destination information
With over 300 Islands each with cool clear azure waters lapping their shores, amazing coral reefs providing divers and snorkelers with a diverse palate of to satisfy the most extreme adventure seekers, Fiji has plenty of activities to choose from.
Of course the real draw card is the Fijian people. Their warm natural hospitality comes across the moment you're greeted with your first 'BULA'. Their culture not only rich in Fijian traditions but Indian and Chinese, offers travellers a wealth of discoveries. To experience the 'REAL' Fiji' and set your watch to 'Fiji Time' a visit to an Island is a must.
about fiji
The original inhabitants of Fiji called their home Viti. These were Lapita people, probably from Vanuatu, who arrived about 1220 BC and stayed for only a short while before disappearing from the archaeological record. Their descendants, who became assimilated with people who arrived from Melanesia, were coastal dwellers, who initially relied on fishing and seem to have lived in relative peace. Around 500 BC a shift towards agriculture occurred along with an expansion of population - probably due to further incursions from other parts of Melanesia - that led to an increase in intertribal feuding. Cannibalism became common and in times of war, villages moved to ring-ditched fortified sites. By around AD 1000 Tongan invasions had started and continued sporadically until the arrival of Europeans. Eventually the islands became known to Europeans as Fiji. The story goes that Captain Cook asked the Tongans what the name of the islands to their west was. He heard 'Feegee', the Tongan pronunciation of Viti: so 'Fiji' came from an Englishman's mishearing of a Tongan's mispronunciation!
Abel Tasman became the first European to sail past the Fiji islands in 1643, and his descriptions of treacherous reef systems kept mariners away for the next 130 years. The English navigator James Cook visited uneventfully, stopping on Vatoa in the southern Lau Group in 1774. After the famous mutiny on the Bounty in 1789, Captain Bligh and his castaway companions passed between Vanua Levu and Viti Levu, through a channel now known as Bligh Water.
By 1829 the chiefdom of Bau, in eastern Viti Levu where trade with Europeans had been most intense, had accumulated great power. Bauan chief Cakobau, known to foreigners as Tui Viti (King of Fiji), was at the height of his influence by 1850 despite having no real claim over most of Fiji. But in 1848, Tongan noble Enele Ma'afu had led an armada of war canoes to capture Vanua Balavu in northern Lau. He became governor of all Tongans in Lau and by 1854 he was a serious threat to Cakobau's power. By the late 1850s, the Tongans were the controlling force in eastern Fiji.
In the 1830s London Missionary Society pastors and Wesleyan Methodist missionaries arrived in Southern Lau to find converts and to preach against cannibalism.Progress was slow until the chiefs started to convert. Powerful Cakobau somewhat reluctantly adopted Christianity in 1854. This was a triumph for the Methodist Church, who later sent Reverend Baker out to spread the gospel in the western highlands of Viti Levu. In 1867, unfortunately for him, he was killed and eaten by locals who resented his manner and the imposition of ideas associated with Bau.
In 1874,tired of endless quarrels and warfare,King Cakobau ceded his kingdom to Britian at the historic old capital of Levuka on Ovalau.The British brought Colonial rule and introduces Indian labourers to the new sugar plantations known as “GIRMITS”.Fiji regained it’s independence by mutual consent in 1970.There are now almost 800,000 people living in Fiji.Half are indigenous Fijians(Rotumans)about 44% Indians and the remainder of European or Chinese origin.
about us
In 1872, Malolo Lailai was sold to John Thomson by Ratu Kini, a Nadroga Chief. Malolo Lailai being uninhabited, was purchased to plant cotton.
John Thomson died in 1876 and Malolo Lailai was sold to Louis Armstrong. Armstrong died bankrupt and the island was transferred to the Mortgage Agency of Australasia Ltd, who sold and transferred to James Borron in November 1891. James Borron leased Malolo Lailai Ltd to a Chinese by the name of Wongket for 70 years. However with Wongket’s agreement to cut short the lease it was sold to three owners, Richard Smith, Regge Raffe & Sir Ian MacFarlane .The three then renamed Malolo Lailai as Leeward Island in the late 60’s. In the early 1970’s the three gentlemen decided to part ways and individually manage their portion of the island. By then the airstrip was built which ran as a boundary and divided the now Plantation Island Resort and Musket Cove Resort .This airstrip was built by one Australian man named Wally Dawson. In 1969 Plantation Village Resort opened with six(6) rooms now known as Plantation Island Resort.
Richard (Dick) Smith started building on Musket Cove, which was then casually known as Dick’s Place and on the 03rd of October 1976, Musket Cove Island Resort was born. The resort opened with twelve Bures and some 40 years later, Musket Cove proudly stand as Fiji’s Oldest Resort Company boasting a diverse range of Accommodation choices with 55 Bures and Villas, Private Homes/Villas residential development, Marina, a purpose built day Spa, fully Licensed Bar & restaurant.
In the year 2000, Sir Ian MacFarlane sold his share of Malolo Lailai to the remaining two partners.
where we are and getting here
Fiji's total land area is 18,333 square kilometres. There are two major islands - Viti Levu is 10,429 square kilometres and Vanua Levu 5,556 square kilometres. Other main islands are Taveuni (470 sq km), Kadavu (411 sq km), Gau(140 sq km), and Koro (104 sq km). Musket Cove Island Resort is located in the Mamanuca group of Islands off the coast from Nadi.
Our proximity to Nadi International Airport allows quick and easy access by boat, aeroplane (including Seaplane) and helicopter to the Resort. Leeward Island Services operates regular scheduled services to the Resort. With pick ups from Nadi Airport and local Nadi Hotels, its then an easy 60 minute transfer to Musket Cove Island Resort and our friendly Reservations Team can arrange this at the time of booking.
To view the schedule Click Here
Pacific Sun flies regular to the Island up to 4 times a day. The 10 minute flight can be caught from the Domestic check in area, a short walk from the International Arrivals hall at Nadi Airport. Please visit www.pacificsun.com.fj for flight schedules and pricing.
You'll find the pace of Island life a little slower than normal, just the way we like it ensuring all the stresses you came with will be far from your mind by the time you leave.
