Products / Accommodation / Fiji / Matava Resort, Kadavu

Fijis Premier Eco Resort!

The award winning Matava Resort is 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 you'll have a unique insight into traditional practices and rituals that still play a part in everyday life. Matava Resort is a true eco resort. You leave only a small ecological footprint with your visit at Matava. Solar energy, responsible & ecological waste management are implemented. They do organic farming and the veggies and fruits are accordingly top quality.

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 which sets small limitations. 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 120 km 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 superb 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.

The new main building is the gathering place for guests to have meals and just relax. There are power sockets where guests can recharge camera and laptop batteries.
Matava currently offers two different levels of ensuite bure accommodation. All bures are fitted with solar lighting. There are no airconditioners nor fans. The evening breeze is all you need to cool the airy built bures.

Honeymoon Traditional 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.

Ocean View Traditional Bure All are built in traditional Fijiian style, offer splendid views over the ocean and have spacious balconies. The ocean view traditional bures are spacious and fitted with queen sized beds.

Meals
Dining at Matava is a casual and very social experience which takes place on the balcony of the ‘bure levu’, or on the large deck next to the water. Guests gather from around the world meet 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 maneuvering through the complex reef system that runs along 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's sea 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 brilliant 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.

PACKAGES
Prices valid until 31 March 2011	Twin/double (per person)	Single
DIVERSION SPECIAL Get 8 nights pay 7, get 12 dives pay 10! 8 nights accommodation in Oceanview Traditional Bure, all meals, transfers, 12 boat dives (2 tanks per day/6 dive days), free shore diving at CRITTER JUNCTION, traditional Lovo Feast and Kava ceremony	AU$ 1625 NOW reduced to AU$ 1495	AU$ 2265
10 nights Manta Madness Dive Package (18 dives) 10 nights accommodation in Oceanview Traditional Bure, all meals, transfers, 7 days of 2 tanks diving, 1 day of 3 tanks diving, 1 night dive, free shore diving at CRITTER JUNCTION, traditional Lovo Feast and Kava ceremony	AU$ 2275	AU$ 3199
7 nights Learn to Dive Package 7 nights accommodation in Oceanview Traditional Bure, all meals, transfers, PADI Open Water Course (incl all equipment, OW manual, tables and certification), traditional Lovo Feast and Kava ceremony	AU$ 1649	AU$ 2285
7 nights Non-Diver Package 7 nights accommodation in Oceanview Traditional Bure, all meals, transfers, free use of kayaks and snorkelling on house reef with snorkelling gear DIVERSION SPECIAL	AU$ 1145 NOW reduced to AU$ 989	AU$ 1785
Note: the above rates are subject to the availability of accommodation at the time of booking. Special packages including airfares from Australia are also available, please e-mail us for more information.