Yacht Friendly resorts in Fiji

[Paul L]

We had guests join us at Musket Cove. If the trades are blowing hard there is plenty to do on the island. The rooms are nice. Decent snorkeling, especially when the winds are down. Easy transport from airport to Denarau and onto a ferry to Musket Cove.

[fxykty]

As others have posted, Musket Cove is a great location. The marina and moorings, plus anchoring in deeper water, is safe for all conditions and very welcoming of yachts. There are three resorts, each catering to a slightly different demographic, so your guests can choose - Musket Cove Island Resort (adults, kids OK but no special facilities for them, great yacht friendly bar), Plantation Island Resort (very kid friendly, least expensive of the three) and Lomani Island Resort (adult only, most expensive). There are lots of excursions available off island, Cloudbreak surf break is near by, and it's a short ferry ride from Denerau and easy transfer from the airport at Nadi.

I would not recommend Denerau, as while it has a good marina it is on the mainland and the water is not clear. Lots of resorts, but it will be a resort/tourist vibe and not cruising friendly at all. Your life on your boat will not be as much fun and your guests will wonder where all the beautiful South Seas islands are.

Mana Island is another place that has an all weather anchorage and several shore accommodation options - Mana Island Resort (adults, kids, reasonable value), Tadrai Island Resort (adults only, very high end) and a couple of backpacker lodges. It is slightly further away from the mainland than Musket Cove, but does have regular ferry service from Denerau.

[double u]

one other thing to maybe keep in mind:
Viti Levu east = rain can be heavy & continuous for days
Viti Levu west = dry
(during winter & exceptions of course happen)

[JasonL]

A little further to the North, on the island of Vanua Levu, s Savu Savu, excellent harbour, good protection, the township is not quite the hustle and bustle of Suva or Nadi.
The Savu Savu Yacht Club is very welcoming.
Not sure if the Cousteau Resort is open, they had cyclone damage a while ago, there is another resort to the East of the town, Tavuni, (?) they do welcome yachts.

[jglauds]

We found Musket Cove to be perfect from every perspective - R&R, haul-out, boatwork, diving, easy access to big island -- see attached post.

Sailing Vessel ile de Grace: Fiji Time

[fxykty]

Haul out? Please explain. Musket Cove is a resort and marina, wonderful place, but does not have a hard stand nor work facilities. We spent several weeks there last year and there were no haul out services. Did you arrange something privately? In contrast, Vuda Point Marina has all the facilities and services to handle cats and monos and is a very pleasant enclave on the mainland, with cheap taxi ($30 Fiji for the round trip and multiple stops) to Lautoka for provisions and parts.

[jglauds]

Hi -- agree with posh resort; it's also the homeport of the several 70' powercats taking guests to and from the big island whose name escapes me (where Lautoka is) ... as blogpost describes, they haul out on the tide with a large trailer ... we had a 44' and it was the least-stressful haul out on our circumnavigation ... Australia and South Africa included.

See pics in posts below ... but perhaps there's a new fleet master ...

blogposthttp://sv-grace.blogspot.com/2010/10/idg-out-of-h2o.html

[fxykty]

Originally Posted by jglauds

Hi -- agree with posh resort; it's also the homeport of the several 70' powercats taking guests to and from the big island whose name escapes me (where Lautoka is) ... as blogpost describes, they haul out on the tide with a large trailer ... we had a 44' and it was the least-stressful haul out on our circumnavigation ... Australia and South Africa included.

See pics in posts below ... but perhaps there's a new fleet master ...

blogposthttp://sv-grace.blogspot.com/2010/10/idg-out-of-h2o.html

Interesting that they agreed to haul you out on their trailer. Your trip there was in 2010 so perhaps that’s the confusion. They don’t do that anymore, and don’t maintain the large passenger ferry cats there either now, so careful with misinformation.

[jglauds]

Good to get the update, and sorry not to time-delimit the input ... who would have guessed that changes might occur on South Pacific islands?

[fxykty]

No worries. Resorts grow, get more professional, and care a lot more that the guests paying full freight have the best experience than the yachties paying for a mooring and docking their dinghy. There are 2 other resorts on that side of the island and other than building a new marina area (for boats servicing Plantation Island and Lomani Resorts) there are no plans for additional cruising yacht facilities. Vuda Point Marina is a nicer place than Denarau and full services for cruisers. We had a very good experience there with Baobab Marine, though the water there is not that welcoming for swimming.

The sand bank that comes out at low tide is an awesome place for young swimmers to feel like they’re in the middle of the ocean. One of the family highlights near Musket Cove. And if you surf, it’s the closest resort to Cloudbreak.

[robert sailor]

If your trying to have a water experience vacation and be in a marina it pretty much has to be Musket Cove. You'll find a decent social life there as well as many of the folks at anchor make it a point to come in for dinner and drinks. Funky bar there as well. Plus as others have said your in reasonably clear water so both of you can swim.

[Fluenta]

A bit further away from the bustle of Nadi and Musket Cove etc but we really enjoy Paradise Resort on Taveuni. A great resort and free moorings for visiting yachts. The owners, Allan and Terri, are very yacht friendly. Blog post of our stay there with our boat - http://sv-fluenta.blogspot.co.nz/2015/10/passage-to-paradise-well-paradise.html. We also stayed there as resort guests earlier this year for my parent's 50th wedding anniversary and were very well looked after.

Flight are easy out of Nadi into the north tip of Taveuini and the resort organizes a van to get down to the resort.

[susan238]

Christian, the suggestions given are all on the west side of Fiji. We liked the Eastern side of Fiji, and loved Paradise Resort on Taveuni. They maintain moorings for visiting yachts at no charge so long as you stop in for drinks or meals on occasion. Its right off Rainbow Reef and the diving is good. It is close to local villages providing easy opportunity for local exposure. From a yachting standpoint, this location is good. However, it depends on what you like and where you want to be. Amy's suggestions on the western side were good.

[Hobie_ind]

I'll add a third recommendation along with Fluenta's and Susan's, for Paradise Resort on Taveuni. We've stayed there a few times on one of their balls (anchoring really isn't much of an option with the reef) and loved it.

The staff was spectacular, particularly with our son who has autism, and the owners are quite yacht friendly as previously suggested.

Mark

[Fluenta]

We had some internet so catching up on the blog. Here is the post from our recent stay at Paradise: SV FLUENTA: Paradise Resort