Page 30 - Explore Magazine Autumn 2018

FIJI MARRIOTT RESORT
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MOMI BAY

Explore Editor Tracey Mehrtens visits one of the island nation’s
most talked-about recent additions.

Kiwis love to holiday in Fiji, and Fijians
return their love of New Zealand and its
people just as much.
The friendly local greeting of bula and a
beaming smile becomes second nature as
soon as you land in Fiji, and arriving at the
Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay, a sincere bula
in reply to a sincere “Welcome home” makes
you feel immediately relaxed.
Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay has a warm,
inviting ambience. Its vast sweeping rooflines
and open-air spaces keep the resort Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Fish Bar Restaurant is one of them. Located
on a point overlooking the sea it’s the perfect
cooled by the gentle breeze and the resort Bay has a warm, inviting
design is Fijian-influenced, with ceilings place for sunset cocktails and dining. By
day, the adjacent adults-only infinity sunset
featuring timber ribs made from local Fijian ambience. Its vast sweeping
mahogany. The mahogany touch continues rooflines and open-air pool encircled by spacious cabanas and deck
chairs is a wonderfully relaxing hideaway
in the accommodation rooms right down
to the intricately carved bedheads. In the spaces keep the resort with sweeping views towards the outer reef
surf break on the horizon.
bathrooms, handbasins sit on stone vanity cooled by the gentle breeze.
tops backdropped by a curved mirror timber
frame made from local wood. The hotel’s Once checked-in, it’s time for a swim and
bure villas encircling the lagoon are also in bevvy at the swim-up bar. Sam the barman
an authentic Fijian design that resembles welcomes us with “Bula” and “Where you
upside-down canoes (or drua in Fijian) and are from?” and at our response of Auckland
are clad in wooden shingles. there’s a pause followed by “Oh, the
Auckland Blues!” The Fijian love of all things
rugby shines through in everyone you speak
to, their beaming smiles alone telling you
how passionate they are about the sport.
Local culture and flavours also headline the
Fijian holiday experience at Fiji Marriott Resort
Momi Bay, and the Fijian love of singing is The resort’s adults-only
always close. Staff pop up around the resort infinity sunset pool encircled
throughout the day serenading beautifully,
and as the sun sets the traditional meke dance by spacious cabanas and
performance entertains evening diners on the deck chairs is a wonderfully
beach outside the waterfront Lagoon House
Restaurant & Bar. Guitars and songs close the relaxing hideaway.
evening entertainment.
Hand-carved wooden light poles line the path Now one year young, Fiji Marriott Resort
edges throughout the resort, as do hand- The dining options at Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Momi Bay is just a 45-minute drive from Nadi
carved timber bollards depicting the marine Bay are very diverse, starting with some of International Airport. All of the property’s
life of Fiji. A turtle motif and sea life theme the best buffet breakfasts I’ve ever enjoyed, 250 rooms and bures have ocean, pool or
carries through into the public buildings and with live cooking stations creating fresh dishes lagoon views, and the only overwater bures
is an original design of the architects. Local as you watch. All of the hotel’s restaurants on Viti Levu that extend in a graceful arc
limestone sourced from a quarry at nearby showcase their fresh menu offerings with open across the turquoise lagoon.
Tao village is a feature of the walls at Fish Bar. kitchens as the central feature where dishes
are expertly created to order.

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