Ideas pls

My sister and I are attending a family wedding at end of Jan12 at Warwick Resort and will be there for a week. We have have decided to stay in Fiji for an extra 5 nights and we are after some advice as to where to go. I am interested in an area with volcanic peaks, good beach with snorkelling, preferably bure accommodation with own facilities and quality food (not just Indian or chicken/fish & rice) and not a party place - we are "mature" aged women. I would like somewhere we could go for walks, visit local village. Are the Yasawas the only area with volcanic peaks (imagine picture on cover of 2009LP)? Any ideas of area and also resorts. In terms of costs we don't want the top of the range exclusive resorts but happy to pay around $200A per night.

Many thanks

Well, Fiji is not really volcanic (by my definition, anyway).
I think the island physically matching your ideas most is Waya - it's also home to several local villages.
However its only upmarket(ish) accommodation is Octopus, which apparently doesn't want its guests to go on longer walks or visit the villages other than on tours.
Resorts on Nacula might be better for walks and village visits, though while mountainous, that island lacks Waya's really striking peaks.

Taveuni and Ovalau are also very scenic and mountainous (much greener than the Yasawas) and home to many villages you could visit on your own, but are not so good for beach resorts and might be a bit too far to go for just 5 days.

As a regular of Octopus, and also "mature" - I think Octopus would fit your requirements well. Good snorkelling, great food, very friendly people.
re village visits - the resort takes several (free) visits to the village every week. You would get to visit the kindergarten, and on Sundays a church service. One day the village concert party presents a meke (local songs and dances) and they have a craft market after that. As for the visits being escorted, it is important to remember that village life is communal, no roads or fences. By walking into the village you are effectively entering their back yards - and most living is done outside. It is only polite to go there at a time when you would be expected. I know I would not be happy having uninvited people wandering through my backyard.
re walking - It is possible to walk along the beach to the far end, and at low tide you can walk around the rocks at either end of the beach by yourself. Just be careful and take shoes with non-slippery soles on the rocks - they get very hot and can be slippery. The hikes the resort arranges go on very steep tracks, and the terrain can be tricky with hazards like rocks and cracks in the ground. The resort is aware of it's responsibility to guests safety and so insists on a guide. You can walk up the steps behind the resort and along the track
towards the village (without going in) by yourself. The steps are a challenge in themselves the more mature you are!
I'm happy to share my photos of the resort or answer any questions you may have - just send me a PM (with email address if you want to see my photos).
Lazlo's other suggestion of Nacula is a good one - Octopus has a sister resort there - Blue Lagoon Beach Resort. (I have photos of that too) Wonderful snorkelling, food etc. You do not have to have a guide on that island for walks - rolling hills rather than rocky peaks. It is further north in the Yasawas.
To travel to both you would use the Yasawa Flyer which leaves Nadi (Denarau Marina) at 8.30am, gets to Octopus at 11am and to Nacula around 12.45pm. The Flyer turns around at Nacula and returns to Nadi - picks up from Octopus around 3pm and gets back to Denarau around 6pm. Depending on the time of your flight home you may have to spend your last night in Nadi.
I'm going to both again in October.

I'd give Octupus a miss - didn't like it at all - too resorty - families laying around the pool - didn't like the beach at all - obviously neither did the pool dwellers- the manager barking orders - we had a trip booked to go to a local football match - the lovely local staff quoted a price per head to get a boat to take us - and when the manager ( a new zealander from memory) got wind of it he upped the price and said he "wouldn't start the boat up for any less" the differnece was $5 fj per head!! Nacula Island great but if you don't want a resort Oarsmans Bay lodge is great. A beautiful island - with local villages (accessible only at low tide) or by boat. Probably the best beach i've seen in Fiji - btw i'm in my 50's and we have a group of ladies that goes to Fiji every year. The trip on the Yasawa flyer is specatular - enjoy

I loved Octopus but it was a couple of years ago - maybe it has changed? Didn't spend any time by the pool as the beach was good enough for me and I am a self-confessed sand snob. We went to another island further north (name escapes me as it was not worth remembering).
Spent a few days earlier this year with my parents on the Coral Coast not far from the Warwick and I can definitely advise it is worth escaping to an island for at least part of your trip.