Octopus Resort
With aquamarine waters, soft golden sand and swaying palm trees, all confined in its own private bay (Likuliku Bay), Octopus Resort is an attractive proposition. You’ll find it on Waya Island, a ten minute walk over the h ... See More
Octopus Resort
With aquamarine waters, soft golden sand and swaying palm trees, all confined in its own private bay (Likuliku Bay), Octopus Resort is an attractive proposition. You’ll find it on Waya Island, a ten minute walk over the hill from the Nalauwaki Village. Over the years, and through a series of resort managers, the resort has cultivated a symbiotic relationship with the village. It has been mutually prosperous, as you can see when a snorkeling trip (FJD 45) takes you over to that side of the island - metal roofs abound, house construction looks solid, and plenty of boats line the shore. The resort pays to educate the local children, as well as providing a source of employment that means many of the younger generation don’t have to leave their island home to find work.
The village supplies the resort with much of its fresh produce needs, from excellent eggs to fish, lobster and vegetables, which the chef puts to good use in the kitchen. The food is tasty and well presented, across both à la carte and buffet or island nights. The menu on island night includes local dishes from rourou soup (local spinach) to palusami (local spinach leaves cooked in coconut milk). It’s delivered in three well proportioned meals for $119 FJD per day.
Where you can really see the village connection working best is in the staff, who go out of their way to connect with guests and share culture. From a handmade shell necklace from our lovely housekeeper, who has been cleaning the same five bures since 2005, to Tom who makes a gracious speech at dinner thanking guests for choosing Octopus on behalf of the Nalauwaki people, and has a mean hip wiggle as he sashays through Island night, everyone appears to want to be there, and appreciate the opportunities tourism has brought to them. Feeling wanted really makes a difference for me.
The bures are traditional and attractive, but nothing particularly fancy. The mattresses are nearing the end of their lifespan. They do have lovely outdoor showers and stayed mosquito and rat free, even with food in our room. You can get a bar fridge if you ask for one. The resort takes a generous attitude to you drinking your duty free in public places, like around the pool, which I appreciate, and bought more cocktails as a result of not feeling forced to. Mai Tais and frozen Margaritas both drink well here.
Ella, the resort manager, is a down-to-earth, friendly delight. She’s on hand to sort issues, and offered us free massages to partially compensate us for paying for nights we couldn’t use when a cyclone prevented us from getting to the island. If there was anything I’d advocate for it’s a few child-free spaces - the Coconut Bar would be a good start, and possibly a second pool, as the screaming kids can get a bit hectic for those of us without them. However it’s not enough to make me not want to revisit.
The house reef is in average shape - mostly brown coral, but the fish density is great, and they’re not scared of you. Fish feeding has meant the little striped blue fish practically mug you when you swim out, escorting you all the way to deeper water. There is a channel that gives all-tide snorkelling, but a rip/eddy current develops in it, so do obey the beach closed signs during big swells, as the sucking out effect can be massive. The rope that guides you through the channel is the best idea ever, and if you get scared you can use it to haul yourself back in.