Malolo Island Resort

Malolo Island Resort occupies its own corner of Malolo Island in the Mamanuca group, roughly 25 kilometres northwest of Nadi, with a 4.7 TripAdvisor rating from 1,101 reviews. That rating, sustained across that volume, tells you something concrete: it is not a resort that photographs better than it lives. The property is 100% Fijian family-owned, built in a style that draws deliberately on the colonial architectural character of Fiji’s past — thatched bures, high ceilings, timber detailing — rather than chasing the minimalist luxury aesthetic common at newer properties. The result is a resort with genuine character rather than borrowed atmosphere.

Malolo Island is also home to Likuliku Lagoon Resort, one of Fiji’s most acclaimed adults-only properties, but the two sit at opposite ends of the island with no shared facilities and no meaningful interaction between the two. For families who have looked longingly at Likuliku’s reputation and wondered what a high-quality Malolo Island experience looks like for people travelling with children, Malolo Island Resort is the direct answer. It is emphatically not a budget compromise — it is a considered, family-inclusive property at the 4-star level with a track record that stands up to scrutiny.

Malolo Island Resort is a 4-star, 100% Fijian-owned property on Malolo Island in the Mamanuca Islands, with 46 bures across five categories ranging from the 33-square-metre Island Bures to the adults-only Tadra Bures and purpose-built Family Bures sleeping up to seven. Rates start from $358 per night. On-site facilities include two swimming pools — one adults-only with a swim-up bar, one family lagoon pool with shallow beach-style entry — three dining venues, Leilani’s Spa, and a PADI 5-Star IDC dive centre operated by Subsurface Fiji with access to 44 sites. Transfers from Port Denarau Marina depart three times daily via South Sea Cruises catamaran, with the direct 3:15pm service taking approximately 55 minutes. Contact: [email protected].

This guide covers the accommodation categories and what distinguishes each, the spa, pools, kids club, diving and snorkelling, watersports, dining, how to get here, and an honest read of who this resort suits best.

Accommodation at Malolo Island Resort

The 46 bures are distributed across five categories. All are freestanding structures — no shared walls, no hotel-corridor feel. Standard inclusions across every bure type are: air conditioning, ceiling fans, free WiFi, en-suite bathroom, espresso and tea facilities, refrigerator, in-room safe, private verandah, daily housekeeping, and evening turn-down service. One design decision that sets the property apart: there are no televisions, phones, or radios in any of the bures. The resort positions this deliberately as a “disconnect to reconnect” experience, and it lands as intended rather than as an inconvenience.

Island Bures

The eight Island Bures are the entry-level category and the most compact on the property — 33 square metres of interior space with a 14 square metre verandah. Each has a king bed plus two single beds that convert to daybeds in the living area, which makes them workable for couples or for families of up to four travelling light. The layout is semi open-plan, with the sleeping and living areas flowing into each other.

At this size, the Island Bures are best understood as the option for guests who intend to spend most of their day outside — on the beach, in the water, or at the pools — and treat the bure primarily as a place to sleep and cool down. They offer the full resort experience at the entry price point, with genuine colonial character in the thatched roof and timber fit-out that the larger bures share.

Oceanview Bures

The twenty Oceanview Bures are the largest single category on the property at 50 square metres, with 14 square metre verandahs. Bedding is one king bed in a separate bedroom plus two single beds in a spacious living area; maximum capacity is five adults and children. The bedroom separation from the living area makes a practical difference for families — adults can wind down after the children are asleep without the entire bure going dark at 8pm.

Ocean views are the primary selling point over the Island Bures, and the size increase is meaningful. For families with two or three children who want more room to spread out without the cost of a Family Bure, the Oceanview category is the sensible middle ground.

Deluxe Oceanview Bures

The twelve Deluxe Oceanview Bures are also 50 square metres with 14 square metre verandahs — the same footprint as the standard Oceanview category — but with a three-quarter-height wall separating the bedroom from the living area rather than a full wall. This gives a degree of privacy between sleeping areas while keeping the sense of space and air flow that open-plan layouts provide. Positioning within the resort is the primary distinction from the standard Oceanview bures: these sit in the more favourable ocean-facing positions.

Family Bures

The four Family Bures are purpose-built for large family groups and sleep up to seven people. They come in two physical configurations.

