What's in the neighbourhood? The Mamanuca Islands including Monuriki Island (of Tom Hanks Castaway fame). Excellent snorkelling and dive sites and close to the outer reefs for sports fishing.
Toiletries: The basics, nothing special.
Food and drink: Complimentary breakfast and afternoon tea. The menu changed daily and meals were all good, without being outstanding. As seems to be the way on the Fijian islands, drinks were over priced, especially wine. Take duty free for your room.
The bed: Excellent - super-king inside and daybed outside.
A room with a view: Picture postcard perfect.
Bathroom: Good . . . modern.
Free Wi-fi? Only around the restaurant and pool area and patchy and slow at best.
Available in the your room for $36 FJD day ... I felt the same way about that as the price of the drinks, so stayed off the email and social media largely - perhaps that's the plan all along?
Noise: Air conditioning units from neighbouring bure, birds and the lapping of the waves.
Room service: Mini Bar on request.
Value for Money: 6.5/10
Contact: matamanoa.com
Perfect for: A long weekend getaway. Less than three hours from Auckland, just enough time to watch a movie and in the same time zone as New Zealand.
The bottomline: It's not cheap and it is a little rustic, but this is a beautiful part of the world made better by the genuinely friendly local staff who, aside from the location and weather, were the highlight.
