You are here: Home » Accommodation » Moana's Guest House
Moana's Guest House
Moana's Guest House is near Sawana village on Vanua Balavu Island. Vanua Balavu lies in the Northern Lau Islands - one of Fiji's least visited island groups. Many of Sawana's 400 inhabitants are of Tongan descent.
Location
300 kilometres east of Fiji's capital city Suva.
Accommodation
Moana's Guest House has three traditional bure (bungalows) on the beach, a leisurely 15-minute walk outside the village. Two of these simple thatched units share a toilet/shower, while the third has stone walls and private facilities. All three are equipped with mosquito nets and solar power, and mats cover the cement floors for comfort and cleanliness.
Basic accommodations at Moana's cost F$65 per person a night (half price for children under 12), including three hearty meals, snacks, and tea. The larger beach bure with private bath is F$85 per person. Moana's beach bungalows are popular among those who want to relax in a natural setting. A colorful reef will be just 100 meters from your door.
Dining
You'll be well fed, with lots of local produce, seafood, and fresh fruit:
1. Breakfast might consist of homemade bread with bananas and papaya, served with tea, coffee, and lemon grass.
2. Lunch could be sandwiches, or perhaps a rice dish or spicy soup, accompanied by more fruit. Picnic lunches are supplied upon request.
3. For dinner you might get curried chicken or baked fish in coconut cream, accompanied by green veggies and plantains. A dessert of cocoa and cakes is served some nights.
Activities
Activities at Moana's Guest House include:
Motorboat trips to the idyllic Bay of Islands, or sailing in a Fijian outrigger canoe. You can go line fishing or trolling, and there's also snorkeling, hiking, and riding a bareback horse. Hikers can explore a hot spring, caves, hilltops, and secluded beaches.
For small groups, a Tongan-style feast can be arranged, with folkloric dancing, kava drinking, and suckling pig on a spit. On Sundays, the choral singing at Sawana Tongan Church is a real treat, and it's usually followed by a feast. (Some optional activities involve an extra charge.)
Only Fijian currency in cash is accepted on Vanua Balavu (no foreign currency, traveler's cheques, or credit cards). Currently, US$1 is worth a bit less than F$2.
Last updated on Monday, July 21, 2008
