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/ Matava Resort, Kadavu
For a great value diving & cultural experience!
Matava Resort is the Astrolobe Reef Hideaway set amidst
lush tropical surroundings that offers divers easy access
to Kadavu's most spectacular dive sites and the chance to
experience at first hand the culture and hospitality of
the real Fiji !
 The
Resort
Kadavu is a place where preservation of the Fijian culture
is vitally important - and at Matava Resort (a true eco
resort) you'll have a unique insight into traditional practices
and rituals that still play a part in everyday life. Matava
is a small and intimate getaway, designed to blend in with
it's natural environment where there are no roads! As you
would expect from an eco-resort Matava relies for the most
part on solar-power and so gas lights are provided at night
for the rooms adding adding intimacy to it's rustic charm.
This maybe not for those expecting the 5 star facilities
of an international class resort but it's ideal if you want
to kick back, relax & experience some unique adventures
both above and below the waterline!
 The
Diving
The Great Astrolabe Reef is the world's fourth
largest barrier reef and is Fiji's largest living organism.
It extends along the entire southern side of Kadavu and
stretches for over 120km. It is rated as one of the world's
premier diving locations offering a great diversity and
spectacle in coral structures and marine life.
The reef adopted its name in 1827 following French explorer
Dumont d'Urville's collision with the reef in his vessel
"The Astrolabe".
Spectacular
Dive Sites and exclusive diving on virgin reefs awaits those
who dive at Matava, with over 20 world-class sites offering
enormous variety for divers of all levels within a 5-minute
to half hour boat ride.
Click here
for more information on the dive sites of Kadavu.
Accommodation
At
Matava, traditional thatched bures are nestled in the rainforest
offering privacy, comfort and some suberb ocean views. Drift
into sleep to the soothing roars of the waves breaking over
the Barrier Reef and awake to the sounds of the exotic native
wildlife.
Matava
currently offers three different levels of ensuite bure
accommodation:
Honeymoon Bure - very spacious in a beautifully
elevated location with sweeping views of the ocean and nearby
islands. Large private bathroom with four poster bed and
large balcony. Gas lamp lighting at night. 
Ocean View Bure - two existing and two newly-constructed
bures, all in traditional Fijiian style, also offer splendid
views over the ocean and have spacious balconies. The newly-built
bures are also fitted with solar lighting and are allocated
on a "first to book" basis. All ocean front bures
are spacious and fitted with queen sized beds.
Waterfront Bure - Located near to the waterfront.
These are smaller than the ocean view bures but are still
ideal for couples with their own private bathroom and balcony.
Just a stroll away from the dive shop ! Gas lamp lighting
at night.
Meals
Dining at Matava is a casual and very social experience
which takes place on the balcony of the ‘bure levu’,
one of Fiji’s largest traditional structures where
guests gather from around the world for papaya salad, mango
chicken, coconut curries and sashimi while sharing conversation
and friendship. Meals are offered as a package; comprising
a continental style breakfast, lunch, and a three - course
dinner extravaganza.
Also, a scrumptious lovo feast, a traditional Fijian meal
cooked over hot stones in the ground, is held once a week,
usually accompanied by a kava session. Vegetarians and those
with special dietary requirements are also catered for with
advanced notice. Matava's friendly Fijian staff will put
a smile on your face and make sure you will love the food
as much as they love preparing it for you !
Dive
Shop 
Matava's PADI Instructors & Dive Masters will escort
you through the wonders of their hidden & exclusive
paradise. Most of the dive sites are within a 20 minute
boat ride from the resort - the dive vessels are fast and
ideal for manaouvring through the complex reef system that
runs alomg the coast.
The dive shop at Matava is fully equipped with all the latest
in diving equipment including Mares BCDs, regulators and
wetsuits as well as masks, fins and dive computers are all
available for hire.
Plenty of other activities to enjoy at Matava:
Snorkeling
For reef lovers who enjoy the sun on their back, the Astrolabe
Reef also provides a superb snorkeling experience. Whether
exploring one of the island's best fringing reefs right
in front of the resort or taking a short boat ride to the
main reef itself, you'll be dazzled by the amazing array
of corals and fish for which the Astrolabe is famous.
For a small fee you can also be transported to one of the
beautiful remote coral fringed beaches for a few hours.
All the equipment you'll need is available for hire from
the dive shop.
 Sea
kayaking
Get into one of Matava'ssea kayaks and glide through crystal
clear waters. A startled ray may fly past and electric blue
tropical fish pulsate in their coral habitat as you drift
over the brillant corals. Explore the deep and indented
bays, turquoise lagoons and rocky islets and meander through
the winding waterways within the mangrove forest. This is
also a great way to discover the local village nearby.
