Paradise found: InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa

Check in to the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa for a stay made in heaven.

In partnership with InterContinental Fiji

It’s a balmy evening, and the last of the day is fading into the ocean. Palm trees rustle. The aroma of frangipani and coconut wafts on the breeze. Champagne sparkles in a flute next to you. It’s prime time for relaxation at the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa. And you’re doing it in style.

Just moments earlier your personal bath butler (yes, it’s a thing) prepared the ultimate soak for you in the alfresco tub on your private balcony. Candles were lit, spa music turned on, aromatherapy oils swirled through warm water. And now all you need to do is forget about the rest of the world. It’s easy to do when you’re in this pocket of paradise.

Location, location

The five-star InterContinental is set amid 15 hectares of tropical gardens overlooking the white sands and azure waters of Natadola Beach, regularly voted as being among the most beautiful beaches in the world. Across the grounds are an astounding array of diversions, from multiple swimming pools to an 18-hole championship golf course – and everything in between. That is, if you can tear yourself away from your room or suite.

Suite life

The resort’s 266 rooms are all dreamy, designed in harmony with the tropical surrounds and with welcome Fijian flourishes. Regardless of where you check in, you’re guaranteed niceties like spacious outdoor living areas with daybeds and signature Cleopatra baths. Your outlook? The powdery beach, perhaps, or the lagoon, pool and lush gardens.

Take your stay up a notch when you check in to a Club InterContinental suite, some of which come with a private plunge pool; all offer the perk of access to the exclusive club where you can enjoy breakfast in the morning and cocktails in the afternoon, and lounge by the infinity pool in between. The ultimate stay? The Natadola Suite, a luxurious cocoon with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, its own kitchenette, separate living and dining areas, a private pool and outdoor entertainment area.

Wining and dining

While the restaurant within Club InterContinental is exclusive to guests of this room type, there are plenty of other choices when it comes meal time. Navo Specialty Dining shines a spotlight on local flavours, offering a selection of delicacies from the 14 provinces of Fiji. Think, fresh vegetables from the nearby Sigatoka Valley, succulent poultry from Vitogo, the finest grade pork from Vuda, the freshest of lobsters from the Yasawa Islands and the tastiest of fish from the Koro Sea.

In line with the resort’s sustainable efforts to support the local community, dining tables are adorned with decorative pieces all handmade by women and children from rural communities located all across Fiji. Local artisans have extended their techniques to crafting specially made mother-of-pearl shells for your side plate with a knife made also from mother of pearl and a handle made from coconut wood.

Meanwhile, situated alongside the Sugar Cane train track and overlooking the Meke Lawn and Natadola Bay, Sanasana Restaurant offers tasty a la carte options from around the world; Toba Bar & Grill dishes up everything from wood-fired pizzas and burgers to decadent desserts; and Kama Lounge is dedicated to gourmet snacks and expertly mixed cocktails, with a stunning South Pacific view.

Relax, rejuvenate, repeat

When it comes time to explore, make the most of the resort’s dedicated Leisure Concierge – on call to make your stay more interactive and fun by suggesting activities for you to enjoy during your stay on Natadola Bay.

This might include arranging a booking at the award-winning Spa InterContinental, which offers a range of indulgent and relaxing treatments using local produce – there are also steam showers, a hydrotherapy Wai Zone, a private plunge pool, an ice room as well as beachside massage cabanas.

Be sure to book the signature ‘Natadola Bay Honey Retreat’ treatment, using honey produced on-site via the bee-hive project, and other natural ingredients to rejuvenate the skin. The experience starts with a sugar and honey scrub, followed by a yogurt and honey wrap and an organic antioxidant mask of honey, yogurt and turmeric. It all ends with a relaxing massage.

You can also take a deep dive into the healing properties of local plants on a tour of the new herb garden – and yes, there are samples to be enjoyed in the form of infused teas and sesame honey bars.

Get active

Natadola Bay Golf Course unites world-class championship golf architecture with dramatic landscapes, from rolling pastures to the absolute beachfront. With the sparkling backdrop of coral reefs and the Pacific Ocean, keeping your concentration will certainly be a challenge across the par-72 championship course.

It would be remiss to visit this part of Fiji and not partake in watersports. And there are endless opportunities to get wet, whether you’re an adrenaline-junkie or like things slower paced. Sign up for a jetski safari, enjoy the thrill of tubing, try wakeboarding, or duck your head below the surface on diving and snorkelling expeditions. Expect to discover colourful and diverse coral reefs, from hard coral formations to soft coral gardens. Then come face-to-face with turtles, a kaleidoscope of fish and diverse marine life including reef sharks, the friendly caretakers of the reef. If you’re PADI certified, make the most of the resort’s new ‘Dive Discovery’ package.

Guests can make the most of one hours’ complimentary use of snorkelling gear and non-motorised watersports equipment every day.

Young travellers are not forgotten, with the resort offering an extensive range of facilities for kids and teens, from the Planet Trekkers Kids Club to Teen Trekkers – there’s also a nanny service available should you want some time out.

Community first

The communities surrounding the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa are hugely important to the hotel’s success, and as a result, there’s a strong commitment to enhancing the lives of people living in Natadola Bay. The long-term ‘Community Care’ fund invests in various community and environmental projects in the area, while the resort also partners with local NGO Rise Beyond the Reef to support income for remote communities across Fiji.

The resort is also committed to diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I), and recently partnered with the Fiji Surfing Association to provide a space for young girls focused on female empowerment to learn surfing, ocean stewardship and environmental awareness.

Sustainable journey

The Fijian archipelago is pristine, but it’s also fragile. The resort is dedicated to ensuring the environment remains protected for future generations. Sustainability initiatives span the land and sea, and include a coral propagation program that was started in collaboration with Reef Safari, with the aim to rejuvenating the reef and the marine life it supports. Guests can get involved in the program, too.

You can also get involved in weekly beach clean-up days, while raising awareness of protecting our oceans from litter and single-use plastics – the latter of which are being completely phased out from all corners of the resort, including room key cards, which are made from bamboo. Kitchens are additionally committed to reducing waste, and work closely with local farmers to ensure leftover food is repurposed as feed for animals in the area.

With all this to offer, it’s a small wonder the resort won both the ‘Luxury Hotel of the Year’ and ‘Spa Operator of the Year’ awards at the 2023 ANZ Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards.