Rustic and unspoiled Fiji
725KarenW725 · Couples · 2026-02-01
“Matangi Resort and Spa is a private island located in the north eastern part of Fiji. From LAX it’s an 11 hour flight to Nadi Int’l Airport on the main Fiji Island. It’s another 1½ hr domestic flight to Taveuni Island, then a 20 minute drive to a tiny inlet (no dock) where a speed boat (15 25 minutes depending on weather) takes you to Matangi Island (no docks on the island).
Matangi Island is lush and unspoiled teaming with huge tropical trees and plants. Overall I would call the resort “upscale rustic.” There is one central circular open air dining room with a well-stocked bar and a very nice swimming pool area. Accommodations are: one very large well-appointed air conditioned villa (built in 2024), two tree houses and numerous small one room “buras.”
We stayed 10 days mid-January 2026 in a tree house and were the only guests on the island the first 3 days. There were up to 5 couples during our stay. (This is the rainy off season). It was extremely humid (90-98% most of the time) and hot. The only air conditioning in the tree houses and one room bura is a small air conditioning unit above the bed headboard that is meant only to “cool” the bed area at night and that’s if the curtains surrounding the bed frame are closed. Humidity and heat were slightly reduced for sleeping at night. The only other cooling is a ceiling fan over the living area. The only Wi-Fi is in the main dining room. The spa is fully air conditioned and I rate my message 3. For seasoned snorkelers the included daily venue was a disappointment with far better locations available in the area. The paid scuba diving is exceptionally good with incredible pictures shared nightly from scuba diving guests with a professional underwater camera. The highlight was a private half day picnic at Horseshoe Bay on Matangi Island. All to yourself is a “shack” with a king size swinging lounge, kayaks& bathroom. A wonderful picnic is boated out to you. Also, if you’re in the market for a pearl go to Civa Farm. Fiji pearls are expensive but Civa is reliable and better priced than most places. The pearl farming explanation is worth the trip alone. If you’re buying there’s no charge for the informal lecture. Also, if you’re buying, ask for a discount.
At the beginning of our stay the food and service were very good but after 4-5 days we experienced a decline in both. Soups, desserts and morning fruit smoothies were excellent throughout, however the breakfast and entrées significantly declined. I do recommend the lamb.
The atmosphere is causal, laid back with Islanders for the most part shy but friendly. We did have some accommodation issues but were corrected to our satisfaction. Every effort is made to satisfy guests within the parameters of what’s available. Other guests were wonderful and we made new friends; a diverse group in age and backgrounds. Matangi isn’t just for honeymooners or couples. But be aware there are only king beds. Overall we enjoyed the experience but the marketing is over inflated and we do not consider this a luxury venue.”
Matangi Island - heaven on earth
184nicholasg · Couples · 2026-01-12
“This place is heaven on Earth. It truly is - in almost every way. My wife and I spent our honeymoon in Fiji nearly 30 years ago at Namale resort and we wanted to go back but they were booked. So we looked for another resort with similar qualities. We found Matangi Island in an advertisement at Costco travel. We called and spoke with the Costco travel agent who seemed to know everything about all the resorts in Fiji. He highly recommended Matangi resort due to its remote nature, it's sheer beauty, it's amenities, the quality of food which is all included, the staff, the spa, and that it was on its entire own Private Island.
Lucky for us they had a last-minute cancellation so we grabbed it. We flew from LAX to the main island in Fiji, Viti Levu, then took a small plane to another Island Taveuni, then a small boat to Matangi Island. It's a long haul, but it's absolutely worth it. When you arrive the staff greet you with wonderful singing and give you a carved turtle lei. A quick welcome drink is given followed by an explanation of amenities activities, breakfast lunch & dinner times, Then it's off to your own private burre. There is not a bad burre anywhere on the property. Every single suite has an ocean view or is oceanfront. You cannot go wrong with any of them. The owners live on the island and are the nicest and most friendly people you will ever meet. One thing that is not advertised about this property is that laundry is included absolutely free with no charge at all. So you do not need to pack as much clothing as you think you do. We would have brought less than half of the clothing that we brought had we known that in advance. There are so many amazing things to do on the island that cost you virtually nothing. For instance there are two included snorkeling trips per day where they take you out in a boat to different snorkeling spots everyday. We literally did not go to the same snorkel spot the entire week we were there and we went twice a day. There is an amenity that is free of charge called Horseshoe Bay. You need to sign up for this right away cuz it fills up. They take you and your spouse - only 1 couple allowed at a time - in a boat around to the opposite side of the island which is inaccessible on foot and drop you off with your own completely private beachfront shack with a day bed, a bathroom, lunch, a bottle of wine, fruit platter, assorted goodies, and an emergency cell phone. There you have snorkel gear, stand up paddle boards, kayaks, towels, bug spray, and everything you need in paradise. They drop you off and leave you there all by yourselves and it is absolutely heaven on earth. You are completely off the grid with only a cell phone connection to the rest of the world. If you call they will come right away if you don't call they will come at a specific time to pick you up and take you back to the resort. The snorkeling kayaking stand up paddle boarding etc is absolutely world class and epic in this untouched area of the island.
