Three of a kind … waterfront bungalows
MADANG RESORT & KALIBOBO VILLAGE, PNG
The fascinating history of this resort (it was a guest house 120 years ago during German colonial times, was burned and bombed during World War 2, then taken over by a conga line of colourful colonial characters) might draw you in, but it’s the 40 chic, executive waterfront bungalows that’ll keep you there. Positioned right at the mouth of Madang Harbour, with water frontage on to Dallman Passage and Yamilon Lagoon, it’s water, water everywhere.
SOMETHING SPECIAL
Sit on your balcony of an evening, chilled beer in hand, and watch small boats ferrying people across the channel. For more active pursuits you can kayak, canoe or hire a catamaran to sail around the private lagoon, take a plunge in one of the resort’s four pools, perfect your backhand on their tennis courts, or simply wander through the six hectares of landscaped tropical gardens.
DON’T MISS SERAYA ISLAND HOTEL, FLORES, INDONESIA
Set on a tiny dollop of an island off the coast of Flores in Indonesia, Seraya Island Hotel is the place to drop out in style. There are 15 upmarket wooden bungalows set right on the water of the resort’s private beach, with palm-thatched roofs and frangipani-scented whitewashed rooms you won’t ever want to leave.
SOMETHING SPECIAL
If you can tear yourself away from the beachfront saltwater pool come sunset, then a hike to the top of the curving, 40-metre cliffs the resort backs on to will give you 360-degree views of the ocean, the neighbouring islands, and that big orange ball dropping into the sea.
DON’T MISS SEABREEZE RESORT, UPOLU, SAMOA
The deck of Seabreeze’s waterfront villa, shaped like the bow of a ship, juts out from a rocky outcrop and is surrounded by 270-degree views of the azure ocean. It also has its own plunge pool, and the resort’s private lagoon (and the property’s 10 other villas) is just steps away.
SOMETHING SPECIAL
Here’s a challenge: don’t leave your villa for an entire 24 hours. By day, get on-deck massages and meals delivered directly to you. By night, flop on the deck’s outdoor circular lounge and gaze up at the thick blanket of stars, before heading inside, opening up all the slatted glass windows, and falling asleep to the sound of waves crashing all around you.
DON’T MISS