sun Resort. Both resorts offer amazing kids’ clubs where the little ones will be taken off your hands for the day to embark on adventures of discovery, learning about environmental protection, marine life and the Fijian culture. Learn more about what each kids’ club has to offer in our The Guide to Vanua Levu for Families.

Weddings and Honeymoons

One thing that all of the luxury resorts on Vanua Levu have in common is that they know how to do romance. Start the rest of your lives together in some of the most breathtaking locations in the South Pacific with the help of expert wedding coordinators on hand at the Vanua Levu resorts. From intimate elopements to a resort buy-out, it’s all possible to make your special day complete on Vanua Levu. See our The Wedding & Honeymoon Guide to Vanua Levu for an in-depth look at planning your wedding or honeymoon on Vanua Levu.

guide-to-luxury-on-vanua-levu-© Mark Snyder - Tourism Fiji

Luxury Activities on Vanua Levu

On land, through the air or in the ocean, there’s much to discover all around the island of Vanua Levu. What’s more, there are some luxurious ways to make your time on the “real Fiji” extra special. From private fishing charters to flights over the azure waters and coral reefs, a spectacular array of experiences await.

Luxury Water Activities

The seascape surrounding Vanua Levu is nothing short of exceptional. Coral reefs teem with tropical fish to enjoy through kayaking, snorkelling, or the most special of all, scuba diving. As the name suggests, Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort‘s dive centre is highly revered, making it a great base to dive the Namena Marine Reserve. What’s more, there’s more to gain from the experience than the average dive with an on-site marine biologist to teach you more about the incredible life under the ocean’s surface. Needless to say, scuba diving is readily available at all of Vanua Levu’s luxury resorts where it’s almost impossible not to be impressed by any of the dive sites they take you to.

For those who prefer to stay out of the water, there’s the exciting opportunity to fish for highly-sought game fish. Tackle sailfish, mahimahi, wahoo, marlin and much more on a fishing charter with Savasi Island Resort‘s 28ft fishing boat. Alternatively, get out on the famed Sovosovo Strait with a huge array of reef and pelagic fish onboard the Sea Dancer with The Remote Resort.

Luxury Land Activities

“Fiji time” is all about relaxation and rejuvenation, so it would almost be a crime to not get a luxurious massage while on Vanua Levu. Resorts like Nukubati Island have therapists from local villages who inherit the abilities of the traditional Fijian Bobo massage. Experience it for yourself in their massage bure, privately in your accommodation or on the beach at sunset. The Namale Spa, on the other hand, features in our 10 Best Spas in Fiji for having one of the most impressive spa complexes on the islands of Fiji. See more spa options with our 10 Best Spas on Vanua Levu.

Combining land and ocean, one of the must-do luxury Fiji activities to get the “castaway” experience. The Remote Resort will whisk you and your loved one away to a deserted beach on the island or one of the islands dotting the Rainbow Reef region for a day of snorkelling and enjoying one another’s company in secluded paradise. Mix the experience with a gourmet picnic and Champagne with resorts such as Emaho Sekawa, Namale and Nukubati.

luxury fiji vanua levu© Cayo Espanto Private Island on Wikipedia

Luxury Dining on Vanua Levu

Don’t mistake the day of adventure or relaxation ending once your day’s activity is complete. Dining at a luxury resort on Vanua Levu is often classed as an “experience” in itself with fresh South Pacific cuisine served in a number of delightful ways to excite the tastebuds. From fine dining to private dinners in beautiful places, there are many ways to experience Vanua Levu’s foodie scene in style.

Fine Dining on Vanua Levu

The cuisine at Emaho Sekawa mixes a guilt-free experience of locally sourced produce and traditional Fijian recipes made to fine dining standards. What’s more, the five-star resort has a “dine anywhere” philosophy where guests are encouraged to choose from a multitude of romantic dining locations across the resort, decorated with candles and lanterns.

Be warned that your dish at the Nukubati Island Resort might go cold after you have finished taking photos of the creatively presented Fijian food. Crab shells, coconut shells, banana leaves, pineapple skins and clamshells all make for photo-worthy vessels to your delicious food.

Private Dining

Private dining should be tried at least once while staying on Vanua Levu, adding the cherry on top of a magical stay in Fiji. At the Namela Resort, enjoy a romantic meal in some amazing locations around the resort, including beside a waterfall or a candlelit sea cave by the beach. You don’t need to worry about what you order as all the meals and beverages are included at this all-inclusive resort.

Aside from the staff seeking each guest every evening to serve them a glass of champagne (or cocktail) to enjoy with the sunset, Nukubati also offers a private dining experience under the Milky Way with a table set up on the beach.

Author

Laura S.

This article was reviewed and published by Laura, editor in chief and co-founder of Fiji Pocket Guide. Since arriving solo in the South Pacific over 10 years ago with nothing but a backpack and a background in journalism, her mission has been to show the world how easy (and awesome) it is to explore a paradise such as Fiji. She knows the islands inside-out and loves sharing tips on how best to experience Fiji’s must-dos and hidden gems. Laura is also editor of several other South Pacific travel guides.

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