A blog by the staff and management of Matava about adventure travel in and around the Fiji Islands including trekking, kayaking, cultural experiences and birdwatching.
Jun 22, 2011
Heaven on earth - can't wait to go back...
The staff were wonderful, couldn't do enough for you day and night, always quick with a smile and a joke. The food was fantastic as was the diving.
Matava would not be for everyone, but if you don't mind rustic charm (no air con or fan, and limited electricity - tropical breeze, gas lanterns and mozzie nets instead) and want a true romantic adventure far, far from the maddening crowds then I would highly recommend this place to you.
Heaven on earth - can't wait to go back - Review of Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort, Kadavu Island, Fiji - TripAdvisor
May 14, 2011
May 4, 2011
Matava: Earth Day April 2011
Matava: Earth Day April 2011 by Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort
Apr 21, 2011
Exotic remote paradise - TripAdvisor
The best vacation adventure I have ever had! I daydream about Matava all the time.
Fishing on the Bite Me for blue marlin was quite a thrill!!! First time I fought a fish that I thought might just win!
The water was amazing every shade of turquois and blue you could imagine.
Wonderful people great food and the kava tasted pretty darn good to me.
Have never seen such beautiful fish and coral!
Cant wait to return to Kadavu!
Exotic remote paradise - Review of Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort, Kadavu Island, Fiji - TripAdvisor
Apr 12, 2011
Diving in Fiji: Winner of Dive Boat Name Announced!
Winner of Dive Boat Name Announced!
Michael Caro of Michigan, USA won the competition!
We are pleased to announce that we have the name of our new dive boat:
The winner is Michael Caro from Michigan, USA, sent in through his dive travel agent Scuba Planners!.
He's won himself a Scuba Dive Kadavu Package :
- 5 day of 2 tanks diving (10 dives) at Mad Fish Dive Centre
- All day free access to shore diving at The Critter Junction
- 7 nights in Oceanview Traditional Bure
- All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, unlimited tea/coffee)
- Traditional Lovo Feast and Kava ceremony
- Airport and boat transfers to/from Kadavu airport
- All taxes
Thanks to everyone who sent in names, we were overwhelmed by the number of emails and suggestions.
Follow along the construction on our blogs and the photos on Flickr.
Winner of Dive Boat Name Announced
Apr 11, 2011
Mar 19, 2011
Absolutely Brilliant Adventure - Review of Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort, Kadavu Island, Fiji - TripAdvisor
Most guests were divers but we scheduled an activity every day. Medicine man walk, village visit, snorkel trips, remote picnic on deserted beach & an exciting adventure kayaking from Ono Island across the channel back to Matava. In fact the adventure starts as soon as you leave Nadi. Small plane flight, truck across Island & then 1 hr open boat trip to the retreat.
Thank you so much guys for everything. We will definitely be returning & have such fond happy memories that we will cherish for a lifetime. "
Absolutely Brilliant Adventure - Review of Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort, Kadavu Island, Fiji - TripAdvisor
Mar 4, 2011
Fantastic location & adventure options, and the people were terrific! - TripAdvisor
I've traveled extensively and for the overall value this was one of the best remote eco-resorts I've ever visited.Fantastic location & adventure options, and the people were terrific! - TripAdvisor:
The owners and staff treated me like a long-lost friend. Meals were made with local food, prepared very well, served family style, and there was always enough to go around. The guests were from around the world and were fun and friendly.
The staff were helpful, accommodating, friendly and professional. As a diver, I really appreciated how well the dive operation was handled -- gear, boat, dive masters, safety, etc. were all PADI 5-star.
If you open your mind and heart to the local Fijian people, especially if you visit one of their villages, they will be friends for life...
Feb 26, 2011
Matava wins Environment/Local Sustainability Award at AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards 2010 | Matava - Fijis Premier Eco Adventure Resort
Matava wins AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism Award 2011
Matava has been awarded the Environment/Local Sustainability Award at the AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards
KADAVU, FIJI ISLANDS – 26th February 2011 – Matava – Fiji’s Premier Eco-Adventure Resort is proud to be announced as the winner of the Environment/Local Sustainability Award at the AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards 2010 for its policies on environmental sustainability and the environment.