Bures 27 and 28 are two-storey units at 100 square metres with a 20 square metre verandah. Each has two bedrooms — both with king beds — one en-suite bathroom, one main bathroom accessible from the living area, and three single daybeds in the living space. The two-storey layout gives a genuine sense of separation between adult and child sleeping areas that a single-storey bure of equivalent total area cannot replicate.

Bures 3 and 10 are single-storey at 92 square metres with an 18.75 square metre verandah. Two bedrooms, each with a king bed and its own en-suite bathroom (accessed through the bedrooms rather than from the living area), plus three single daybeds in the living space. These bures suit families where the adults want complete bathroom privacy.

For the numbers: at up to seven people in a 92–100 square metre bure with two full bedrooms, the per-person cost becomes genuinely competitive with mid-range accommodation. Family Bures are worth booking as far ahead as possible — there are only four on the entire property.

Tadra Bures

The two Tadra Bures are the resort’s premium couple-focused accommodation — adults-only, with over 50 square metres of space, spacious verandahs, a four-poster king bed, ocean views, and two daybeds. These are positioned as the premium romantic option for guests who want the colonial character of the resort in a setting calibrated for two people. The four-poster bed under a thatched roof in the middle of the Mamanucas — with mosquito netting — is entirely apt.

Spa

Leilani’s Spa — “leilani” being the Fijian word for heavenly flower — sits within a rainforest setting on the property, surrounded by tropical gardens. The spa has three fully air-conditioned treatment rooms, all with floor-to-ceiling views out to the surrounding rainforest. Each room can be configured for a single treatment or for couples, and each has a private bathroom and a secluded verandah with a deep stone bath for post-treatment use.

The treatment menu is built around Pure Fiji spa products, using locally sourced ingredients that include dilo (a natural anti-inflammatory used to regenerate skin cells), moringa, coconut, and papaya extract. Treatments range from traditional Fijian massage and stone therapies originating from the island of Beqa, through to facials, foot massages, body scrubs, and couples packages. Guests select their preferred Pure Fiji aromatic oil — Lime Blossom, Milk & Honey, Passion Flower, or Coconut — from the reception lounge before a treatment begins, a small detail that makes the intake feel considered rather than clinical.

The couples treatment room is well-suited for honeymooners and anniversary guests. Booking spa treatments in advance of arrival is practical, particularly for peak-season stays (June through August, Christmas and New Year). With only three treatment rooms on a property with 46 bures, popular treatment times fill quickly.

Swimming Pools

Malolo Island Resort runs two pool environments, which function as genuinely separate spaces rather than different zones of the same facility.

The adults-only pool is the quieter option. It comes with a swim-up bar and spacious lounge areas with daybed cabanas, and operates under a policy that keeps it calm regardless of how busy the rest of the resort gets during school holiday periods.

The family pool is a lagoon-style design with a shallow sandy-beach-like entry — a genuinely practical feature for parents with toddlers and young children who aren’t confident swimmers. The shallow-entry design means children can wade in gradually rather than navigating steps or ladders. This pool is the social hub of the resort during peak family travel periods.

The fringing coral reef directly accessible from the beach means that reef snorkelling is available anytime conditions allow, without a boat trip or a scheduled excursion.

Kids Club & Family

Tia’s Treehouse is the resort’s supervised kids club, set back into the hillside beneath a giant mango tree with a fully fenced playground staffed by Fijian team members. It is complimentary for children aged 4 to 12 and operates daily from 9am to 9pm — a 12-hour window that is unusually broad for a 4-star island property and gives parents genuine flexibility.

The club was voted Best Kids Club in Fiji by readers of Out & About With Kids Magazine in both 2021 and 2023. The program runs on a rotating daily theme structure: Marine and Natural Environments, Fijian Culture, Coconut Trees, Tradition, Fijian Food, and Arts and Crafts. Specific activities within those themes include fish feeding, herbal medicine education, talks on iguanas and other local fauna, traditional costume making, face painting, Fijian language lessons, and traditional childhood games. The “Yanu Yanu” program — an immersive blend of cultural, educational, and environmental experiences — frames the kids club as education through play rather than babysitting with crafts.

