Maqai Eco Surf Resort

Set on five hectares of Qamea Island, north of Taveuni, Maqai sits between a rainforest ridge and a stretch of white sand fringed with coconut palms. The reef runs close offshore, protected as a marine reserve, and the resort's own surf break peels for 300 metres as one of the better right-handers in Fiji. Nine beach bures line the shore, each with tongue-and-groove floors, mosquito nets, and a private deck facing the water. The Sandbar, an open communal building, holds the dining room, a small café, and a bar; a full meal plan is compulsory, since there is nowhere else to eat on the island. Waves are most consistent from October to May, when offshore winds blow from the north, though a separate learner wave breaks in front of the resort year-round. Snorkelling starts steps from the beach, where soft coral and reef fish gather in the shallows. You can also kayak the coastline, join a jungle walk through the rainforest above the resort, or take a boat to Naivivi village, whose residents hold a 10 percent stake in Maqai and fill most of its staff roles. Power comes largely from solar panels, with a diesel generator held in reserve, and wastewater is treated on site given the reef just beyond the shorebreak. Check-in runs from 1pm.