Where can you lay on an almost private, pristine beach, enjoy varied activities, try world class dining and live it up in five-star luxury, without travelling more than five hours outside of Sydney?
In Fiji.
Yes, only around five hours outside of Sydney and just 15 minutes by helicopter from Nadi is VOMO Island, a luxury, family-friendly accommodation that after two extensive refurbishments, is being compared to some of the world’s top resorts in the Maldives and the Seychelles.
And it’s all thanks to the property’s General Manager, Mark Leslie, who took the island and invested nearly $22 million dollars into delivering a standard of accommodation “that didn’t exist” in the island nation.
Speaking to KarryOn, Leslie said when he first stepping in to manage the island back in 2013, he noticed that while it was popular amongst its guests, it lacked a level of service, food and beauty that guests should expect from one of Fiji’s best properties.
“When I came over and had a look at the island, I realised Fiji is in a time warp, it doesn’t have a good name for food and obviously Fiji time is slow.”
Mark Leslie, VOMO General Manager
So he took out the drawing board and put together a plan to “take it to another level”.
It all started with the food. According to Leslie, it was “imperative to get the food right”. This required recruiting some of the top chefs from Oman resorts and other from Florence and Italy to contribute to a drool-worthy menu.
The next step was refurbishing the entire property so that every little aspect was unique to the island from the types of rooms to one-of-a-kind furniture and fittings.
Leslie also opened two new private residences and raised the service level without stripping away that Fijian hospitality.
“The entire island was new in March 2015 when we reopened by unfortunately Cyclone Winston came through and we had to do another refurbishment.”
Mark Leslie, VOMO General Manager
What was initial devastation for Leslie, turned out to be a blessing disguise, because with another $17 million and six months of complete closure, he was able to change landscaping, move roads, extend walls, plant 100,000 new plants and convert the closed reception into an open, welcoming space as well as another sitting area.
So when the island reopened again in last month, it not only become one of Fiji’s best properties, but one of the world’s.
“It’s taken three-and-a-half years, but VOMO doesn’t just compete in Fiji, it competes globally. It sits on that level.”
Mark Leslie, VOMO General Manager
“Almost everything was designed specifically for the property, even the chef’s knives are at the highest level from Japan and they are handmade knives.
“The finish guests get to come, use and see is on another level.”
While it might sound like a property reserved for the rich and famous (and sure enough a fair few have been spotted there since it re-opened), but VOMO is also family friendly yet exclusive to adults at the same time.
It has baby butlers, a complimentary Kids Village as well as separate play areas, restaurants and menus for the young ones.
While adults can enjoy cool music and canapés at the adults-only bar at the end of the island or try the dishes at the adults-only dining outlet.
For those who want complete privacy, only a short boat ride (or swim) away is Little VOMO, which can be hired out, giving guests the chance to have their own little South Pacific island for a day.
