Malolo Island Resort Fiji – Hotel Review

Azure waters lap against sugar-fine white sand. Palm trees sway gently in the breeze, the world and all its worries forgotten. At Malolo Island Resort, a laidback hotel known for its stunning natural setting, warm Fijian hospitality and great kids club, it’s about switching off and unwinding. Read on for the full review.

There are no rooms on Malolo, just bures; breezy riffs on the traditional Fijian home featuring high ceilings and air con (but intentionally no in-room wi-fi, thank you very much). Noticeably devoid of the built-up approach of some other island resorts, Malolo retains that desert-island feel you come to Fiji to experience.

Where is Malolo Island Resort Fiji?

On its namesake Malolo Island, the largest of the Mamanuca Islands, off the west coast of Viti Levu, the main island of Fiji. Just 25 kilometres from Nadi Airport, the hotel can be reached by fast catamaran, private speedboat or seaplane. The hotel can also arrange private car transfers to and from the airport and marina.

What’s near Malolo Island Resort Fiji?

The island is also home to two small villages and a bunch of enthusiastic vendors spruiking every activity you can think of, including jet skiing, sailing, scuba diving and snorkelling. A catamaran tour of Castaway Island, the idyllic archipelago where the movie Cast Away starring Tom Hanks was filmed, makes for a memorable day trip.

Room types

There are 46 bures (villas) and, with verandahs and garden settings, each are as gorgeous as each other. Oceanview Bures are (of course) close to the beach with water views but the Tadra Beach Bures — of which there are only two — are located in the resort’s most secluded beachfront spots for maximum privacy. Families should book the Family Bures, designed to comfortably accommodate groups of up to seven. Styled in a comfortable yet simple colonial-cottage style with vaulted ceilings, every bure is air-conditioned and purposefully without TVs or internet access.

Restaurants and bars

The resort’s culinary focus is on fresh, locally sourced ingredients and the menus are a blend of Fijian and Western influences. Most guests book the meal plan, which entitles them to a full breakfast, two-course lunch and three-course dinner daily at any of the hotel’s three eateries. Executive chef Gregory Llewellyn and his team serve up simple, fresh, seafood-centric dishes; think crudo, mango salad, scallops with shellfish butter and lemon leaf, or aromatic Fijian fish curry with coconut milk, coriander, masala and a side of roti.

Sustainability

Malolo Island Resort is a 100 per cent Fijian family-owned business and the hotel takes its responsibility to protect and preserve the land seriously. A full-time Group Environment Manager oversees a host of initiatives, including turtle and iguana conservation efforts, coral gardening, giant clam and mangrove restoration, and reef health assessments. The hotel is also investing in solar and wind energy sources and has greatly reduced its use of single-use plastics, with a view to eradicating them completely.

Travel for work

There is free wi-fi available in certain areas, including reception, but don’t depend on fast, uninterrupted access.

Spa and pool

Leilani’s Spa offers three open-air treatment rooms and the serene sounds of the rainforest add the soundtrack to soothing massages, facials, body wraps or scrubs. The resort has two pools, with ample daybeds and umbrellas for wiling away lazy days on the island but, as the resort is ringed with ocean, it’s fair to say it’s the second best place to swim.

What you need to know

A free kids’ club (hidden under a giant mango tree) for children aged four-12 makes Malolo Island Resort Fiji a stellar choice for families. There are three programs depending on the age of your kids and each day’s activities are differently themed.

Another perk is access to Mociu Island, an uninhabited private archipelago 15 minutes by boat from Malolo. Ahura Resorts (the parent company of Malolo Island Resort Fiji) purchased the lease to Mociu, ensuring it is protected from future development. Take a trip out to the unspoiled island to learn more about the preservation and biodiversity efforts underway.

SEE ALSO: 17 of the Best Family-Friendly Resorts in Fiji