Is This The Best Place To Stay In Fiji?

On a lush, postage stamp of an island, a scenic 45-minute seaplane or helicopter ride south of Fiji’s mainland, Kokomo Private Island is an all-inclusive paradise, ringed by pristine white-sand beaches and the clearest of vivid blue waters, teeming with marine life. This, along with a collection of spacious villas and residences, restaurants, bars and round-the-clock childcare, means once you arrive, there’s a good chance you might never want to leave.

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Review: Kokomo Private Island

STAY

Your first impression of Kokomo is from above, where dotted amongst swaying palm trees and tropical greenery, the one, two and three-bedroom thatched roof villas can be found lining the eastern and western beaches of the island, while the residences are ensconced inland on a hilltop with panoramic ocean views. Throughout, neutral tones and natural materials are enhanced with furnishings made from locally sourced woods, and local details from artwork and objects to textiles, while the villas unfold beneath high exposed Fijian ceiling beams – lashed together with coconut fibre – to include a living room, bathrooms with open-air showers and Pure Fiji amenities, and private beachside pools set on a sweeping deck that leads to a lush garden. The three to six-bedroom residences are named after the views they have and come complete with a fully equipped kitchen, inbuilt outdoor barbecue area, infinity pools, and a dedicated butler and nanny.

DO

From fishing to kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, cooking and yoga classes, or local village tours, you can do as little or as much as you want at Kokomo. But with its warm crystal clear waters together with its location on the Great Astrolabe Reef, snorkelling or diving is a must. Wade into the gently lapping sea straight from your beach lounger, or head farther afield by boat to the outer reef, where you might spot a manta ray or two. For the more sedate, the Yaukuve Spa Sanctuary – sheltered within lush greenery at the centre of the island – is peaceful retreat to relax and rejuvenate, followed by a picnic on the adjacent private island, where you can spend the remainder of the day lazing in the sun and alternating between eating, drinking and frolicking in the calm blue waters.

One bedroom sunrise villa

EAT

Whether you choose a relaxed oceanside lunch at Beach Shack, opt for a taste of the Amalfi Coast at Kokocabana Pool Club, or indulge in chef Caroline Oakley’s delicious dumplings, stir fries or Vietnamese spring rolls at Walker d’Plank, the great thing about Kokomo is that you can pretty much eat anything wherever and whenever you want. What unites all the restaurants, though, is the island’s true farm-to-table ethos, where most of the produce, if not sourced locally, comes straight from the island’s organic garden, which sprawls over 5.5 acres to include vegetables, herbs, edible flowers, exotic fruits, fresh lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes, as well as a beehive, henhouse and vanilla plantation.

Beach Bar

THE FINAL WORD

Kokomo Private Island certainly lives up to its reputation as one of the best – if not the best – places to stay in Fiji. Not just for its idyllic setting or its ultra-luxury all-inclusive offering, but also for its sustainability approach, which ranges from on island initiatives like waste reduction, to support of the local community, manta ray conservation and coral restoration, among other projects.

BOOK IT

Rates at Kokomo Private Island start from US$2,200 (approx. £1,733) per room per night in a One Bedroom Sunrise Villa. This rate is inclusive of daily gourmet breakfast, lunch and dinner, non-alcoholic beverages, laundry and pressing, nanny services, kids and teens club, non-motorised watersports, resort facilities and land-based activities. kokomoislandfiji.com

Lauren Ho’s round trip had a carbon footprint of approximately 2,046 kg of CO2e. ecollectivecarbon.com