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FEBRUARY 2015

DENVERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

CULTURE | ADVENTURE | STYLE

JET SET ACCESSORIESROMANTIC MOUNTAINGETAWAYSHEALTHY EATING ON HOLIDAY FIJI’S PRIVATE BEACHES & HEAVENLY HOTELSCHIC RESORT WEAR

COLORADO’S HEALING HOT SPRINGSPlunge into the indulgent o!erings at Dunton Hot Springs on page 75

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Imagine standing on a deserted beach, sand stretching into outcrops of volcanic rock and palms swaying in the breeze. There is neither sight nor sound of a boat engine or human voice for miles. No,

you’re not shipwrecked; you’re simply enjoy-ing an unspoiled afternoon on a private beach in northwestern Fiji.

This is the reality for guests at Yasawa Island Resort & Spa, Fiji. As one of Fiji’s most unspoiled archipelagos, there is little development on this island, which is most easily accessible via private airstrip by Island Hopper charter flights operating out of Viti Levu, Fiji’s main island. This luxury retreat’s only neighbors are a handful of small villages. It has a mere 18 private, beachfront bures, or cottages. With 11 private beaches as well as daily snorkeling, scuba diving and other

excursions around the island, you do the math… you don’t have to see another soul for hours if you so desire.

Romance reigns at Yasawa. An adults-only resort—other than designated family weeks—

guests often cite honeymoons and anniversa-ries as the inspiration for their visits. Yasawa’s beachfront dining room hosts mostly two-person tables, decorated with candles and hibiscus. Most guests leisurely make their way from the al fresco bar to the adjoining dining area for fresh lobster, prawns, mahi

mahi and more, literally plucked from the nearby reefs that same day. Since all meals are

included at Yasawa, guests can request dinner on the beach, beside the infinity pool, in a private hut or

inside their bures. The Fijian sta! recognize how memora-ble a private meal at Yasawa can be; they discreetly set up candles

Solitude in the SandFiji’s internationally acclaimed resorts and beaches beckon travelers seeking respite from the real world.BY ALI HARRISON

DEPARTURES

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and Champagne for an unforgettable evening.Perhaps even more memorable are the meals visitors experience on

the private beaches. Each day, guests pack beach bags and meet their “ship captains” along the shore. Each dinghy is packed with seafood, salads, fruit juices and cocktails, along with snorkeling gear, towels and umbrellas. A short ride lands travelers on their own beaches. After a quick set-up. you’ll find yourself alone with the Pacific Ocean and an occasional fiddler crab. Each beach is known for something di!erent, such as world-class snorkeling or added privacy. Guests return to Yasawa tanned and renewed; a feeling one only develops when they’ve explored such an unblemished corner of the world.

Yasawa’s beachfront spa is the first of its kind in Fiji. Guests meander

through palms and bougainvillea to the thatched-roof, open-air Baravi Spa. The resort o!ers a full menu of treatments, but frequent spa-goers insist on a deep tissue massage on the ocean-view massage deck. Yasawa o!ers an Ultimate Spa Bonus that most guests take advantage

of. For a single payment per person per stay, guests can experience a 50-minute spa treatment for every night they vacation at Yasawa.

Each bure has its own spa-like amenities, including outdoor showers, cabanas and expansive decks facing the ocean. Though bures can be air-conditioned, many guests open the floor-to-ceiling shuttered win-dows and let the warm breeze drift through the bedrooms, sitting areas and bathrooms. Mini bars are stocked daily with guests’

preferred juices, sodas, beer and Fiji Water, of course. Gourmet tea, Fijian co!ee and homemade breakfast cookies line the counter. The island itself serves as the resort’s florist. Sta! are often seen picking colorful blooms and decorating public areas and private bures.

One doesn’t have to venture to Yasawa’s private beaches to experi-ence adventure. Guests can borrow a paddle board, kayak or snorkel-ing gear and explore the world-class, national-reserve coral reefs teeming with tropical fish right o! the property’s beach; it’s common to see snorkelers bobbing among the waves. Land-based activities include tennis, beach volleyball, island hikes and visits to a nearby village. However, many guests cite their favorite land activity as a walk along the rocky reefs at low-tide when crabs, eels and fish splash between tide pools.

World-class diving is also the norm at Yasawa. Enthusiasts suit up for dives near the island and return with stories of sea turtle, octopus and shark encounters. One of the most unusual excursions at Yasawa is a visit to the Blue Lagoon, as seen in the blockbuster film by the same name. A quick boat ride lands guests at the caves where this movie was filmed. A guide leads visitors into the dim, main lagoon area, where they put on snorkel gear and jump in. At first it’s eerie, especially if you’re not used

to caving, but adventurers soon adjust to the atmosphere. A short dive through an underwa-ter passage—directed by a guide with a flashlight—lands you in a pocket of pitch black caves where you’ll tread water and

learn about the history of this work of nature.While romance reigns at Yasawa, families find their own versions

of vacation on Viti Levu. From Nadi International Airport, a two-and-a-half-hour drive along the Coral Coast—sprinkled with fishing villages and breathtaking shoreline—lands you at Nanuku Auberge Resort Fiji in the Pacific Harbor, the adventure capital of Fiji.

It was nightfall upon my arrival at this five-star resort, which opened in March 2014. A cheerful woman opened my car door and enveloped me in the warmest hug I’ve experienced from a stranger. “Bula,” she exclaimed. Soon I realized that such a friendly greeting is the norm in Fiji. But in the meantime, my new friend showed me around my suite.

Every guest of Nanuku tells a similar story of boisterous greetings.

