Aroha Taveuni
After being owners and operators in the tourism and hospitality industry in New Zealand for many years, Dennis and Ngaire, thought they would settle somewhere warm and picturesque. They found Taveuni. After living here for a time they decided that this beautiful ‘Garden Island’ is far too nice a place not to share. They built the type of resort that they would choose to stay in when traveling the world: independent and with freedom to choose where to go, where to dine and what sites to see.
At Aroha, your balcony overlooks the beautiful Somosomo Strait and Vanua Levu island directly across the water. Watch the most beautiful sunsets, the local Taveuni children playing on the beach, local women fishing for the evening meal, and sometimes even dolphins playing in the beautiful clear waters. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast, a wood-fired pizza, and a dinner serenaded by the sounds of the ocean at our newly opened Kai Time restaurant. The chef uses fresh local seafood and the best fresh produce from the many small farmers on Taveuni Island to cook sumptuous meals. The bures at Aroha Taveuni Resort are only meters from the beach, so you can lie in bed at night and listen to the gentle lapping of the waves.
Aroha Taveuni Resort accommodation consists of two standalone bures, one with two separate rooms, and one with three rooms, two of these rooms can be used as a family unit, or two separate rooms with a studio room in the middle. Each room has its own bathroom and outdoor shower with hot water.
The bures are only meters from the beach front and waters edge, so you can lie in bed at night and listen to the gentle lapping of the water.
Each room has a king size bed, or two king singles if required. The rooms have both air conditioning and fan cooling with wooden louver windows with insect mesh covering to let the nice cool evening breeze flow through. The huge outdoor showers adjoining each room are a treat to take a long cool shower in and watch the coconut trees sway in the breeze or simply sit on the shower seat and star gaze to your hearts content.
The beautiful 10 meter infinity pool and sun deck adjoining the main house are available for guests to relax and use. The restaurant Kai Time is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Taveuni Diving
Taveuni Ocean Sports has created a service that is unrivalled in Fiji… our choice of operators with stellar guest feedback and their perfect safety record with 25 years of teaching experience in the dive industry. Their exclusively local PADI Dive Professionals and Captains are incredibly educated, articulate and passionate about sharing this truly special eco-system on the Rainbow Reef. Their dive shop is highly rated on Tripadvisor for over 14 years as a result of their efforts to truly cater to the needs of their divers.
Certified divers will be in soft coral and biodiversity heaven. Every level of training from PADI Discover Scuba Diving (first time divers) up through professional Dive Master ratings are available. All PADI Open Water Courses start off in their own custom-built swimming pool, perfect for learning the basics before heading out to the Rainbow Reef for some of the best diving in the world. Snorkeling, free diving and surfing lessons/charters are also available along with spectacular island-hopping trips to remote beaches and outer islands.
Taveuni Ocean Sports makes it obvious to their guests that safety is their #1 priority coupled with crystal-clear communication, extremely detailed briefings, Emergency Contingency Plans, education AND a whole lot of fun – this balance is what makes the experience really different and unique.
More Things to Do!
The Blowhole
The Blowhole at the Southern end of the island is quite spectacular to watch when in action. To complement this tour combine it with a half day tour of Bobby’s farm, tour No 3, to take in fish feeding, snorkeling and bird watching.
Horse Trekking
Horse trekking offers you a half day or full day trek. The half day trek takes you into the mountain volcano craters for outstanding views, or along the shoreline if you wish. The full day tour takes you right up into the mountain region of the volcanic craters, check out the local farmers cropping in the craters. From this area you get views of both sides of the island, where people flocked to for the millennium to see the first sunrise in the world. Fresh local fruit picked for your enjoyment on the way.
Na Bogi Ono Farms (Bobby’s Farm)
This is an education tour of nature like nowhere else in the world. Bobby is renowned for his knowledge of the traditional herbal medicines, local flora, and bird life. He has been practicing conservation on his farm for the past 35 years, and will soon be fully organic. The combination of lush tropical forest, unique birds, tropical fruits, Fijian Medicinal Plants, and the natural tropical aquarium of the marine reserve makes Na Bogi Ono Farms a unique experience in Taveuni.