Khail’s Club handles the 9-to-17 age group: an air-conditioned lounge with a range of traditional Fijian and modern games, books, arts and crafts, and a dance floor. A dedicated tween and teen space alongside the primary kids club acknowledges that a 14-year-old and a 6-year-old don’t want to spend their holiday in the same room doing the same activities. Children aged 9-12 can access both Tia’s Treehouse and Khail’s Club.

For children under 4, and for times outside of club hours, private babysitting is available at FJD$12.50 per hour. Confirm availability and timing with the resort when booking if you’re travelling with infants or toddlers.

The resort also runs “Kids Eat Free” packages. The combined effect of the complimentary 12-hour kids club, babysitting availability, dedicated teen lounge, family pool with shallow entry, and kids dining packages is that Malolo Island Resort has been built around the actual mechanics of travelling with children rather than simply labelling itself family-friendly.

Diving & Snorkelling

The dive operation at Malolo Island Resort is run by Subsurface Fiji, a PADI 5-Star IDC (Instructor Development Centre) — the highest PADI certification level, which means the centre trains dive instructors, not just recreational divers. From the resort, Subsurface Fiji offers access to 44 dive sites within the Mamanuca Islands.

The site variety is broad. The Supermarket is the most well-known — a shark encounter dive where bull sharks and other species aggregate in numbers that make the name immediately comprehensible once you’re underwater. The B26 Bomber is a World War II aircraft wreck sitting on the seafloor; for wreck diving enthusiasts, a WWII-era bomber in Fijian waters is a specific draw. The Salamanda shipwreck and sites including Jackies Reef, North Reef, and Coral Gardens round out a dive program that covers walls, caves, pinnacles, and coral gardens across the depth range.

Courses available through Subsurface Fiji at the resort include Discover Scuba Diving (the introductory resort dive for non-certified guests), Open Water certification, Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, and specialty courses.

For snorkelling, Malolo Island is surrounded by a protected fringing coral reef that is directly accessible from the beach without a boat trip. Complimentary snorkelling equipment is included, and the resort also offers guided snorkelling trips to additional sites nearby. For guests who don’t dive, the snorkelling at Malolo is a substantive activity in its own right.

Watersports & Activities

The activity program divides between complimentary non-motorised watersports and additional-cost motorised options and excursions.

Complimentary non-motorised watersports: Stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing, and windsurfing. Equipment is available from the beach; the sheltered water on the lee side of the island is the practical starting point for paddleboarding and kayaking, while sailing benefits from the trade winds that run through the Mamanuca channel (most reliably June through October).

Motorised watersports (additional cost): Water skiing, wakeboarding, jet skiing, parasailing, and eFoiling.

Excursions: Island hopping tours, sunset cruises, fishing trips (targeting tuna, trevally, and other species in the Mamanuca channel), and surfing tours to breaks including Cloudbreak — one of the world’s most famous left-hand reef breaks, accessible from Malolo Island.

Land activities: Walking trails across the island including Jona’s Lookout, the Ridge Track, and the ascent to Mt Uluisilo. Village trips to the local Yaro community give context to the island’s inhabitation beyond the resort. A private island — Mociu Island — is accessible for special occasions including honeymoon picnic arrangements.

Cultural programming: The resort runs a weekly cultural events calendar that includes traditional Meke dances on Wednesdays, fire and dance performances on Tuesdays, and kava ceremonies on Saturdays. A smaller island resort can sustain genuine cultural engagement in a way that a 300-room Denarau property cannot.

Tennis: One court on the property. At 46 bures, court availability is not a practical concern.

Restaurants & Dining

Malolo Island Resort operates three dining venues with distinct characters. The kitchen performs at a level that is genuinely good rather than adequately good for an island property.

Treetops Restaurant

Treetops is the resort’s formal dining venue, positioned above the pool with an open verandah and views across the property. It is adults-only (guests 13 years and over) and runs a la carte Pacific Rim cuisine with formal three-course dinner service. Dinner hours run from 6:30pm to 10:00pm. Breakfast is also served at Treetops daily from 8:00am to 10:30am for adults-only guests.

The open verandah setting means dining above the gardens and pool with the island air moving through — the kind of environment where the setting does genuine work on the meal. Treetops is where guests who want a quieter evening, removed from the family dining atmosphere, will gravitate. For honeymooners and couples in the Tadra Bures, it is the natural dinner choice.

