Located on a private island off the mainland of Fiji, this exclusive resort offers isolation and was once a retreat for the British royal family, writes Eva de Jong.
“It’s like the White Lotus,” the photographer says, as we hop off the beach onto the blinding stretch of pale sand.
It’s true. This tiny island, only about 5km in circumference, is dotted with sprawling private residences and turquoise pools that rest an arm’s length from the ocean. Amid the curving palm trees is a nine-hole golf course and a helicopter pad.
Nearby, sunburnt guests lounge, sipping cocktails and wearing thick sunglasses that conceal which way they’re looking.
In each season of The White Lotus, wealthy guests arrive at an unbelievably spectacular resort and chaos ensues. Thankfully, no one was murdered on my trip to Vomo Island, but the level of exclusive luxury is as surreal and uncanny as the show.
Set between the Mamanuca and Yasawa island groups, Vomo Island is a one-hour trip from Nadi Airport by car and boat, but just 15 minutes if you take a helicopter. It’s possibly this remoteness that made it appealing to the British royal family, who used to reserve it when visiting Fiji.
“Welcome home,” a staff member says while carrying my luggage to the villa. While no home I’ve ever lived in has had a private plunge pool, uninterrupted beach views or ice-cold champagne, I’m willing to embrace the private life of luxury, even if just for a few days.
Despite the island’s small size, the resort somehow manages to feel like a private retreat, and I rarely spot fellow guests when wandering around; an increasingly rare form of luxury.
While guest sightings are scarce, staff in pristine uniforms are never more than a glance or gesture away. No glass is ever left half empty, and at every chance, staff hand out bottles of chilled Fiji water. I’ve never been so hydrated in my life.
For those who wish to explore, one can walk around the island or take a free Bula Bus. Eager to take advantage of the service, my friend and I called the bus to take us to a spa treatment, only to discover, after an embarrassingly short ride, that it was located just 500m away. Hopping off, we thank the driver, who appeared unfazed, and we get the impression that no request is too trivial when staying at Vomo.
Of course, there are many luxury resorts in the world, but what sets Vomo apart is its stunning location among the Yasawa Islands.
Even at a dinner in a tropical downpour, golden lightning illuminated the dark sky while frothing waves crashed against the rocks below the restaurant table. Surrounded by nature (even during its tantrums), work and life worries can’t help but fade from your mind.
Of course, while some elements are wild and rugged, others are perfectly ordered. At the resort, lawns are freshly cut, frangipani trees neatly clipped and each time we leave our villa, we return to folded towels, and straightened and rearranged beds.
While we weren’t travelling with family, each villa is gifted four hours of a “Baby Butler” to look after children so parents can enjoy some free time. Meanwhile, at the Kids Club, children can be dropped off at 9am and picked up as late as 9pm. One staff member tells me they sometimes walk children back to their rooms after their parents have gone to sleep.
One can’t look at the beautiful ocean for long before being tempted to hop in and explore the vibrant reef and marine life.
Fortunately, the resort runs guided snorkelling and dive trips to help guests do exactly that. One morning we take a 10-minute boat trip out to one of the best snorkelling spots in the crystal-clear lagoon beside a small rock island. After gearing up, we duck underwater, and the unusual world that greets us is so expansive and startling, I gasp – something that, as I quickly discovered, leads to inhaling water through one’s snorkel. Swarms of brightly-coloured reef fish dart curiously around us, and I spot an octopus almost perfectly camouflaged against a piece of frilly coral. Other guests tell me about encounters they’ve had with reef sharks, manta rays and dolphins in the sparkling waters that surround Vomo.
Of course, snorkelling isn’t the only relax-and-unwind option on Vomo. A short walk through the tropical forest behind the private residences will take you to a large wooden platform, the resort’s Yoga Deck, where yoga classes are held. There is also a dizzying array of marine mineral facials or hot stone massages on offer at Kui Spa.
It depends on how you like to travel, but I felt a slight guilt at the level of luxury on Vomo. Throwing wet towels on the floor, ordering more food than I could eat and lying on a towel a few feet away from a staff member raking the sand is not an ordinary way to live, but is normal for the wealthy guests who frequent the island.
In the evenings on Vomo, a warm breeze rustles the palm fronds and dark-winged bats soar overhead. Like most things here, dinner is served whenever you like and at some of the private residences, there’s even the option to have a lavish 90-minute cocktail party hosted at the villa. Night barely arrives, with the air still warm and heavy long into the evening. The black shadows of bats flap between the coconut palms as I pull the curtains in my villa.
For travellers looking to experience the extravagance seen in The White Lotus, Vomo Island Resort should be the top pick for a destination.
Vomo Island, Fiji.
GETTING THERE
Fly from Auckland Airport to Nadi Airport with Fiji Airways. Then, catch a private vehicle and take a 25-minute trip to Vuda Marina, where you can take a 35-minute boat transfer to Vomo Island Resort.
DETAILS
New Zealand Herald Travel visited courtesy of Tourism Fiji and Fiji Airways.