Paradise found If you are looking for a bit of paradise on a remote tropical island—this is the place! From our first welcoming “Bula” to our final farewell we could not have had more friendly attention. Our beach side bures were ideal. Dean and his staff were like family meeting our every need. Our whole experience was five star plus. We highly recommend it.

Authentic Fijian Experience Visit authentic Fiji! The sunshines out of the villagers who own and run the lodge. Superb location on outer reef 4 hours north of the main island by ferry or by helicopter much quicker.Great snorkelling right off the beach, lots of activities every day. Free to use kayaks, paddle boards, snorkel gear etc. Huge meals including fish caught daily. Fresh local produce and variety of meat, chicken dishes.Murray and Jean Australia

SHEER AND UTTER BLISS !!!!!!!! I can’t say enough about this wonderful island resort. It totally exceeded all my expectations.I arrived on the Yasawa Flyer (fast ferry ) from Denarau which arrives daily around 1pm ( a 5 hour trip from the mainland ) it’s expensive, but in itself is a really fabulous cruise.It calls into many island resorts along the way, Oarsman’s is close to the last drop off.The staff were all singing, smiling and warmly serenading us with guitars as we arrived on the resorts speed boat.Stepping onto the white sand of Navolo Bay, looking at the turquoise, crystal clear water with fish beneath our toes , there was a huge WOW !!!! from a fellow guest arriving. The bay and endless beach are REALLY impressive!!! with towering volcanic mountain’s in the distance. It’s natural beauty like never before.Truly sublime, and a photographers dream.Coconut welcome drinks arrived within minutes and there was not one staff member who had not offered a warm sincere personal greeting to each of us. ( I was finding it difficult to remember all the names.)After a 10 minute check in we were off to explore our accommodation.All private bures are facing the ocean and the view is breathtaking at any time of the day from sunrise to sunset (and constantly changing.) The coral reef is at your door to explore, on both ends of the beach. Snorkelling gear along with kayaks and paddleboards are all free activities. For those who enjoy hiking there are many hikes through the island from easy to a more advanced level. My guide was the resorts mascot Nero (the woofie)The bures are equipped with private ensuites and have air con, balconies and ceiling fans, along with all linen, towels and toiletries. The two newly built bures are another level again in quality with luxurious fittouts.There are many different sleeping configurations in bures to suit singles, couples and families and also an Attic Room (8 person mixed dorm) which comes with privacy screens between beds and a shared spotlessly clean bathroom. All towels and toiletries are supplied on all levels of accommodation.A huge open dining/lounge area is central to the resort and where you’ll find most people mingling during the day with a cocktail in hand, or heading out on an excursion. Otherwise you’ll find guests on the sun beds out front of their bure reading, swimming or snorkelling.The choice here is yours, whether you want to be active all day or simply relax and enjoy this stunning scenic location.The food was excellent also, and was offered as an affordable compulsory meal plan.Breakfast is a buffet of bacon, eggs, beans, toast, juices, yogurt, fresh papaya and pineapple along with tea /coffee and the very best warm breads and cakes.Lunch was a single course .Afternoon tea at 4pm is A MUST and NOT to be missed with warm freshly baked coconut swirls, chocolate cakes and cinnamon cakes. Dinner is a 3 course banquet with a choice of mains. The dining room is set formally for dinner for each bure and it’s your option to join other guests. Most visitors enjoy a refreshment at the fully stocked bar prior to dinner.There’s a decent drinks menu with NZ wines, sparkling wines, and cocktails along with local and imported beers.Saturday night’s dinner is a cultural treat with a traditional Fijian feast (lovo) cooked underground of fish, chicken, lamb and veg.From 4pm all guests are invited to watch the lovo being prepared.Fijian dancing and singing kept us entertained after dinner and the staff presented us all with flower leis. A kava ceremony followed.There is an extensive activity board drawn up daily for those who need to be active every minute. Not all excursions or activities are chargeable.I went on the cave trip which is A MUST!!!! Absolutely AMAZING!!!! And I 1000% recommend. I also enjoyed too much the outer reef snorkelling tour which lasted about 3 hours.The attention to detail here and cleanliness at this resort was impressive. There were fresh flowers everywhere inside, and the staff took time and effort to present everything so well. The gardens and grounds of the resort are also too beautiful.Fijians are just the happiest people in the world and after my weeks stay at Oarsman’s that happiness had well and truly rubbed off onto me. I left completely rejuvenated and will DEFINITELY be returning. For me, relaxation was mandatory.Venturing to the Yasawa’s ( far away from the normal tourist trail and mainland) WASN’T a mistake, and for that, I was truly grateful that I had chosen this sublime island resort with the very best scenery and staff to be found anywhere.There is nowhere on earth as stunning as Oarsman’s. I know that’s a huge call but it’s TRUE. I didn’t meet another guest either young or old who didn’t remark on the islands beauty and the AMAZING staff who complimented this unique location..It’s quiet, secluded and there’s NO KIDS and as every guest departed on the Flyer each day there was someone arriving to replace them (which bears testament to how popular this resort is.)I cried all the way back to the mainland on my return, after the staffs glorious singing of Isa Lei (the Fijian farewell song.) This a small resort by comparison to others and NOT to be missed. I stayed at 4 other resorts during my months stay in Fiji and this was, by far the very best.I highly recommend it for all ages. There was young and not so young staying during my visit and all agreed the island was one of the best in Fiji. This resort would be absolutely AMAZING for a wedding, honeymoon, babymoon, or anyone coming off a nervous breakdown.I HUGE THANK YOU to:Adi ( hugs), Lucy (hugs), Isi (hugs), Abbo, Sisa, Captain Matthew, your wonderful Chef Ase, Pastry Chef Lani, Una, Ben, Pipi ,Salu and Nina. And not forgetting gorgeous Dean who made it all possible.I WILL BE BACK I’m missing you all too much already.Vinaka,Till then Sota Tale xxThis was not my first trip to Fiji.

