Oarsman's Bay Lodge - Adults Only

At the top of the Yasawa Islands, this beautiful bay feels like a taste of the true, pure Fiji. The grounds are lovely, the bures are comfortable, and the staff are so warm and caring. Everyone we met during our eight-day stay was kind, and by the end we felt part of the Oarsmans family. We spent lots of time just floating in the water and lounging on the sun chairs. There are also free daily activities that rotate, like a kava ceremony, crab racing, coconut bowling, and volleyball. We did nearly all the excursions, including reef hopping, cave diving, the village visit, and the sunset tour, and hiked to the hilltop behind the resort. It's a quiet, laid-back place, with no kids allowed. Lunch and dinner generally rotate between chicken and fish, with a few richer buffet meals during the week. The compulsory food plan makes sense given how remote the resort is and how much planning supplies take. I also liked not having to keep choosing meals, though picky eaters or people with lots of dietary restrictions may find it harder. This isn't a five-star resort, but it's incredible, and we'd come back every year if we could. Thanks to the wonderful staff, who have so much to be proud of 😊🙏

If you want designer swimsuits, a pool bar, loud house music at Happy Hour, mile-long breakfast buffets, high-end fittings, and 24-hour room service, Oarsman probably won't suit you. It's a peaceful, private, self-sufficient resort that supports locals, with gorgeous views, swimming and snorkelling straight from the beach, and barefoot travellers with interesting stories. It takes a bit of commitment to get there, but it's worth it. The place is modest and intimate rather than flashy. Staff were warm, polite, and relaxed. It was quiet in low season, felt very safe, and had several solo travellers, including women. You can be as social as you like, with no pressure. Our bure was private and quiet, with tasteful decor, a large king bed with crisp white sheets, a day bed, bathroom, toilet, open-air shower, AC, fan, and louvre windows. There's plenty to do, from basket weaving and a village tour to limestone caves, reef hopping, fishing, snorkelling, paddle boarding, and kayaking. There are also lively options like hermit crab racing, coconut bowls, and dancing to Lionel Ritchie with Josh. Or grab a book, sarong, and mozzie repellent and spend the day in a hammock. A couple of small things: the open-air shower only trickles, which is understandable given fresh water is precious on the island. I rinsed off the salt and sand there, then freshened up inside. The pressure is manageable if you aren't expecting a scalp massage. Coffee lovers should bring their own gear, as the alternative is instant sachets and long-life full-cream milk. I switched to black tea with lime and survived. And don't underestimate how appealing you are to the resident mozzies, bring repellent and apply it often. Thanks Ana, Josh, Luke, Romeo, Filo, Andie, Maria, Adi and Nia! 🙏 Vinaka vakalevu Nacula

The main drawback for us was diving. There's no diving at the resort, and although reviews said you could dive at the neighbouring resort, there's apparently some “disagreement” between the resorts. They would not let us book dives unless we'd emailed them directly weeks in advance or paid for their room and meal plan. Food and drinks were average. We're pescetarian and had no trouble with our dietary restrictions. We visited in November 2025 and the long ferry ride was worth it. The beach was quiet and felt almost entirely ours. I wish we'd stayed here for our whole trip. Our bure was one back from the beachfront, with a lovely outdoor shower, AC, comfortable bed, private hammock, and beach chairs. A 1.5-hour hike from the resort had beautiful sunset views. Our cave trip had only four people, while the neighbouring resort's trip had more than 10-15. Free snorkels, kayaks, and paddle boards were easy to use in the usually calm bay. The cutest resort dogs came along on morning beach walks and the hike :)

Never change, it was perfect! The food was amazing, plentiful, varied, and made with love. The real stars, though, are the multi-talented staff, who sing, dance, play instruments, and know their activities inside out. The manager runs a tight ship. You really feel the Fiji here. It was perfect!