Daku Resort Fiji - Vintage Fiji at Vintage Prices

There are a range of different accommodation options at Daku Resort from individual bures (which sleep 2 people), double bures (with 2 double bedrooms), to family villas, the Cottage, the Beachhouse, the Lodge, the Poolhouse and 2 luxury Bayside villas. Prices range from the budget $60 per night (Fiji dollars) to $295 per night if you want to go a bit more upmarket. This is the perfect alternative if you don't want to spend thousands of dollars on accommodation, but you don't want a twelve bed backpacker party dorm either.

All the rooms are beautiful and cool with views over the ocean and surrounded by lush green garden. They really are a perfect haven - even though you're more likely to spend your time swimming, snorkelling, kayaking, hiking or scooting around town.

Savusavu calls itself the Hidden Paradise - and with good reason. It's off the sunset strip of commercial vacationland, away from the rush of day-glo tourists, bus tours and international hotel chains. Located on Fiji's second largest island, Vanua Levu, it's a 50 minute very scenic flight from the captial, Nadi. You'll land on a beautiful little airstrip by the sea. Town is about 6 minutes over the hill from the airport, and 8-10 minutes to Daku Resort. From Daku, Savusavu town is about a 25 minute walk along the sea - or a three minute taxi ride.

Savusavu is an active community of locals, expats, yachties, and visitors from around the globe. It's a quirky little place with limited choices for the dedicated shopper - but lots of endearing nooks and crannies.

Savusavu Town is a mile long and has nearly everything you need lodged in colourful buildings facing the bay. You'll find a mix of cafes, funky Indian shops, a Hot Bread Kitchen, hardware stores, video stores, a well stocked bottle shop, a post office, banks, two supermarkets, and an outdoor/indoor fresh veggie and fruit market where you'll find all the home grown goods - plus a great handicraft market run by local Fijian women.

If you want to get a feel for Savusavu, you could start off at the Copra Shed (picture), a wooden building with its own wharf which was once used for loading copra from the coconut plantations onto the boats to Suva. Nowadays it's home to one of the best restaurants in town, Surf and Turf, run by Vijendra Kumar. Vijen has worked as a chef in some of Fiji's top resorts, and opened his own highly popular place in 2007.

Paradise Courses is how I first foundout about Daku and how I spent my first visit there. Paradise Courses is a series of holiday study workshops held for a week at Daku Resort. There are art courses, singing, writing, yoga, quilting courses and more. They are an Absolutely Beautiful way to take time out of your busy life and take a holiday AND further your skills in paradise.

Find more info on Paradise Courses here.