There were about 12 other couples on the island who we met and everybody was wonderful.
They would have all kinds of evening activities for us such as kava drinking ceremonies, cocktail making competitions, local tribal dancing, just to name a few. They have a world-class spa on site and they are excellent at all of the spa menu items such as massages facials pedicures etc.
The staff is absolutely excellent and they are the most friendly people on the planet. They all speak or understand English very well and they are there to take care of you and make sure you're having a great time. They do not have a gym so you cannot work out in the standard way however the island has some of the best and most beautiful hiking areas you will ever see. Bring some great shoes so that you can traverse to the top of the mountain through the hiking jungle areas and see some amazing birds and other animals on that island. There are many pet dogs that live on the island (Lucky, and Mindy ard super super social & friendly) that are absolutely gold and they will accompany you on your hikes - if you wish - and lead the way dutifully protecting you from whatever they perceive might be there to hurt you, although nothing such exists on the island. It's really special to have them escort you. There are two cats on the island one of which is super friendly and her name is ginger. If you pet her and give her a little milk in the morning she will be your best friend. There are three meals a day every day and the food is great quality. The chef who is there at the property makes fantastic dishes and there's a large menu to choose from every day. That menu changes every day as well. They are super accommodating for people with food allergies such as gluten-free or peanut allergy or whatever and they make sure that what you're eating will not harm you - whatever your dietary restrictions are, they can accommodate you.
I have traveled all over the world and stayed at many places from extremely upscale, fancy resorts all the way down to super low budget sleeping on the ground in tents type of places all having their own unique experiences. But, I have to say Matangi resort being family-owned with the kind of care that they deliver as a family would - and you do feel treated as and cared for as if by family - it is in the top three vacation experiences in my entire 62 years on this planet. My wife and I will be going back... No doubt at all and as soon as possible.
The owners, Noel (dad) and Nigel (son) are super friendly, accessible, hospitable and talk to you as if they've known you for years even though you just met them. Matangi Island
We did virtually every amenity we had time for. My wife did the spa one day while I went scuba diving - each of those activities of course is an extra charge but fairly priced and well worth it. The dive Master was super knowledgeable and excellent in every way. All the activities were amazing experiences. All were fantastic. They have deep sea fishing at a very fair price or free handline fishing from a small boat. In short, we had a wonderful, amazing, best dream ever, fantasy experience - best of a lifetime. It's just really indescribable the beauty of the island, the care that everybody takes for you, the staff, the food, the wild birds and animals, the pets and just the beauty of everything - it's more than anybody could wish for.
If you are looking for the ultimate getaway with the ultimate non-pretentious experience, the nicest staff who really take care of you, in a classy casual paradise, then this is exactly what you need.”
Best trip!
gildafresh · Couples · 2026-01-08
“We had an absolutely incredible stay at Matangi Private Island Resort, and it was truly one of the best vacations we’ve ever had.
The island itself is stunning—beautiful, serene, and unspoiled—but what really makes Matangi special is the people. The staff were exceptional: genuinely kind, attentive, and always welcoming. Every interaction felt personal and thoughtful.
The food was excellent throughout our stay, with fresh, beautifully prepared meals that we genuinely looked forward to each day. Our bure was immaculate, incredibly comfortable, and perfectly maintained, with daily laundry service that made everything feel effortless and luxurious.
The overall atmosphere is calm, quiet, and deeply relaxing. Everyone—from staff to fellow guests—was friendly, helpful, and kind, creating a sense of ease and connection that’s hard to find.
Matangi is the kind of place that stays with you long after you leave. We would return in a heartbeat and recommend it without hesitation to anyone looking for a peaceful, unforgettable island escape.”
The Perfect Get Away From It All
359keiths · Couples · 2025-12-13
“Matangi Island is a bit out of the way but well worth the additional interisland flight and boat transfer. The island is draped in jungle foliage and teeming with birds. Although there is no "endless white sand beach" the small beach and calm waters are certainly adequate. The spacious bures are exceptional and include carefully chosen furnishings, wonderful oudoor shower, plenty of storage, and a comfortable bed with overhead AC. The food was delectable and there were numerous choices for every meal. The fresh snapper, the large shrimp, and even the lamb shank and the ribs were all excellent. The staff were friendly, outgoing, and always willing to assist you. We never got to snorkel the house reef as we always took their morning snorkelling excursion. Each excursion was to a nearby coral reef and each one was different. Namata Point was probably are favorite spot as it had the greatest concentration of various corals and scenic fish. All in all it was the most relaxing seven days we have had in a long time and we were sad to depart.
And, my sister, who is an avid birder, will be so jealous that I was able to view (multiple times) the elusive endemic orange fruit dove.”