We also offer fully tailored all day guided or overnight
trips, which include staying at local villages.
Trekking
There
are no roads around Matava, only a network of paths that
link one village to the next. Walk through lush verdant
rainforest ascending the hills to reveal stunning views
of The Great Astrolabe Reef, then descend to beautiful white
pristine beaches.
Then plunge into one of the many cool, refreshing waterfalls
and pools that slice down through the rugged highlands and
watch as the local children leap from dizzying heights.
Take
a guided nature walk to discover the local flora and fauna
or learn of the traditional uses of plants with a local
medicine man. All
treks have been established in conjunction with local villages.
Fishing
Anglers
wanting to spend an exciting few hours or those sport fishing
for the first time can do so by trying their hand at catching
some of the huge variety of tropical predators such as GTs,
Spanish mackerel, mahi mahi or coral trout and maybe catch
one for the BBQ that night. The resort has a Tag & Release
policy on all billfish and a Catch & Release on all
other species. They do however take home dinner and the
cooks will be delighted to prepare your catch for the dinner
plate. Sashimi, Kokoda, griller mahi mahi, baked trevally
. . . you catch it, they cook it !
 Village
visits & performances
Engage in an ancient ritual - gather around a bowl of
‘yaqona’ (kava-the customary Fijian drink). This
ceremony dates back thousands of years yet is still an integral
part of Fijian life today. Sample a delicious ‘lovo’
feast, an authentic Fijian meal steamed in an oven pit over
hot stones. Join a local medicine man on a plantation walk
and learn the therapeutic uses and healing properties of
locally grown plants. Attend
a traditional dance performance,
called a 'meke', that enacts local legends and stories through
chanting and drumming, singing and dancing. Master the time-honoured
art of mat and basket weaving and listen to the melodic
harmony of the choir at a church service. Spend time in
the village, experience the genuine hospitality and smiles
of the Fijian people.
Bird
watching
Twenty-seven of Fiji's birds are endemic to Fiji, found
nowhere else in the world. Thus for those interested in
ornithology, Fiji offers a unique opportunity. Kadavu has
the additional attraction of the three species found on
no other place in the world and these species, like  the
Kadavu musk parrot, can all be seen on the grounds of the
resort. We can advise guests on the best bird watching spots,
and if required provide guides for excursions to the rainforest
or mangroves.
Getting to/from Matava
Your international flight into Fiji will take you into Nadi
on Fiji's main island of Viti Levu.
From there daily domestic flights take you to Kadavu's airport
in the small town of Vunisea.
For those already in Fiji daily flights also operate between
Suva & Kadavu.
From Vunisea it's 5 minutes by road then approx 40 minutes
boat transfer to the resort.
Renovation
Special 2008
(Valid for travel to 30 June 2008)
Special
packackage Free flights & free extra night!
Matava
Resort is having some major renovations this year,
amongst them re-build of the main bure complex and
building a new dining veranda. To compensate for noise
and other building inconveniences, they offer a substantially
discounted package!
Stay for 6 nights and get an extra night FREE
Receive FREE Return Domestic flights to Kadavu
Only A$ 1325 per person
The package includes: flights Nadi-Kadavu return,
Oceanview Superior Bure twin share based, all meals
(breakfast, lunch, dinner, unlimited tea/coffee),
boat transfers to/from Kadavu airport, all Taxes
|
Prices 2008
(Valid to 31 March 2009)
|
Package
Includes flights between Nadi & Kadavu, 6
nights accommodation, all meals, transfers & 10
dives pp |
Twin/double share
per person |
Additional
night per person
(incl meals) |
| Honeymoon
Bure (Private bathroom) |
AUD
2150 |
AUD
215 |
| Superior
Ocean View Bure (Private bathroom) |
AUD
2040 |
AUD
195 |
|
Standard Ocean View Bure (Private bathroom) |
AUD
1845 |
AUD
160 |
|
Additional diving: |
per
person |
|
1 Dive Day (2 boat dives) |
AUD
160 |
| Single
travellers sharing accommodation, pay twin share price
in the Waterfront Bures! |
|
Package Inclusions:
- Return
airfare between Nadi & Kadavu with Air Pacific
including all taxes and service fees
- 6
nights accommodation as per specified category on
a twin/double share basis
- All
meals at resort
- Return
airport transfers
- 10
boat dives (2 tanks per day/5 dive days)
Note:
the above rates are subject to the availability
of flights & accommodation at the time of booking.
Special
packages including airfares from Australia are also
available, please e-mail
us for more information.
For more Matava specials, check our specials
page!
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Independent