Tranquil authentic Fijian island stay Sad to leave such a beautiful tranquil chilled small secluded resort with such a big warm welcoming personal feel, wonderful staff and amazing food. A Peaceful stay with privacy to relax yet places to explore, interesting Fijian activities to do with great snorkelling canoeing and paddle boarding. The bures have lovely personal touches, spacious beds great en-suites and lots of authentic Fijian detail - a lot of care thought and love has been put into this resort with the close links and involvement of the local community - you won’t be disappointed - highly recommend and hope to visit again for sure

The Best Fijian Experience Oarsman's Bay Lodge was our honeymoon destination 7 months ago and we can't get over it yet. Not only the location in the beautiful Yasawa Islands is perfect because of how secluded, pristine, and almost untouched the islands are, but the management at Oarsman is unforgettable. Having worked in hospitality for years, I can assure they meet the best standards of hospitality and management in the industry. We were looking for a place where we could feel disconnected from the world and connected to nature, culture and each other, well Oarsman offers that and more. Our bure was immaculately clean and beautifully decorated, aside of the privacy feel our bure had everything we needed to make it feel like home. The outdoor shower was always a treat. We found ourselves taking several showers a day just to enjoy the warm water under the open air!The beach is beautiful and clean with top grade snorkeling right at your doorstep. We spent hours walking the beach and swimming at our leisure. The excursions were worth every penny. We took several excursions and we can't say which one was the best because we enjoyed them all so much for such different reasons.First, we indulged in the private Honeymoon Island where we snorkeled and had a fantastic picnic lunch all to ourselves. Second, we visited the small village on Nacula and spent quality time with the locals. Their beautiful village and accompanying school yard were a real treat and we were so grateful to see the local way of life.Third, we took a guided hike to the top of the hill at sunrise and watched the world awaken in paradise. It was truly breathtaking and one of the highlights of our entire trip.Fourth, we took a private trip to a nearby reef to do some free diving. We were all alone with our boat driver, Abu, while we dove 40-60 feet in crystal clear water surrounded by an abundance of sea life. Fifth, we went went snorkeling through the Blue Lagoon caves. I would say this is a must as well because it is an experience unlike anything we have ever done.With all those excursions and trips we never felt rushed or like we didn't have time to just relax and enjoy ourselves. Every night we had a delicious home cooked meal of local foods and pastries. We couldn't believe the complexity of the flavors and the impressive quality of the dishes. The chef and kitchen staff are true professionals and pride themselves on delivering high quality and unique dishes to the guests. We enjoyed every single bite of our food over our 6 day trip.It should also be noted that the staff make this more than just a vacation. They go out of their way to make you feel at home and were very accommodating. When we left to return to the States, it felt like we were saying goodbye to dear, old friends. We could not imagine a better way to spend our honeymoon. We tell all of our friends and family that if they ever go to Fiji, that Oarsman's Bay is the only place to stay.Thank you Oarsman's and we can't wait to see you again (hopefully soon)!