Soqulu Golf and Country Club
Soqulu Gold of Country Club offers to visitors a beautiful 9 hole, par three course hugging the coastline; very pretty. Club hire and green fees apply.
Holy Cross Church
Not an adventure tour but well worth the five minute walk on a Sunday morning to listen to the beautiful singing of the local villagers. Mass at 7am, 9am, and 11am each Sunday.
Des Voux Peak
4WD to the top of Fiji’s third highest mountain and be amazed with the outstanding views. The drive to the peak is approximately one hour. To make this a truly memorable full day out, for serious hikers, tramp into the newly discovered Lake Aselemo, this beautiful lake is a 2 and a half hour hike each way through tropical rainforest with the most outstanding views of virgin bush, an amazing gorge to be seen to be believed - and abundant with birdlife. This is one of Taveuni’s best kept secrets. If you are fortunate enough to do this hike in October, November or December you will witness the blooming of the famous Tagimaucia flower, this flower is unique to Taveuni.
Koro Levu Island
Snorkeling at beautiful uninhabited Koro Levu is a must do, pretend you are living your dream on this deserted island in paradise. Taveuni Dive company will pick you up from Aroha and drop you off when they take their divers out and will pick you up on returning with their divers, approximately 8.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. A cell phone will be provided if you need to be picked up earlier.
Snorkel The Rainbow Reef
Snorkel The Rainbow Reef with Taveuni Dive, boat pick up from beach in front of us when tide is right, or vehicle pick up for a short drive to their boats if tide too Low.
Taveuni’s Natural Waterslide
Taveuni’s Natural Waterslide is a short taxi ride past the Meridian Dateline, well worth going to watch the local children 'surfing' down the waterslide. Have a go yourself with caution, take insect repellent, the mosquitoes are hungry all day long.
Cultural Village Tour
Experience a Cultural Village tour, see how the Fijian people lead their daily lives, eat the food, drink the kava, listen to the singing, watch the dancing. this is a very popular tour. One day’s notice required by the village.
Waitabu Marine Park
Waitabu Marine Park is within Bouma National Heritage Park. It was established in 1998, the first of its kind in Taveuni. Amazing snorkeling tours with guides, equipment provided. The coral re-growth and hundreds of fish species and marine life is a must do whilst on Taveuni.
Vidawa Rainforest Hike & Bird Watching
Vidawa Rainforest Hike & Bird Watching is also within Bouma National Heritage Park. This hike is all about learning ‘local history’ from the guides as taught to them by their forefathers. This is a full day trek, you will be taken deep into the old forests, past ancient village sites, stunning views of the island and it boasts some of the best bird watching areas in Taveuni. The full day hike includes, knowledgeable guides, lunch, swim at Tavoro Falls.
Tavoro Waterfalls
Tavoro Waterfalls also within in the Bouma National Heritage Park, the whole hike takes approximately 3 hours, the tracks are clearly defined so no guides are necessary. The first waterfall is an easy 10 minute flat walk, Grannies can do this one easily, this is the most photographed and most famous of all the waterfalls in Taveuni. The second and third waterfalls are of an increasing difficulty, recommended for the able bodied. Once again the panoramic views are well worth the extra effort.
Lavena Coastal Walk
(a)This also is part of Bouma National Heritage park, Lavena is situated at the end of the road, literally. The coastal walk is mostly flat so everyone can walk it with relative ease. At the end, is the treat of swimming in the beautiful double waterfall. Approximately 1.5 hour walk each way.
(b) OR, you can kayak along the remote coastline and enjoy a picnic (take your own lunch) on the way, and return to Lavena along the Coastal Walk after a refreshing swim at the double waterfall, to make this a great combination trip. This includes twin seat kayaks, guided tour. To ensure guest safety their boat follows behind kayakers for the duration of the trip.
(c) OR, book a scenic boat trip down the Southern shoreline of Taveuni, past rocky shores, sandy beaches, fringing reefs and countless stunning waterfalls. Return via the Coastal walk with a local guide who will explain the area’s plants, history and culture. Finally relax with a cup of fresh lemongrass tea and complimentary pastries.
For more on Aroha, click HERE
