Perfect - Review of Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort, Kadavu Island, Fiji - TripAdvisor

This place is a little slice of heaven.

However, if you are the type that likes to be entertained or have schedules then this isn't the place for you. We spent 5 days here and didn't dive or fish but we were busy. We went kayaking, hiking, exploring the mud flats, snorkling (it's quite good right out front of the resort) and just relaxed and slept. A much needed rest.

The food was great and all staff were friendly and helpful. Oh, we did take the kayak trip to the remote village and although our guide didn't seem super pumped to be out there with us, we had a fantastic adventure with him. he was knowledgeable. The village was a highlight and the voices of the children singing to us while we hiked to the waterfall is one of my favorite memories. It was hard to leave this place.

It's rustic and wonderful, our type of place.

Perfect - Review of Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort, Kadavu Island, Fiji - TripAdvisor

Matava Resort- das Tor zum Great Astrolab Reef - Review of Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort, Kadavu Island, Fiji - TripAdvisor

Im Im August 2009 besuchte ich das Matava-Resort auf Kadavu, der südlichsten der Fidschi-Inseln. Hauptprogramm meines Urlaubes war das Tauchen und dafür ist die Lage des Resorts ideal: auf der Südseite der Insel gelegen, bietet es mit Bootsfahrten von max. 40min Zugang zu insgesamt ca. 20 verschiedenen ausgewiesenen Tauch-Spots am Great Astrolab Reef, aber auch die Möglichkeit, das Riff an anderer Stelle zu erkunden. Die Philosophie des Resorts ist die Umweltverträglichkeit/ökologischen Nachhaltigkeit und die Kooperation mit den umliegenden Dörfern. Die Unterkünfte selbst liegen verstreut an einem kleinen Hügel, teils direkt am Strand, teils ein Stück bergauf. Doch jede der traditionell eingerichteten Hütten, von den Einheimischen Buré genannt, bietet einen einzigartigen Blick auf die vorliegende Lagune mit einer kleinen Insel sowie dem Riff. Die einzelnen Hütten sind für max. 3 Personen ausgelegt. Ausgestattet sind sie mit Doppelbett mit Moskitonetz, wenn nötig Einzelbett mit Moskitonetz, Schrank und Sitzgruppe. Das Bad ist über die Terrasse erreichbar und bietet WC, Waschbecken und Dusche mit Gaswassererhitzer. Licht gibt es nur über Solarenergie, Steckdosen sind in den Hütten keine vorhanden. Akkus etc. können aber in der Hauptburé geladen werden- vorausgesetzt, die Sonne scheint. Insgesamt sind die Hütten schlicht und einfach, aber dennoch gut ausgestattet. Der Service begeisert mit einer mir bis dahin unbekannten Offenheit und Freundlichkeit. Fragen, Wünsche oder Probleme wurden sofort in Angriff genommen und immer mit vollster Zufriedenheit erfüllt. Das Essen ist sehr abwechslungsreich und bietet eine große Fülle an unterschiedlichen Küchen (Indisch, Thai, Lokal u.vm.), eine vielseitige Auswahl von Früchten aus dem resorteigenen Obst- und Gemüsegarten sowie vielfältigste Variationen von fangfrischem Fisch, der teils von den Gästen selbst geangelt wurde. Angeln und Angelausflüge sind jedoch nur einer vielen möglichen Aktivitäten. Egal ob Schnorcheln oder Baden, Vogelbeobachtungen, Besuch von Dorf und Einheimischen, oder einem Spaziergang mit einem einheimischen Medizinmann- für jeden Geschmack ist was dabei. Eine große Rolle spielt im Matava auch das Tauchen. Der integrierte Tauch-Shop ist mit allem für einen erfolgreichen Tauchgang Nötigen ausgerüstet. Es ist ein großes Tauchboot vorhanden, aber bei größeren Gruppen werden auch mehrere Boote eingesetzt. Die Boote sind immer mit Sauerstoffkoffer und Notttelefon ausgerüstet und im Falle eines Notfalles existiert auch ein Notfallplan, der auch aushängt. Des Weiteren bietet der Tauch- Shop die Möglichkeit zur Aus- und Weiterbildung von Tauchern auf Basis des PADI-Ausbildungssystems.

Weiterhin als positiv zu nennen ist die familiäre Atmosphäre sowohl zwischen Gästen und Personal, als auch zwischen den Gästen untereinander. Aufgrund der geringen Anzahl von Gästen kommt man schnell miteinander ins Gespräch, egal ob bei den Mahlzeiten, bei der traditionellen Kava-Zeremonie oder den unterschiedlichsten Aktivitäten.

Zusammenfassend lässt sich also sagen, dass das Matava Resort durchaus ein Geheimtipp für all jene ist, die sich ausschließlich auf Sonne, Strand, sportliche und kulturelle Aktivitäten konzentrieren möchten und Abstand vom Alltag suchen. Und das alles in einer sehr freundlichen, offenherzigen und kommunikativen Atmosphäre!!!
Matava Resort- das Tor zum Great Astrolab Reef - Review of Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort, Kadavu Island, Fiji - TripAdvisor

Matava - is meal plan necessary? - Fiji Forum - TripAdvisor

I had thought that we wouldn't eat that much...I am a caterer, don't eat 3 meals a day....and couldn't wait to see what was for each meal. Not only are they served impecably, by Maggie, but the food is outstanding. Matava is an organic garden...filled with bananas, mangos, just hanging around everywhere. Breakfast was lots of fresh fruit, breads daily, smoothies eggs and savory things. I love eggplant and they made that for ever meal for me. You can ask for anything and they will make it with a smile. Lunch and dinner were amazing. Dinner is by candle light, water is abundant there and they have a great assortment of wines. All kept for you, so you don't have to finish a bottle, with your name on it. My dream is to go back to Matava. We left all our clothes and shoes for the crew and they took them back to the villages. I brought crayons, and gave them to a happy group. We walked to the village, Maggie had some of the kids jump about 70 feet, no lie, doing flips ect. We were the ONLY people in the village, no tour. One day i walked in and we were given leis that the women made.

