Matangi Island: one of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die

Matangi Island Resort

Matangi Island map   

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A haven for incurable romantics, Matangi island boasts the full complement of Fijian environments: tropical virgin rain forest, sugary white beaches, mysterious volcanic formations, crystal clear waters, and a coral reef fringe where undersea life abounds. This horseshoe-shaped, 240-acre island is a collapsed volcanic basin with its own secluded bay. Matangi could, quite possibly, be the most scenic seaside spot on this Earth. Listed in Patricia Schultz' book, 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, Matangi is a place where the weather is always perfect, luxury is of the "barefoot" variety, and scuba divers enjoy waters so warm, there is no need to pack a wet suit.

Though far away from civilisation as you know it, Matangi exists at the centre of the world's finest seafood buffet. Local fishermen supply the island with every ocean delicacy known to man, while gardens on Matangi ensure the availability of fresh, organic produce to holiday- makers here. Simply being on Matangi leaves visitors so surfeited with sensual pleasure, that each sunrise awakens them to a child-like life of endless play.

Perfect Matangi, known to locals as "the garden island," is privately owned by the Douglas family, whose ancestors were among the very first western settlers in the region. As Fijians, they have always enjoyed a deep connection to the land and sea and, in recent decades, have chosen to open their paradise to a maximum of 1,000 guests per year. The use of ten acres of the island for tourism enables the Douglas family to carefully preserve Matangi's additional 230 acres. This ensures the continued existence of tropical birds such as the orange dove, honeyeater, and parakeet. It also enables the island's native villagers to continue their age-old way of life.

Matangi's surrounding coral reef is simply teeming with life, and the waters are as clear as the pure air above. Snorkelling and scuba diving here are otherworldly adventures that will rejuvenate your love for this beautiful planet Earth and your faith in the humans who make the effort to preserve it. Matangi is the ultimate destination for a beach wedding and an ideal spot for sea kayaking. The winds channelling through the Tasman Straits between Matangi and Qamea islands provide ideal windsurfing and sailing opportunities as well.

Matangi island, simply stated, offers worlds within worlds. Settling into the luxury resort provides one experience of this paradise island, while hiking along the crater rim, past an extinct volcano, provides yet another. Indulging in starlit dinners introduces the romantic side of Matangi, while tacking into the winds of the Tasman Straits brings you the thrill of island adventure. When you come to this paradise on Earth, explore it all, and find your own Matangi.