Island Perfection Island Perfection. There isn’t too much more I can say about this place. With its Crystal clear waters, soft sand and friendly staff our stay here was great!As a group we did a number of activities, snorkelling off the beach was awesome. Cave trip is a must do as well! The reef hopping tour was also worth the trip!Also recommend doing the sunset hike!For someone who is fussy like myself, the food was great. Majority seafood but cooked well and there wasn’t a meal that wasn’t enjoyed! Bure’s also neat, tidy with Air Con if needed. Cannot fault this place at all!

Book Oarsman If you want a peaceful, quiet and private setting book Oarsman. Rooms don’t have Tv which is great as guests get to go out and enjoy the sea, sand and sun. The beachside bures are clean and spacious and have a ceiling fan and air conditioning. Meals are simple and lovely. They offer Coffee, tea and cake for afternoon tea. Filtered water is available 24 /7. Cave trip is a must, snorkelling is great and there are other activities to keep you occupied. Maybe a small spa ( relaxing massage) set up would be good to add. Depending on your budget you can take the ferry from Denarau (5hrs) or chopper (40 min) to get to the lodge. Sivo, the lady who looks after reservations (emailbookings@oarsmansbaylodgefiji.com) was quick to respond to queries and pricing information. The staff at the lodge are very friendly and helpful. In summary; relaxing, simple, authentic Fiji experience.

Stay here! It is perfection. After researching across islands and debating where was best for me and my friend to stay I'm so glad this is where we went! We also stayed at Octopus Resort and preferred Oarsman!It's a total 10/10. The rooms are pristinely clean and gorgeous, with air con and lots of breeze through the slatted windows. The Ocean View Bure is perfect - about 10 steps to the ocean and you get your own designated lounge chairs up closer to the water. The views are stunning. The staff are really welcoming and the food is lovely - buffet breakfast, a choice of 2 options for lunch, and a set dinner with three courses. They accomodated different guest food needs too.The atmosphere is quiet and chill with only a handful of other guests when we were there. It didn't have any of that yucky/cheesy resort feel to it which we really appreciated. I would call it a boutique resort best suited to 30+ year olds.The beach is white sand with palm trees and easy and safe to swim in at any time.Stay here!