LEFT: Often cited as having many of the world’s best beaches, Fiji hosts world travel-ers, intrepid divers and even film crews seeking tropical perfection.BOTTOM LEFT: With more than 4,000 square miles of coral reef, Fiji is celebrated as the “Soft Coral Capital of the World.”

GUESTS RETURN TO YASAWA TANNED AND RENEWED; A FEELING ONE ONLY DEVELOPS WHEN THEY’VE EXPLORED SUCH AN UNBLEMISHED CORNER OF THE WORLD.

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PURE FIJIOne of Fiji’s most-enjoyed exports is Pure Fiji, a skincare line made with natural and organic, local ingredi-ents. Early islanders used nuts and plants to care for their skin, and Pure Fiji carries on these traditions.

Sugar cane, papaya, pineapple, passion-flower, deep-sea plants and green coconut are harvested to make products, such as sugar scrubs and body butters in scents such as mango and coconut. You can find Pure Fiji products at Yasawa Island Resort & Spa, Nanuku Auberge Resort Fiji and online at purefiji.com

Many resorts and hotels claim that visitors are treated like family, but I had never experienced anything that rivals Nanuku’s fulfillment of this claim. As guests dine and play, sta! members will drop everything to introduce themselves. By the end of my trip, I understood that this was simply who Fijians are. You will not find a kinder, more welcoming culture.

Nanuku’s restaurant has both al fresco and indoor dining areas. The chef prepares perfectly cooked meats and decadent desserts. An on-site garden provides fruits that become delicious juices, as well as herbs and vegetables that serve as sides and seasonings. Seafood is the star, however, with fresh-caught lobster, crab, prawns and fish.

Nanuku incorporates Fijian tradition into the daily activities at the resort to help preserve their culture for future generations. Every day at sunset, during happy hour, guests are invited to watch Fijian warriors perform a torch lighting ceremony. They can also participate in a coconut class, where a sta! member teaches you how to climb a palm tree, cut down a coconut, open it and prepare the meat and juices for a traditional Fijian dish, kokoda. Created with coconut milk, fresh lime juice and vegetables—basically a ceviche—this may have been the best, most flavorful dish I experienced while on the island. Each evening, guests receive an itinerary outlining the following day, which often includes mixology classes, cooking les-sons, stand-up paddle boarding and sunrise yoga.

Included in each family’s stay is the service of a skilled “carer,” or nanny, for every child under the age of five, which makes finding time for romance and rest much easier. Regardless of little ones, a stay at Nanuku also

TOP: Nanuku’s lush property centers around its swim-up pool, lounge areas and restaurant. ABOVE: The floor-to-ceiling windows and bi-fold doors of Nanuku accommodations allow the sounds of waves to lull guests to sleep.

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includes the services of a “villa buddy” and “villa mama, who are in charge of ensuring you enjoy your vacation. My villa buddy, George, became a fast friend, coordinating stand-up paddle boarding, sea kayaking and cultural experiences, as well as biking with me to a nearby village. He taught me Fijian terms and introduced us to locals.

The resort’s suites and residences overlook the beach and blend contempo-rary and native design. Rooms are accented by Fijian sculptures and artwork. Guests enjoy personal media rooms, gardens, outdoor living areas and spa bathrooms with Pure Fiji amenities.

The crown jewel of the resort is the Vunikau, or Treehouse, Resi-dence, which is an almost 6,000-square-foot house with approxi-mately 3,200-square-feet of wraparound porches. Set on a volcanic outcrop above the resort, guests have complete privacy as well as views of Beqa Lagoon. The residence is separated into a Penthouse Suite and three residences, which all have private pools and outdoor living areas. The Penthouse has a media center, wine cellar, full kitchen, bil-liards room, porch areas and a private infinity pool and hot tub. Each suite has a personal golf cart, making it easy to explore the resort.

Nanuku’s o!-site activities include golf, fishing, waterfall hikes, rafting, zip-lining, jet skiing and diving with sharks, the latter a renowned activity exclusive to this area. However, guests can stay close and comfortable with on-site activities, such as

snorkeling, stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking and more. DLM

PIT STOP: SANTA BARBARADenverites fly to and from Fiji by way of Los Angeles Interna-tional Airport. Instead of a trip directly from the island’s welcom-ing warmth to Colorado’s cold climate, pause for a weekend in Southern California.

STAY: Fresh from a 2014 interior renovation, The Fess Parker – a DoubleTree by Hilton Resort is a mission-style hotel near Santa Barbara’s East Beach and owned by actor and winemaker, Fess Parker. The on-site restaurant, Rodney’s Grill, prepares savory steaks and fresh seafood for hungry visitors. fpdtr.com

PLAY: The town’s history as an artists’ colony paved the way for more than 60 galleries; rent cruiser bikes and check out Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Sullivan Goss and more. Santa Barbara’s Urban Wine Trail allows you to sample varietals from more than 25 wineries and vineyards. Kunin Wines and AVA Santa Barbara are must-visits. santabarbaraca.com, urbanwinetrailsb.com

NEED-TO-KNOW INFOYasawa Island Resort & Spayasawa.com

Nanuku Auberge Resort866.976.4960 nanukufiji.com

Island Hoppers679.672.0410 islandhoppersfiji.com

Fiji Airways800.227.4446 fijiairways.com

Boats are the preferred mode of transportation

for many resort activities.

IMAGINE STANDING ON A DESERTED BEACH... PALMS SWAYING IN THE BREEZE. THERE IS NEITHER SIGHT NOR SOUND OF A BOAT ENGINE OR HUMAN VOICE FOR MILES.