Blue Lagoon

About two thirds of the way North, up along the Yasawas, nested in between three islands lies a protected body of water known as the “Blue Lagoon”. Probably greener more than blue, due to all the reefs that surround it, this is a beautiful anchorage, which we have visited twice already since arriving to Fiji.

With Tavewa to the North, Matacawa Levu to the West, Nanuya Sewa to the East and Nanuya Levu to the South, plus a number of reefs in between, the Blue Lagoon is a well protected heaven as compared the otherwise rolly anchorages of the Yasawas.

Receiving its name from the equally-named movie that was filmed there many decades ago, it is of no surprise that the place ended up being one of the main tourist attractions of the Yasawas. Resorts have been erected on each corner of the lagoon, and everyday – every hour in fact – ferries, small cruise ships and sea planes carry tourists back and forth, coming to see the place where Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins starred a story of natural love, back in 1980.

But the place is indeed so beautiful that the inherent tourism activity doesn’t get in the way (the resorts are well integrated in the landscape and can be barely seen, and the sea planes are actually fun to watch). Moreover, it is a well protected anchorage. Crowning all this, the Nanuya Island resort has a small deli, where it is possible to restock for veggies and a few other provisions.

One of the highlights of our first stay there was a sevusevu ceremony which we attended at the Coconut Resort, in Tavewa Island. Perhaps because it was within the controlled environment of the resort, it is still the only ceremony of its kind that we have successfully attended so far.

The second time around, we hiked across the Nanuya Sewa island, through a couple of very small fishing villages, to a place called “Lo’s Tea House”. Being impossibly simple – the menu consisting of a little more than doughnuts, chocolate cake, lemon-tree-leaf-tea and pineapple fanta – and sitting at a stunning setting, the place is popular among the cruisers who call the Lagoon. The doughnuts in particular are a treat to the palate, and the expansive views to the Blue Lagoon on the way to-fro there are a treat to the eyes. Lo handles the place by herself, always with the broad-open smile which is so characteristic of Fiji.

Both times we were at the Lagoon the weather turned windy, and we could confirm – and be grateful for – the excellent protection it offers from the prevailing winds.

Our story with the Blue Lagoon isn’t over yet. As I write this, we are some 15 miles to the North of it, and we will for sure spend more quality time there on the way back down South, some time later this month.

Stay tuned.