Private boat adventures & million dollar views
Ever wondered if it was possible to get a real taste of Fiji in just one day? Well that's exactly the feeling I got after a chartered day-sail on Coral Cats.
From the minute we arrived aboard the boat with our group of family and friends, Captain Mac and the crew had huge smiles on their faces and drew my kids in with their warmth and talk of all the adventures we'd have together on the water. My husband and I really felt like our tropical holiday had started as soon as we hit the water as the crew hoisted up the sails and we headed out to sea.
We set sail in the morning on Wanaka, their 13m catamaran which comfortably fit all 21 of us along with the 4 amazing crew members that joined us for the day.
As we sailed our way towards the Malolo islands I found a comfortable spot up front in one of the bean bags on the trampoline nets, taking in the vast expanse of ocean ahead of us and hoping to see a dolphin or two chasing the bow of the boat as the shoreline of Viti Levu faded into the distance. This is the view dreams are made of.
Settling in for the ride over it struck me how peaceful it is on Wanaka with the wind in her sails, she silently glides over the waves without the hum of outboard motors. The catamarans design also meant there was very little roll from
the ocean, and as someone who can suffer from motion sickness I didn’t feel nauseous the entire trip - which was a welcome surprise! For the next hour, our boys had the time of their lives, helping catch two huge Walu off the back of the boat and joking around with the crew as we enjoyed the smooth ride out to the Island.
Musket Cove was the perfect place to stop, and the chefs even prepared the fish we caught for lunch. Upon reaching Malolo Lailai Island, where Musket Cove is located, we were greeted with gorgeous white sandy beaches and palm tree laden shores - it looked like we had stepped out of the real world and into a lush tropical postcard. We enjoyed a swim in the ocean over a few cocktails from the bure bar as our lunch was prepared, the kids had fun playing in the water, collecting shells and running around the sheltered bay together.
But it was the snorkelling that really made our day. The kids still can't stop talking about how many cool fish they saw and how, even though they were nervous at first, the crew made them feel very safe. They were proud of themselves and the whole experience is one they'll remember for years to come.
As for me, I arrived back at port feeling relaxed, happy and like I’d had a real holiday - even though it was only a day. I would recommend Coral Cats to anyone visiting Fiji.