Plantation Island Resort Review

Close your eyes and imagine leaving all of your stresses behind, as you escape to a relaxing, pristine tropical island.

Picture white, sandy beach, turquoise blue water, colourful fish swimming along the shoreline and a beautiful mountainous view… then imagine your children busy and happy, leaving you free to continue relaxing a little longer.

Ahhhh, you must be in heaven!

The great news is that your imagination can become a reality at Plantation Island Resort in Fiji, located on the beautiful 553 acre Malolo Lai Lai island, which can be accessed 50 minutes by boat from Port Denarau.

According to business development manager, Api, who has been working at Plantation Island Resort for more than 16 years, around 80-85% of the resort’s visitors are families.

Both staff and management certainly deliver on their efforts to ensure families are comfortable and well catered for.

Accommodation Options at Plantation Island Resort

Plantation Island Resort offers a range of options for budgets and families of all sizes, so you’ll save money by not having to purchase two rooms if you have a bigger family.

While Plantation’s beachfront bures and one bedroom garden terraces cater for up to five people, the newly renovated two bedroom bures can cater for up to seven or eight people, making them perfect for large families or groups.

The centrally located guest laundry is an especially handy feature for families, allowing you to pack less and avoid storing dirty clothes. Two tokens will give you one wash cycle or one drying cycle for approximately $2.50 FJD per token.

Tip: If you’re visiting for a little while or if you’ll have lots of washing to do, pack some laundry detergent pods in a handy ziplock bag, which will save you buying boxes of detergent from the resort’s store, costing $1.50 FJD per wash.

For The Kids

The Coconut Kids Club is a complimentary service for children from four to twelve years of age. No booking is required, simply turn up, sign your children in and they’re free to play.

Daily activities include fish feeding, treasure hunts, shell necklace making, a nature walk, daily movies in a comfortable, air-conditioned room, and much more. Tie dye teeshirt making is one of a few paid children’s activities and is very popular – the resort is a bright sea of Plantation’s tie dye tees. Kids just don’t want to take them off!

Children under four years of age can still participate in the Coconut Kids Club, however you’ll need to hire a babysitter at $4 FJD per hour to provide one-on-one care for your little one.

A securely fenced off playground next to the kids club offers all the playground activity favourites: a sandpit, enclosed trampoline, totem tennis, slides, climbing toys and more. For $5 FJD, kids can enjoy five minutes of fun on Plantation’s bungee trampoline.

A highlight for many children at Plantation Island Resort is the kids-only inflatable waterpark, which is supervised by a staff member for safety and peace of mind.

Older kids — and even parents — will love the banana boat ride, an inflatable yellow banana-shaped ride-on, which is towed behind a boat. Requiring a minimum of 4 people, it’s a thrilling activity you can enjoy as a family.

Plantation boasts three swimming pools in separate areas, and they have plans to expand one of the pools to the water’s edge. Older children will love the kid’s pool, which comes complete with a waterslide – a popular activity all day long!

Even teenagers at catered for at Plantation. The Lairo Club has been designed for older children aged 12-16 years. Activities include beach volleyball, touch rugby, cooking lessons and more.

Other fun activities for older children and adults include ping pong, billiards, mini putt putt golf and kayaking. Non-motorised water equipment is free to hire.

For the whole family, after dinner entertainment is the place to be after a delicious meal. Beginning with pop music and lights on the dancefloor, toddlers and older children are quick to start bopping away and chasing the lights! This is followed by scheduled activities and shows, including a fire dancing night that you should absolutely not miss! Traditional dancing starts undercover, then spectacular fire dancing is performed on the beach and in the water. It’s a highlight of the week that will mesmerise young and old.

Babysitting Services

At Plantation Island Resort, you’ll pay only $4FJD per hour, paid directly to the babysitter. Babysitters can be a huge help, especially during mealtimes. If your little one tends to be a wriggle bum and wont sit still for long enough for you to eat dinner, babysitting can be a sanity saver.