The annual Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards night sponsored by AON was held at the The Warwick Resort and Spa on the Coral Coast on Friday 26th February 2011, and attended by Matava Director, Stuart Gow. Many local tourism operators and business people attended the evening presentations. This year there were over a thousand nominees in the 12 categories. This glamourous event was Red Sea Rig & Cocktail theme, welcoming guests with a 3 course dinner, an awards ceremony & fantastic live entertainment with a turn out of over 400 guests.
The Environment/Local Sustainability Award recognises efforts to preserve the environment & local communities for the benefits of locals & visitors alike in developing & fostering both environmental & national conservation. It also assesses efforts to support cultural initiatives and promote public awareness and education in support of “Fiji Made” products by reducing their carbon footprint.
Matava was proud to be nominated in 3 categories, and was chosen as a finalist in all nominated categories at this year’s AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards. Bite Me Gamefishing Charters and Mad Fish Dive Centre were recognised as finalist in the Fiji Experience Award, and Matava – Fiji’s Premier Eco Adventure Resort was a finalist in the Quality Accommodation Award as well as winning the Environment/Local Sustainability Award.
“We are extremely proud to win this award. We have been lucky to win overseas and global awards for our environmental policy in the past year, but it is especially gratifying to be recognised at home by our colleagues in Fiji.” said Mr Stuart Gow, one of Matava’s Directors.
Richard Akhtar, Managing Director of Matava – Fiji’s Premier Eco Adventure Resort said “At Matava, we are of course both happy and proud to receive this prestigious award. We find it even more important that the industry, by rewarding environmental efforts, choose to take a stand for the environment we depend on. We also see it as an important continuing signal to the community which at the same time can serve to inspire the numerous individuals and companies who have been doing so much, and continue to do even more in the field of environmental enlightenment and conservation. This award has highlighted Fiji’s leading role and efforts in this regard especially.”
About Matava – Fiji’s Premier Eco Adventure Resort:
Matava – Fiji’s Premier Eco Adventure Resort, is an eco adventure getaway offering you a fun and unique blend of cultural experiences and adventure activities in the environmentally pristine and remote island of Kadavu in the Fiji Islands. Matava – Fiji Premier Eco Adventure Resort is a PADI 5 Star Dive Resort as well as a Project AWARE GoEco Operator. With more than 14 years experience in the Fiji Islands, Matava is recognized as a leading educational dive centre. Matava offers accommodation for up to 22 guests in lush tropical surroundings in traditional thatched Fijian ‘bures’ with hardwood polished floors, louvre windows and private decks offering privacy, comfort and superb ocean views.
About AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards:
The awards which have been in existence for 14 years, honour those who have made a significant input to Fiji’s most important industry. The prestigious awards are given to individuals, groups and companies in a broad range of categories; covering accommodation, restaurant and dining, tours and transportation, environmental and local sustainability. Winners were chosen as part of a nomination process which began late last year and closed in January. Recipients of the various awards have proven dedication, active participation and innovation in their fields of speciality, and have thus merited the esteem of the industry. Over the years, the AON Excellence in Tourism Awards has grown in prestige and now not only bestows recognition but serves as an incentive for individuals and companies to aspire to greatness in the sector.
www.Matava.com
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Matava wins Environment/Local Sustainability Award at AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards 2010
Feb 20, 2011
Name our new dive boat to win a Dive Trip!
Name our new dive boat to win a Dive Trip!
Just too whet your appetite for the shiny new vessel joining our fleet, here are a couple of small pics of her parts and hull...- Bite Me: our 31ft offshore gamefishing boat
- Tease Me: our 8m GT Popping inshore fishing boat
- Take Me: our 8m guest transfer boat
- Carry Me: our 8m workboat
- Dive Me: our 10m dive boat
So get your thinking caps on and you could win yourself a free trip back to Matava to dive off the boat that you named!
Send all entries to Richard@Matava.com, Subject : New Dive Boat Name...
Prize Rules
- As many entries as possible per person is permitted (!)
- The winning prize voucher cannot be used in conjuction with any other offer.
- The closing date for the competition is Fri 25th Februrary 2011
- There is no cash alternative.
- The winner will be notified by email on the Mon 28 February 2011 and will receive the Matava Trip voucher
- The winner's name will be posted on this website as soon as the winner has been notified
- False information entered on the competition form will invalidate the entry
- The competition is open to any past guest of Matava
- The judges decision is final
