Fiji's Plantation and Mana Island quick trip report

Just back from both. Plantation was really great in everyway especially the wonderful enthusiastic staff and fantastic for the lots of younger children there being kept thoroughly entertained and having a ball, much looks to have been recently renovated. Maybe the resort is more suited to couples and families than single folks as the dining choices are more 4 seater tables not the long shared tables of say Octopus or Blue Lagoon. We got the 3 meal daily meal deal but if you didn't want to eat so much or save you could just get a burger from the daytrippers canteen for lunch.

Mana was also very, very good. Same again maybe not the ideal place in the resort for single travellers to mingle as the dining is again 4 seat settings. Aternatively there is a few backpacker places such as Ratu Kini's which seemed ok and at the usual backpacker standard. The village is right next door and welcomes you through for a visit, see the school or trinket shopping. The North Beach is for resort guests but the South Beach and Sunset Beach etc are accessible for all. Snorkelling at Mana was deeper and had more fish than Plantation. Both resorts were totally recommmendable though some might you'd find Plantation a little self contained after 5 days but I'm sure you could wander over to Muscat Cove harbour if so, Mana had more choices in things to do and places to eat at esp if you may find the inhouse dining/meal deals expensive. As a treat Mana garden bures include the outdoor roofless showers which are just great.

You can get betwwen the 2 islands which don't have regular direct transfers by taking the FJ$79 (kids 50%) island hopping tour from Plantation via Treasure and Beachcomber to Mana (then on the Castaway then back to Plantation for the daytrippers). I was quoted AUD$500 for a water taxi by the Australian agent which was overpriced and just not necessary. Failing the trip seeking 6 pax minimum the dive shop would have taken us direct for the 2.5 pax we were.

From Mana you can do the Sea Spray day boat trip up to the Tom Hank's fil 'Castaway' island which includes snorkelling gear, bbq lunch, all drinks and a authentic enough island village visit and kava ceremony for FJ$163/adult (more coming over from Nadi).

Both are ideal places to recommend to folks who are first timers to island life or Fiji itself (esp families with kids). I was with friends this trip so enjoyed one of my best visits there this time.

Thanks for the report, Thurston. Could be useful when I get to Fiji.