Second-to-none authentic Fijian experience Oarsman’s Bay Lodge and Nacula Island are an essential part of a true Fijian experience! This was so much better than the resorts in Port Denarau. Oarsman’s was a little more rustic than we had expected, but it was nothing short of breathtaking. It’s an authentic slice of paradise! Below you will find more info about what to expect, including some details about off-site excursions and travel.Accommodations:We stayed in a studio, beachfront bure that was comfortable and beautiful! We had an outdoor (but private) shower, a covered porch, a hammock, designated lounge chairs, and direct beach access. The beach view bures are just a hair behind the beachfronts; so if you’re trying to decide between the two, I didn’t really see a difference except for the views (unobstructed vs obstructed). There is no WiFi or TVs in the bures. The windows have large shutters, bug screens, and no glass. You can open all of the shutters to get a nice, natural cross-breeze in your bure, but there is also a small A/C unit that goes down to 17°C. None of the outlets have USB ports; so make sure you have Type 1 plug ins or a converter. The room also doesn’t have a hair dryer, ironing board, or telephone, but this wasn’t an issue for us. Oarsman’s has a relaxed, unplugged atmosphere. Everything seems intentionally designed to help you disconnect and enjoy life at a slower pace (aka Fiji Time), and we loved it. Food & Drink:The required meal plan was better than we expected. All of the food was delicious! Meals have set time frames and the menu is also pre-set. I recommend adapting to Fiji Time while you’re here; meals were rarely served on time but rather 15-20 minutes after the scheduled start time. Oarsman’s was able to accommodate my wife’s Gluten-free diet. They made small modifications to each meal or served her different food entirely if needed. They really went above and beyond for her. During our 5-day stay, we only had one issue with cross-contamination that was rectified quickly. Overall, we really enjoyed meal times here. It was the best food we had in Fiji! Our favorite food item was, unfortunately, served only upon our arrival, which was a fresh coconut. It would be nice if fresh coconuts could be purchased daily as this is one of our favorite things to have when traveling to islands (We can’t get fresh coconuts at home in Colorado). So make sure you cherish your coconut when you arrive! The staff are happy to cut it open for you so that you can eat it after you’re done drinking it. Also, the only coffee available was instant coffee. Being on a remote island, I assume instant coffee is more economical and environmentally friendly, but fresh coffee would be a nice change to see if it’s feasible. The cuisine in Fiji definitely has a British flair to it. Tea Time occurs daily at 4 PM at Oarsman’s. We really enjoyed the cakes and Earl Gray. I wouldn’t recommend the cocktails at Oarsman’s, but they have a very nice selection of beer, wine, and Fijian rum. I didn’t feel like alcohol was a big focus here, which was a nice change from other vacations I’ve had. There isn’t always a bartender available; so if you like to drink a lot, I’d recommend that you BYOB. Alternatively, adapt to the way of life on Nacula Island and just drink a little less during your stay. It’s plenty of fun on its own!Rental Gear:With no digital entertainment on site, the focus here is really the beautiful environment. Paddle boards, snorkel gear, kayaks, and more are available to rent for free. We had a blast right off our doorstep! If you’re a serious snorkeler, I would recommend bringing your own snorkel gear as the correct sizing is not always available to rent. The rental gear is also used by Oarsman’s guests for off-site excursions. There were a couple of times that the fins in my size were not available because someone else was using them for the Reef Hopping or Cave trip. And again, don’t be in a rush to rent gear! The staff could be assisting guests on or off site. Enjoy Fiji Time, and find something else to do until you see a staff member near the rental shop. Reef Hopping:I highly recommend the Reef Hopping trip, but there is also a beautiful reef 5 feet off the beach here (arguably more beautiful than the reefs you see on the trip). The Oarsman’s staff will take you to 3 different reefs on roughly a half day trip, including a spot where reef fish are hand fed right in front of you! Travel for this trip is via a small fishing boat with no protection from the sun or sea. It’s best to leave all of your clothing and shoes in your room and go in your swimsuit alone. If you need to bring anything along that can’t get wet, you need a high-quality, submersible dry bag. You also need to be an experienced, strong swimmer for this trip. You’ll get the best views of the reefs on this trip if you aren’t wearing your life jacket, which will allow you to dive down deeper for a better look. We saw tons of reef fish, a sea turtle, a Blacktip Reef Shark, and beautiful coral. It’s definitely some of the best snorkeling in the world!Cave Trip:This trip is a MUST! The caves are so beautiful. Again, you’ll be in a small boat, and you WILL get wet. The same advice I gave regarding the Reef Hopping trip applies here as well. Once you are in the caves, you’re protected from the open ocean and the sun. It’s really a large, saltwater swimming pool. There are 1 or 2 fish in there, though. You will get to experience two different caves while you’re here. The first cave is what you see in all the photos online, and the second cave is totally dark. The guides will assist you in swimming through a small “tunnel” to reach the second cave. It takes about 1 second underwater to get through it, and then the guides will illuminate the second cave for you with strong flashlights. It’s really beautiful in there! After you’re done exploring the caves, you can buy small crafts and jewelry from islanders out on the beach, but it’s cash only. I recommend bringing $300 FJD in your dry bag if you want to buy things here (we brought $50, and it was barely enough for two small items). This is a great place to buy unique souvenirs that you won’t find in the shops at Port Denarau or the airport.Island Sunset Trip:A trip to Yaromo Island while at Oarsman’s is also a must, and the Island Sunset trip is a great way to experience it! Unlike the other trips, you won’t really get wet on this one. It’s a short and peaceful boat ride to the island. Once on the island, you’ll be guided up to a private viewing deck. The staff can also bring along drinks for you. This is a great place to have a bottle of wine! In case of rain, Yaromo Island has shelters on it. There’s also a bathroom. We had a great time exploring the island, watching the sunset, and drinking wine! The staff leave you alone on the island until you’re ready to leave; so it was really the perfect getaway from the more social scene at the main lodge. The western side of the island is rocky and rugged, which was so beautiful. The viewing deck is quite high on the side of a rocky cliff. Down below you can see crabs crawling across the rocks as waves crash over them. The sunsets at Oarsman’s become so much more beautiful after the sun has set. So make sure you don’t leave Yaromo too early! You’ll want to stick around to see the pink and purple hues reflecting against the rocks.Getting to Oarsman’s:Oarsman’s Bay Lodge is in a remote location. It takes about 5 hours via ferry to get there. The staff are happy to make those arrangements for you. You can also get there via helicopter if weather permits. We chose to fly in and ferry out, and the helicopter was definitely the better of the two travel options. Oarsman’s can arrange these flights for you, and I highly recommend it if it’s in your budget. Just be aware that if the weather turns sour, your flight will be canceled, and you’ll have to ride the ferry. The Yasawa Flyer feels like a large bus on water. It’s crowded and a little hectic. We decided to upgrade to the Captain’s Lounge, which was well worth it. Snacks, drinks, and alcohol are included with the upgraded fair, whereas these are additional purchases with the standard fair. Traveling via helicopter allows you to have a nearly direct transfer from Nadi International to Oarsman’s, and you’ll avoid Port Denarau entirely. A shuttle will take you from the airport to a nice waiting room at the helipad – about a 5 minute drive. There’s free coffee, snacks, and Fiji water. The helicopter flight from there to Oarsman’s is 30 minutes direct. For us it was 45 minutes because we had others with us that were being dropped along the way. Helicopter is really the best way to view and appreciate the beauty of the Yasawas!

