Some people relax by going to a busy tourist center, full of lively nightlife and packed bars. For my part, I prefer to find an isolated place with deserted beaches and crystal clear waters, where I can rest, think and recharge. I want to eat wonderful food, enjoy a refreshing cocktail, read a book that makes me laugh out loud, and be gently pampered in quiet luxury. Aaah, paradise… and I found it, on the island of Taveuni in Fiji.

Taveuni Island has been called the mystery island of Fiji, a volcanic outcropping 42 kilometers long and only 9 kilometers wide. The island is divided along its spine by a high ridge, and verdant rainforests spill down each side of the ridge towards the coast. Much of the southeast coast is accessible only by boat, while the northwest of the island has several beautiful small beaches. The island is a treasure trove of tropical flowers and plants, including the rare tagimacuia flower, found alongside its namesake, Lake Tagimacuia, Taveuni’s most popular tourist attraction.

Accommodation

Taveuni resorts are small and intimate; most have no more than 20 or 30 guests at a time. Possibly the most luxurious of the islands, the Taveuni Palms Resort has just two villas, each with its own private chef and staff. Other world-class resorts include Maravu Plantation, Taveuni Island Resort, and Susie’s Plantation Resort.

Activities

Taveuni Island offers many of the sports and recreational activities you’d expect from an island paradise, including hiking, swimming, and kayaking, but diving is the magnet that draws many visitors to Taveuni. There are three main diving areas off the Taveuni coast, including Rainbow Reef, one of the best soft coral reefs in the world. The Great White Wall is an extraordinary attraction for divers, a luminescent tunnel of coral where you will see hundreds of beautiful fish while surrounded by the glow of white coral. There are several full-service dive operations on Taveuni Island, catering to all experience levels, from beginners to certified divers.

Travel to Taveuni Island

Taveuni is in the South Pacific, with flights available to Fiji International Airport in Nadi from Los Angeles, Sydney and Auckland. The hour-long flight from Nadi to Taveuni is a breathtaking sightseeing experience as you fly over the outer islands and clear blue ocean. Most resorts will arrange your ground transportation in Taveuni, with staff to meet you at the airport.

If a crowded and noisy vacation is your idea of ​​paradise, Taveuni Island is not for you. But if, like me, you yearn for serene and peaceful beauty in a tropical wonderland, Taveuni is paradise itself.