Terrace Restaurant

The Terrace is the resort’s main dining venue for all guests, built in the character of a plantation-style homestead and set back from the beach among the tropical gardens, overlooking the pools. It runs breakfast, lunch, and dinner, offering both a la carte and buffet options depending on the service.

The plantation-era architectural reference is genuine rather than decorative — the Terrace is the venue that most embodies the colonial character the resort trades on, and it works as a physical space in a way that modern resort dining rooms typically don’t. The combination of the open design, the garden setting, and the pool views makes it a comfortable place to eat at any time of day.

Beach Bar

The Beach Bar handles the informal end of the dining and drinking spectrum — snacks, lighter meals, sunset drinks, and the kind of afternoon situation where you’ve been in the water most of the day and want something to eat without committing to a restaurant meal. It is the social hub for daytime drinking and the place where the day’s activities debrief naturally happens.

The beach setting captures the sunset from the right angle on clear evenings — the Mamanuca Islands sit to the west of the main Fijian islands, which puts you in a good position for Pacific sunsets over open water.

Getting to Malolo Island

Malolo Island sits approximately 25 kilometres from Nadi International Airport. The airport-to-island journey involves two legs: a road transfer to Port Denarau Marina (approximately 20-25 minutes from the airport), and then a water transfer to Malolo Island.

By Catamaran — South Sea Cruises: The standard option. South Sea Cruises departs Port Denarau Marina three times daily: 9:30am, 12:15pm, and 3:15pm. The 9:30am and 12:15pm services call at multiple islands en route and take approximately two hours to reach Malolo. The 3:15pm service runs direct to Malolo Island in approximately 55 minutes. Fares are FJD$152 per adult each way and FJD$99 per child (ages 2-15) each way. Check-in at the South Sea Cruises desk at Port Denarau Terminal is required at least 30 minutes before departure.

By Catamaran — South Sea Cats (premium service): A premium evening service departs at 6:00pm, arriving at approximately 7:05pm, with complimentary beverages on board. Fares are FJD$191 per adult and FJD$125 per child one way.

By Water Taxi or Speedboat: Sea Fiji and Mamanuca Express provide 24/7 on-demand water taxi services. A private charter for up to four people runs approximately FJD$1,219 one way; shared scheduled transfers are approximately FJD$912. A daily scheduled 5:30pm departure costs FJD$256 per adult. These options are useful for guests arriving on late flights who have missed the last catamaran service.

By Helicopter: Island Hoppers Helicopters operates transfers from Nadi Airport or Denarau to the helipad at Likuliku Lagoon Resort (the adjacent property on Malolo Island), with a brief five-minute boat transfer to Malolo Island Resort from there. Fares are approximately FJD$865 per person one way or FJD$1,570 return.

Practical note on flight timing: For guests arriving on morning international flights from Australia or New Zealand, the 12:15pm South Sea Cruises departure is often achievable with efficient airport transfer. For evening international arrivals, a night in Nadi is the practical approach. The resort’s reservations team at [email protected] can advise on transfer coordination.

Return transfers: Confirm your return timing with the front desk at least the day before checkout, and work backward from your flight when booking your departure catamaran. The 9:30am service from Malolo is the one that gets guests comfortably to the airport for midday or afternoon international departures.

Final Thoughts

Malolo Island Resort sits at a genuinely useful position in the Mamanuca market. At $358 per night as the entry point, it is below the price threshold of the Mamanuca properties often cited in the same breath — Likuliku Lagoon Resort and Tokoriki Island Resort both start at $700 or more per night, targeting adults-only or couples-only markets. Malolo Island Resort is neither of those things. It is a 4-star island property, family-inclusive, with 46 bures, a 4.7 TripAdvisor rating, and a kids club that has repeatedly won best-in-Fiji recognition.

The colonial architectural character is one of the things that genuinely differentiates it. Most new island resorts in the Mamanucas are built to an aesthetic that trades in clean lines, pale timbers, and polished minimalism. Malolo Island Resort is built from a different vocabulary — thatched bures with high ceilings, heavy timber, ceiling fans and garden settings that feel earned rather than designed. Guests who value character over polish will find the property more rewarding than the star rating suggests.

