SIX Senses Fiji is located among The Mamanuca Islands, an archipelago of 20 tiny palm-fringed islands, with water as clear as glass besides acres of vegetation as green as a freshly mowed lawn, and is positioned on the private island of Malolo, steps away from its brilliant-white sandy shoreline.
The The Six Sense Fiji Spa
After landing into the warm air at Nadi International Airport and meeting by our hotel transfer to drive us the short distance to Port Denarau, our private boat arrives to whisk us to the Six Senses property, a 40-minute exhilarating ride away. We pass a few of the other Mamanuca Islands en route, each one set like dazzling gemstones into the turquoise sea. The sun beats down on us as the warm air blows through our hair, and we excitedly feel like a couple of movie stars being transported to another world.
On our arrival we’re greeted with a traditional warm ‘bula’ welcome, which is accompanied by the beating of drums and enthusiastic clapping from the exuberant staff. Quickly introduced to our ‘gem’ (a butler dressed in a Fijian smock top, barefoot) we are offered a glass of home-made sweet and refreshing ice-cold peach kombucha.
Four bedroom beachfront
Passing through the 120-acre resort in our electric golf buggy, the property’s sustainability effort is immediately evident. Gardeners are watering the in-house vegetable, herb and fruit gardens, a poignant element to all three restaurants on the resort, each one utilizing freshly grown produce where possible.
Six Senses Fiji has the largest off-grid solar installations in the Southern Hemisphere using Tesla battery packs. The resort collects rainwater and uses worm-powered septic tanks to produce high quality drinking water with the abolishment of plastic bottles.
We stay in one of the spectacular 24 villas, complete with vaulted wooden ceilings, marble outdoor and indoor shower areas with an oversized biodegradable four poster wooden bed which fills a proportion of our villa, perfectly mimicking the luxurious and laid-back vibe of the resort. We’re spoiled by the view from the floor-to-ceiling glass windows that overlook the deck and onto our private plunge pool footsteps away from our own private beach-front. Each villa is designed to be 100 per cent solar powered by the largest microgrid in Fiji, easing our guilt from the carbon footprint we’ve racked up on route.
Food and beverage at Six Senses, Fiji is overseen by Ihaka Peri who prides himself on enlisting a talented local team of chefs from surrounding villages. Breakfast is my absolute favorite meal of the day, piled high with a hearty and healthy jam-packed choice including perfectly ripe fruit oozing with juice waiting to be squeezed beside cakes and buns from the bakery enticing us as the intoxicatingly sweet smell lingers in the air.
KaloKalo outdoor Cinema at Six Senses Fiji
We devour our dinner at TeiTei, the hotel’s interactive and casual al fresco pizzeria, situated next to the outdoor cinema which screens a choice of movies each nighttime under the stars.
The spa within the wellness village comprises rustic wooden treatment rooms shaded by seamlessly never-ending and pre-historic Baka trees. I book in for the multidimensional Six Senses wellness program which evaluates important biomarkers, from weight, metabolic rate and general health. After which, the hotel staff are prompted of results allowing the team to suggest relevant activities together with appropriate menu choices to compliment results, much like a wellness retreat (but far more forgiving!)
Hideaway Pool Villa at Six Senses, Fiji
For activity seekers, Six Senses, Fiji is the ideal location to fulfil an ocean adventure with a host of complimentary activities on offer. We take the opportunity to sit back and relax by the beach overlooking waters of Malolo Island. Later, we can’t decide if I would benefit more from a yoga lessons or delve into one of the many cooking classes. So we decide to stay put. Quite frankly, there simply is no better place on the planet to relax and soak up the atmosphere than this tropical hideaway that is Six Senses Fiji.
by Ashleigh Jacobs
Rates at Six Senses Fiji start from FJD 2,100 (currently approx. £787) based on two sharing a Hideaway Pool Villa on a B&B basis.