Something For Parents

Dads will find it impossible to get bored at Plantation Island Resort. Register for a handline fishing trip, or try your luck at sports or game fishing, which also provides an opportunity for a bit of sightseeing around Plantation.

Jetskiing and other motorised watersports are available at an additional cost.

If you prefer air rather than water, you’ll get a thrill out of parasailing, either solo or tandem. Take your kids or partner for some unforgettable sights and memories together.

Plantation Island Resort is also home to a 9-hole golf course.

For mothers, a relaxing massage in a comfortably air-conditioned room is sure to win your heart. A full serviced salon offers everything from hair protein treatments to pedicures.

Parents can also take advantage of Plantation’s very affordable babysitting service and escape to Cloud9 — Fiji’s only floating bar — which is within close proximity to Plantation.

Unique Features of Plantation Island Resort

A unique and refreshing feature of Plantation Island Resort is the Coco Hut, which business development manager Api describes as a cross between Gloria Jeans and Starbucks — only with a much better view! Resident barista Wyce can whip you up Fiji’s best iced chocolate — or coffee — which will cool you down in no time.

For the hot coffee buffs, you can enjoy a freshly brewed coffee made from the same beans Gloria Jeans and Starbucks use, or for something a little different (and stronger!) try the Thai iced coffee, which consists of an expresso shot with condensed milk and ice.

At the Coco Hut, you can also grab a chilled, fresh coconut for $5FJD, or try a cup of freshly extracted sugar cane juice.

Have you seen the Tom Hanks movie, Castaway? If so, you’ll be interested to know that Plantation Island Resort were the winning bidders in an auction where they acquired the raft used by Tom Hanks in the movie. It’s is on display for all guests to see for themselves.

Meal Options and Prices

Plantation Island Resort offers a full American buffet breakfast in their beachfront restaurant. The charge for adults is $35FJD. Infants up to 3 years of age are free, children 3-11 years are $12FJD and 12-15 year olds are $19FJD.

For lunch, you can choose a range of options from approximately $15FJD-$25FJD per meal.

At dinner, you have two choices – a buffet, which has a different theme each night, for example barbeque night or roast night, or you can choose the chefs special menu. The chef’s special menu gives you two or three choices per course.

An adult buffet or chef’s special is $50FJD, and children’s prices are free up to 3 years of age, $16FJD for up to 11 years of age, and $28FJD to 15 years of age.

Drinks are well priced, with all mocktails not only delicious, but just $6FJD each. You can refill your water bottles at the bar with fresh filtered water for only $1.50FJD. A popular premium local beer, Fiji Premium, is $8.50FJD.

Must Do’s At Plantation Island Resort

When you visit Plantation, be sure to check these things off your list:

Have dinner at one of the tables on the beach with your toes in the sand. Especially at high tide, when the water may come creeping up to your feet as the waves come in. It’s an awesome experience.
Book a table for dinner at the adult’s only resort, Lomani Island Resort, which is just a short walk from Plantation. The food and friendly service is impeccable, making it a truly memorable night. Try the tastebud tantalising entrée dish of lemon marinated fish, as well as a dessert of sandy’s ice-cream. You’ll want the recipes of everything you eat.
Hire a babysitter for some meals if you have a toddler. It’s well worth having someone to chase and play with your toddler so you can enjoy a meal – especially for just $4FJD per hour.
Go snorkelling. Fiji is one of the best places in the world to go snorkelling. Plantation offers several snorkelling trips which are not to be missed.

How To Get There

The most cost effective way to get to Plantation Island Resort is via the Malolo Cat, which departs four times daily from Port Denarau in Fiji. If you don’t want to wait around for the Malolo Cat after your plane arrives, you can either relax for a little while at Plantation’s sister resort, Raffles Gateway, or book a private boat transfer. Seaplane or helicopter transfers are much quicker, but are a more expensive option.

For prices on accommodation at Plantation Island Resort, click here. For more information, visit the Plantation Island Resort website.