Namosi Eco Retreat: Unplugged Experience

If hiking up the tropical mountain valleys of Namosi Province is on your bucket list, then so should staying at the Namosi Eco Retreat.

Situated in the Namosi highlands - a two hour drive from Suva, guests can be assured of an unplugged experience at Namosi Eco Retreat.

The retreat comprises traditional bures built by the villages of Navunikabi.

A large dining hall at the retreat is handcrafted by the people of Saliadrau Village using Fijian building methods and materials. Owner and operator Danny Jason said the retreat team went to great efforts to ensure the authenticity of the buildings, food and lifestyle replicate of a traditional Fijian lifestyle.

“We’re not about offering an experience or a Fijian entertainment sho.

“We’re just a place where people can get away for a few days to enjoy a life without electricity, internet, noise and all the hustle and bustle of a city lifestyle.

“Its about being close to mother nature, chat with the locals if they want, or go farming or hiking,” he said.

Mountain bike eco-challenge

Namosi Eco Retreat reopened in May after it closed for two months. The rising demand for activities such as boot camp and bike rides prompted the reopening of the retreat.

For the first time, Namosi Eco Retreat partnered with Takayape Cycling Club for the mountain bike eco-challenge, which aimed to bring new, innovative approaches for tourism to Fiji.

Mr Jason said it highlighted a greater need to promote the interior of Fiji as a tourism destination, as most marketing focused on beaches and oceans.

Recommended activities

Namosi Eco Retreat is never short of activities, proving itself as the ideal location for mountain hiking, horse riding, bilibili (bamboo raft) riding, and swimming to name a few.

Local guides are provided for all guests, escorting them over a range of activities from swimming, bamboo raft making and racing.

Other activities include:

■ Beach volleyball on riverbank

■ River aerobics and personal training activities (the retreat has a trained personal trainer and former semi-professional overseas rugby player on staff)

■ Traditional cooking

■ In the evening there is kava drinking, guitar singing and games, bon fire (optional), meke or traditional dance lessons (optional)

■ The retreat can also arrange team building or school group activities such as mini-olympics, sack races and touch rugby. the sandy

Accommodation special rates

COVID-19 specials

■ Stay two nights and get the second night for $69 (family of five).

■ Return

$100.

■ Group discounts from $95 per person, minimum of three private transfer only

NAMOSI ECO RETREAT COVID-19 SPECIALS

■ people, only $30 for the second night.

■ Check-in at 9am and checkout

after lunch the next day.

Standard Package

■ Family Experience Package” is FJ$249 (two adults, three kids)

■ Local guide

■ - Itinerary of activities

■ - All meals are included

The package also includes bure accommodation for the family.

Meals

Guests are served home-made food grown from the retreat’s farm, which includes rootcrops, vegetables along with fresh fish and prawns from the river.

To make things more homely, guests are also involved in the harvest and preparation of the food.

Mr Jason said guests can enjoy authentic Fijian food as part of your accommodation package. “For example, breakfast may be coconut lolo, babakau and draunimoli tea while dinner may include rootcrops, rourou balls and vakalolo.

“Menu adjustments can be easily made for vegetarians, vegans and children,” Mr Jason said.