One day we got back and our bure was filled with flowers, Gardenias, hibiscus all over the floors and bed.

The last night, while sitting on the floor, the crew singing songs for us, they brought out a cake for my husband and I.

I have nothing but the highest praises for Matava and can't wait to go back, enjoy

Matava - is meal plan necessary? - Fiji Forum - TripAdvisor

Lonely Planet's new guidebook goes green-08 November, 2007

MELBOURNE - Lonely Planet's new "Australia" guidebook, published this month, will feature an all-new section called the GreenDex -- a quick-reference index of sustainable accommodation, tours and experiences to help visitors travel responsibly within the country.

With a growing number of travellers recognising the importance of travelling sustainably, Lonely Planet is steadily increasing the amount of responsible travel content in its guides.

In a recent Lonely Planet survey of 24,500 travellers worldwide, over 90 percent of people said they would consider travelling in a low-impact way in the future. The addition of the GreenDex to this new "Australia" guidebook enables travellers to easily look up the best eco experiences in the country.

Senior commissioning editor, Errol Hunt, said he hoped the new Australia guidebook would "help travellers ensure that their own travel leaves as light a 'footprint' as possible, while still being fun and enlightening."

The attractions, tours and accommodation choices listed in the GreenDex have all been selected by Lonely Planet authors because they demonstrate an active sustainable-tourism policy.

Some are involved in conservation or environmental education, and many are owned and operated by local and indigenous operators, thereby maintaining and preserving local identity and culture.

Some of the listings have also been certified by Ecotourism Australia, which means they meet high standards of environmental sustainability, business ethics and cultural sensitivity.

According to Hunt, "Tourism in Australia, as in any country, needs to respond to the increasing call for visible sustainable tourism options. There are lots of great Australian tourism operators doing this already.

"We hope that the new GreenDex in our "Australia" guide, and other similar initiatives, will drive other operators in the same direction, as they see that there's a clear financial advantage in operating an environmentally-sustainable business.

"The GreenDex follows Lonely Planet's philosophy of being selective rather than encyclopaedic – our guidebook doesn't list every single tourism operator in the country, and neither does our GreenDex list every business that's sustainable – it only lists companies that are sustainable and also recommended by our authors," said Hunt.

Following feedback from travellers, this new edition of "Australia" also re-focuses on the needs of budget and midrange travellers, and combines extensive coverage with features readers ask for: tips for getting around the country by car, camping and caravanning and the best of contemporary Indigenous Australia.

For this new "Australia" guidebook, the authors explored more remote places than ever before: from King Island off Tasmania in the far south to Tiwi Islands, off the Northern Territory in the far north.

Other highlights include top travel recommendations by well-known Australians, tips on volunteering, advice on seasonal work and a special "Driving Australia" chapter.

Lonely Planet's new guidebook goes green

Fiji forums: Diving - TripAdvisor

Fiji forums: Diving - TripAdvisor

"If you are looking for cheapish, with good diving, great food, and a fun place, check out Matava Eco Resort..

It's not upscale like Naviti or Treasure Island, it's definitely an 'eco resort' so you're not going to have electricity, TV, hairdryers (all solar powered) but the food is exceptional, the diving incredible, they have waterfall hikes, overnight kayak trips, kayaking, the whole bit.

AND until April they offer 40% off of their accommodations, 30% off from April - June.

With the added plus of having a 10 tank dive, but only paying for 6.

Not sure when you were going, but this is a great deal at a really fun resort.

Now, mind you, it's not specifically a honeymoon destination, but I've been there several times and have had lots and lots of people go there, and everyone loves it. A great atmosphere with great people and amazing food (you'll be blown away by what they feed you for a budget resort!).

They have private, ocean view bures as well"

Fiji forums: Diving - TripAdvisor

Fiji Diving - Wananavu, Raki Raki / Garden Island Resort, Taveuni / Matava, Kadavu

A nice little write up (even if ti was a rainy week when she was with us!).

See underwater.com.au for the full review,,,,

"Finally we went to Matava in Kadavu Island. It rained. Ok, it rained a lot. This is a very small, quaint and very friendly resort. It does not have any features that you would see advertised in the fancy island resorts such as Beachcomber, Castaway, etc. It has very little tourist population and very little modern day conveniences but a most comfortable place to stay. You really felt as being part of the true Fijian lifestyle. There is little electricity with some bures only having light by lantern. Some bures have solar power for night light and hot showers. Hot showers are also available in a central convenience block. There was a community block where all meals were served and the socialising / relaxing was done. Matava specialises in water sports such as diving and fishing by it's wonderful location with abundant reefs and large marine life. Swam with Manta Rays, Sharks, Turtles, Barracuda (2 types) and so much more...

Matava only use small dive boats as the tides hinder with reef / coral that is close to the surface. The big plus is that they can only carry few divers and would take you to the places you preferred. Matava houses up to 20 guests and encourages them to socialise as little or as much as they wish. The hosts such as Richard (also a dive master), is always working with the guests and all the staff are most eager to please.

Many thanks to Meggie, Joe, Melini, George, Talico, etc. Great bunch of people. The food is mostly locally grown and delicious. They had odd dinner themes such as Italian night with Thai food - making every night entertaining. The Lovo pit dinner (yummo) and party night was a hoot - let he kava flow. Yes we will be coming back.

Husband is still not sure if the kava was better than the Fiji Bitter :-)"

See underwater.com.au for the full review,,,,