Toberua Island, ‘the stuff of dreams’
Paul Charman
wAhigh-end island resort, regarded as one of the jewels of the Fijian archipelago, is on the market for sale.
New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty agent Chester Rendell is selling Toberua Island Resort, a stateof-the art facility with more than 2ha of freehold land.
“Owning your own Fijian island is a wistful dream for many but here’s the means to turn it into reality,” Rendell says.
Fiji’s two main islands — Viti Levu and Vanua Levu — tend to be where the tourists interested in nightclubbing and shopping gather.
“Then there’s the other side of Fiji — more remote islands, where palm trees and white sandy beaches abound.
“Toberua Island is among the very best of these, home of a beautiful, renowned tourist resort many regard as the stuff of tropical dreams.”
Rendell says after 10 enjoyable and profitable years developing an ideal holiday experience there, the current owners have decided to move on to new challenges.
“That means this resort, including the business, land, buildings and chattels are on the market lock, stock and barrel.”
He says the 16 guest bures enable holiday makers and visitors to step from their front door, onto white sparkling sand, then venture further into the tropical waters.
“Supreme comfort and amazing views are guaranteed. Everything has been upgraded and modernised, while still keeping the traditional Fijian charm. It’s all complete — the water, power and sewerage systems; the office and communications systems and transport to-and-from the island. Just some regular maintenance should keep Toberua Island Resort on top of its game for a long time to come.”
To complete the experience, the resort offers a comprehensive holiday package, says Rendell. This includes fine dining and of course an extensive bar; a gym, boutique and dive shop and the opportunity to swap salt water for a dip in the resort pool.
“There’s the romance of dinnerfor-two at the end of a pier set over the magnificent waters, where guests can either gaze out to sea and imagine future adventures; or look back at the golden lights of the resort reflecting in the ocean.
However, many avenues for owners or managers to explore still remain, he says. “Weddings, for example, the resort restaurant can cater for large groups who want the privacy and intimacy of their own private celebration space. Also, think anniversaries and honeymoons. Couples keen to swap the high life for an idyllic romantic escape are regulars, and there are numerous other guest categories, such as group conferences and prize packages. This lush tropical paradise is surrounded by the sparkling Pacific waters that offer extraordinary diving, or simple tropical swimming.
“It is just off the eastern side of the main island of Viti Levu, and the hustle and bustle all seems to dissipate as you head for Toberua.”
He says flights from Auckland to Suva take about three hours, and from there it is a mere 45 minutes, by taxi, then a boat ride to the resort.”
For the new owners, further development, and an increase in occupancy and profitability are a possibility.
“There is more than 2ha to play with and an existing infrastructure that could well cope, further bures could be built.
“These could be built in tropical garden surroundings (a white sandy beach or the resort pool is never more than a stroll away), or for the adventurous, bures over the water would complement the existing dining piers.”
Rendell says Toberua Island Resort has good occupancy and profitability, with Trip Advisor providing a 97 per cent approval rating.
The present resort managers are keen to stay, although new owners can take over management if desired.
“The managers have their own private, three-bedroom bure as part of the package.”