Rewrite the bucket list
Pontoons in the middle of the ocean, private island picnics and stargazing with NASA. This is Fiji but not as you know it…
Visit Seventh Heaven
The aptly named Seventh Heaven (seventhheavenfiji.com) features a two-level pontoon that rises like a mirage from the turquoise sea. Moored in the ocean a short boat ride from Port Denarau in the stunning Mamanuca chain, it’s an aquatic day club designed for snacking, sipping and dipping, with the help of Piña Coladas (served in a coconut shell, naturally), an international menu of woodfired pizzas, burgers and roti wraps, and sun lounges. Grab a kayak or some snorkelling gear and explore the nearby coral reef or take the Leap of Faith: a five-metre dive from the top-floor jumping platform into the impossibly clear water.
Get shipwrecked in style
Fiji reaches peak romance with a champagne breakfast for two on a deserted island. An exclusive offering of the luxurious adultsonly Likuliku Lagoon Resort (hotel.qantas. com.au/likulikulagoonresort), the castaway experience begins with a 15-minute speedboat ride to jewel-like Mociu Island, where the dreamiest of day beds is covered by a thatchroofed sunshade. A short hike will take you to the topmost point to enjoy the Fijian sunrise while your breakfast is set up on the beach. Then the staff depart, leaving you with a walkie-talkie but otherwise alone to laze around or explore the waters, which are part of a protected nature reserve encircled by a fringing coral reef.
Relax with rays
Swimming with giant manta rays in the remote Yasawa Islands is an unforgettable wildlife encounter. The gentle giants glide through a shallow channel between Naviti and Drawaqa islands to feed on plankton most days between May and October. Taking to the water with
a snorkel will make you feel part of the manta ray’s dance as they search for food lurking in the technicoloured coral. This incredible experience is a part of any stay at Mantaray Island Resort (hotel.qantas.com.au/ mantarayislandresort), while tour operator Awesome Adventures Fiji (awesomefiji.com) will arrange transfers to the passage from many Yasawa resorts.
Take to the high seas
A day-long excursion onboard the recently launched 78-foot luxury catamaran Sabre (southseasailingfiji.com) comes complete with free-flowing Mimosas and a ukulelestrumming crew with a fondness for bursting into song. Whisking you across pristine Fijian waters to the Mamanuca Islands, around an hour and 45 minutes sailing from Port Denarau, the Sabre then goes under sail to explore the celebrated region at leisure. Grab a paddleboard for an over-water adventure or snorkel the tropical reefs beneath (a slide from the deck ensures getting into the water is a thrill). The day’s activities also feature a buffet lunch, including barbecued local fish, and the chance to lounge on a gorgeously deserted sand cay.
Wish upon a star
Nanuku Resort Fiji (hotel.qantas.com.au/ nanukuresort) has a stellar reputation for memorable experiences and the launch of Journey to the Stars at the end of October only adds to that. The week-long stargazing program takes advantage of the South Pacific’s dazzlingly clear night skies with the help of NASA experts, who will lead you on a guided viewing of deep space and the moon with their high-tech telescopes and solarscopes. You’ll have your head in the stars and your toes in the sand.