Outrigger Resort – The Perfect Quiet Fiji Getaway

Nov 15, 2016

We started our Fiji vacation with private car transfers from the Nadi airport to the Outrigger Fiji Resort, located on the Coral Coast. The drive was a little over an hour as we passed open green fields, small villages and sugar cane fields. When we arrived we were greeted with a warm “Bula”, cold wet cloths and sweet iced tea, which were very refreshing after the drive.

Our deluxe ocean view room was bright and comfortable, with a separate sitting area and a large sliding glass door which led out to our private balcony. The bathroom was very spacious, with a large tub. Every late afternoon we had complimentary champagne and canapés delivered to our room, a special touch which made our stay even more romantic.

The Outrigger Fiji Resort is very spread out over 40 acres. The resort has over 200 hotel-style rooms, plus thatched-roof bungalows, some beachfront, that can accommodate up to six guests and have verandas and hammocks. The resort has four restaurants, one of which is on the beach and is an amazing place to have evening cocktails and watch the sunset, as we did many times. There are also six bars, a fitness room and a huge resort pool for families and a second adults-only pool. There’s also a hilltop spa and a kids’ club. Activities include kayaking, paddle-boarding, tennis and snorkeling.

After two amazing nights at the Outrigger Resort Fiji, we headed to Port Denarau to catch the ferry to Castaway Island. It was a pleasant 45-minute ferry ride with beautiful blue waters and white sandy islands along the way. When we arrived, we had to take a smaller boat to the island. Castaway Island is a private island located in the heart of Fiji’s Mamanuca Island group. The island is about 174 acres and covered in tropical rainforest and surrounded by white sand beaches, vibrant coral reefs and azure South Pacific waters.

Castaway’s accommodation are 66 traditional thatched island bures (bungalows) with a choice of Beach, Ocean View or Island locations. All bures feature one king size bed and most include two additional single beds in their configuration, with a sliding privacy screen door separating the two areas. All bures have a newly refurbished private bathroom with vanity area, separate shower and separate toilet. They have no TV’s or phones in the bures, so you are truly removed from society here, which isn’t a bad thing for a spell. These rooms are perfect for families.

Castaway Island offers four dining venues, including a wood fired pizza oven, popular for families. They do offer meals plans at this resort as well. Breakfast and lunch are buffet style; however, lunch did have an option to order off the menu. We had a nice romantic dinner at Water’s Edge restaurant one night, which sits right on the water. We also were able to experience the “Fijian Lovo Theme Buffet & Meke Show,” which is a wonderful Fijian experience held weekly on Wednesdays. It was pretty similar a luau in Hawaii, with fire dancing, singing and, of course, the roasted pig.

Castaway also has two pools, one adult only with a swim-up bar, and a family pool. They have a wonderful kid’s club, which offers a variety of activities and babysitting for families. This is a family resort. They offer an array of free activities, including snorkeling, windsurfing, kayaks, paddle boards, catamarans, beach volleyball, glass-bottom boat coral viewing, tennis and much more. The coral reef right in front of this resort is amazing, with hundreds of colorful fish and coral, and is a must see.

After three amazing relaxing nights at Castaway Island, we hired a boat to take us to Musket Cove Island Resort. When we arrived we were greeted again with a warm “Bula”, cold wet clothes & sweet coconut drinks.

Musket Cove sits on 400 acres of rolling hills and palm-fringed beaches that create a secluded paradise that never feels crowded. It has 55 air-conditioned villas and bures. We had a lagoon bure, a light and airy overwater bures located along an inland lagoon. Our bure was a two-minute stroll to the beach and marina and well located to all resort facilities. Bike rentals are available for guests who may be further away from the resort facilities. Our bure featured a king size bed, separate living room area with a breakfast bar, separate shower and toilet. They also offer garden and beachfront bures and private villas. Buffet breakfast and complimentary Fiji bottle water is included with every room stay.

Since there is no coral reef right off the beach, the resort offers two snorkeling trips free of charge per day. One trip takes you to a sandbar in the middle of the ocean with amazing coral reefs. The other is deep water snorkeling. The marina &

yacht club offers a variety of activities including fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing and surfing. Some activities are included free of charge, such as paddle boarding, kayaking, windsurfing and daily snorkeling tours.

Musket Cove Island Resort caters more to adults than families, and they don’t have any type of children’s club; however, they do offer babysitting/nannies for a fee. There are two dining venues, three bars including a swim up bar, a full on-site general store, convenient for those staying in villas, which have full kitchens. Each bure comes with mini-fridge, coffee maker and toaster. There is one bar on the island called the Musket Cove Yacht Club Island

Bar, located on an island in the marina. It’s very popular among the locals and private yacht owners. They also offer a cook-your-own BBQ for an informal evening dinner. Meal plans are also offered at this resort.

Our experience at all three resorts was that the staff was amazing. As Fiji is well noted for, everybody was very genuine, warm, personalized and engaging, and provide a gracious welcome to the islands. Whether you’ve come to do everything or absolutely nothing, each of these resorts makes for a perfect stay for a Fiji vacation.

Contact Tracy Wedde to begin planning your Fiji vacation to the Outrigger Resort today!