The no-television policy is worth knowing before you arrive. If you travel with a teenager who needs a screen in the evenings, Khail’s Club provides that option during the day, but the bures are intentionally analogue. For families willing to lean into that, the 12-hour kids club, the reef snorkelling off the beach, the weekly cultural programming, and the full watersports menu mean boredom is not a realistic outcome.

The honest caveats apply to any island property in this category: the ferry schedule controls your arrivals and departures, the island is the totality of your world during the stay, and the intimacy and character of the place — the things that make it genuinely good — are partly products of its remoteness and scale. Guests who want those qualities will find Malolo Island Resort to be one of the more honest-to-its-billing 4-star island resorts in Fiji.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Malolo Island Resort located?

Malolo Island Resort is located on Malolo Island in the Mamanuca Islands, approximately 25 kilometres northwest of Nadi. It shares the island with Likuliku Lagoon Resort, which sits at the opposite end — the two resorts have no shared facilities.

How do I get to Malolo Island Resort from Nadi Airport?

From Nadi International Airport, take a road transfer to Port Denarau Marina (approximately 20-25 minutes), then a South Sea Cruises catamaran to Malolo Island. Three departures are available daily from Port Denarau: 9:30am, 12:15pm, and 3:15pm. The direct 3:15pm service takes approximately 55 minutes; the earlier services stop at other islands and take around two hours. Helicopter transfers are also available through Island Hoppers Helicopters, landing at the adjacent Likuliku Resort helipad with a five-minute boat transfer to Malolo Island Resort.

How much does it cost to stay at Malolo Island Resort?

Rates start from approximately $358 per night. Pricing varies by bure category, season, and how far in advance you book. Peak season — June to August and the Christmas/New Year period — sees higher rates and reduced availability, particularly in Family Bures, which have only four units across the property.

How many bures does Malolo Island Resort have?

The resort has 46 bures across five categories: 8 Island Bures, 20 Oceanview Bures, 12 Deluxe Oceanview Bures, 4 Family Bures, and 2 Tadra Bures.

Is Malolo Island Resort good for families?

It is one of the stronger family options in the Mamanucas at the 4-star level. Tia’s Treehouse kids club (ages 4-12) is complimentary and runs 9am to 9pm daily — a 12-hour supervised window. Khail’s Club provides a dedicated tween and teen lounge for ages 9-17. The family pool has a shallow beach-style entry suitable for young children. Private babysitting is available at FJD$12.50 per hour for children under 4. Kids Eat Free packages are available.

Is there an adults-only area at Malolo Island Resort?

Yes. The adults-only pool has a swim-up bar and daybed cabanas. Treetops Restaurant (for guests 13 and over) operates as an adults-only dining venue. The two Tadra Bures are reserved for adult guests. These dedicated adult spaces mean the resort functions practically for couples and adult guests as well as for families.

What diving is available at Malolo Island Resort?

The resort’s dive operation is run by Subsurface Fiji, a PADI 5-Star IDC (the highest PADI certification level). Access to 44 dive sites within the Mamanuca Islands is available, including the shark encounter dive at The Supermarket, the WWII B26 Bomber wreck, the Salamanda shipwreck, and reef sites including Jackies Reef, North Reef, and Coral Gardens. Discover Scuba, Open Water certification, Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, and specialty courses are offered.

What is the snorkelling like at Malolo Island Resort?

Malolo Island is surrounded by a protected fringing coral reef that is directly accessible from the beach — no boat trip required. Complimentary snorkelling equipment is provided. The reef has healthy coral health and marine life variety. Guided snorkelling trips to additional nearby sites are also available.

What restaurants does Malolo Island Resort have?

The resort has three venues: Treetops Restaurant (adults-only, a la carte Pacific Rim cuisine, dinner 6:30pm-10pm and breakfast 8am-10:30am), Terrace Restaurant (all guests, a la carte and buffet, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner), and the Beach Bar (snacks, drinks, and informal meals throughout the day).

Does Malolo Island Resort have televisions in the rooms?

No. The resort has made a deliberate policy decision to exclude televisions, phones, and radios from all bures. The intent is a digital-detox-style experience. There are no exceptions across the accommodation categories — even the premium Tadra Bures follow this policy.

By: Sarika Nand