Tropical Paradise in the Yasawa Islands, Fiji. Fabulous resort for a vacation. We were a three generation family of six and had the best holiday ever. We were welcomed island style with song on our arrival. The staff went above and beyond to make our stay thoroughly enjoyable for the entire time. Nothing was too much trouble. Our stay came with a compulsory meal plan. Breakfast was buffet style - homemade breads, hard boiled eggs, bacon or sausages, fresh fruit, porridge and cereals. Juice, tea and coffee. Lunch was a delicious cooked meal and dinner was a three course meal consisting of a different soup every day and a choice of two mains plus dessert.The food was island style and beautifully presented. Also freshly made cake was served at 4pm for afternoon tea everyday. We certainly didn’t go hungry. Our Ocean View bure was lovely and clean and came with a king size bed plus optional single bed; outdoor shower for rinsing off; indoor open air shower with shampoo, conditioner and body wash all supplied; plenty of hot water; verandah with outdoor seating to enjoy the view and a hammock to relax in. Towels and swimming towels all supplied. There were daily activities to enjoy - some free and some charged for. Free use of gear for snorkeling, paddle boarding and kayaking all provided. The sea was crystal clear and lovely and warm to swim in, with the coral reef accessible from the beach. The tropical gardens are beautiful and well maintained. A very relaxing and enjoyable time was had by all of us. We were all very well taken care of and the staff made us all feel special. A huge heart felt thank you to all. Vinaka❣️