Editors' Picks

Kokomo Private Island

Chic design, barefoot luxury, passion project

Kadavu Province, Fiji

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At a Glance

The intimate Kokomo Private Island combines the castaway feeling of an untouched islet in the South Pacific with fresh, design-forward interiors.

Indagare Loves

  • The Fiji-meets-Nantucket décor that features hanging wicker lamps, seashell mobiles and a breezy, neutral palette with pops of blue
  • The casual oceanfront restaurant Walker D’Plank, which serves Asian street food cooked exclusively over coals
  • The resort’s proximity to the fourth-largest reef in the world and how every stay includes a complimentary diving session

Review

Located in Fiji’s remote Celestial Kadavu Island Group, a 45-minute helicopter or sea plane flight from Nadi, Kokomo Island is a five-star resort tricked out to please water lovers of all ages. In fact, its owner—Australian billionaire property developer Lang Walker—purchased the 140-acre private island in 2013 with the idea of developing a retreat for multi-generational families like his own extended clan. In classic Fijian style but with modern luxuries, the resort is made up of beachfront bures (traditional thatched-roof villas) and hilltop residences with stunning views of the azure waters in every direction.

Kokomo’s 21 one-, two- and three-bedroom seaside bures are spread out across two of the island’s sandy beaches. The interiors are utterly contemporary, with bright and neutral palettes, user-friendly iPads containing the property’s activity and room service menus and oversized bathrooms with deep soaking tubs. Each accommodation comes with its own infinity pool and hammock.

Larger families might prefer one of the three- to six-bedroom highland residences that come with a private chef, butler and nanny. The décor in these sprawling, chic and unabashedly indulgent dwellings lets the sweeping ocean views take center stage. Natural materials like hardwood, cane and wicker abound, and most of the color comes from the abstract, vibrant paintings by artist-in-residence Chris Kenyon.

Diners can alternate meals between Beach Shack, the main restaurant serving Amalfi Coast-inspired Mediterranean cuisine (with a fabulous sunken cocktail bar); Walker d'Plank, a casual waterfront spot offering Asian street-food inspired small plates ranging from steamed dumplings to sashimi, plus light salads and noodles; or the Beach Grill, for salads, gourmet burgers and skewers. Menus change daily with the produce offerings. The resort can also arrange private dinners anywhere on the island or in guests’ private bures and residences. A staff of fishermen who fish and dive daily provide fresh seafood for the kitchen, and much of the produce comes from Kokomo’s own vegetable gardens. The island’s extensive plans for sustainability also include beehives and chickens.

Land-based activities include treatments at the tranquil spa, a kid’s club with a wooden pirate ship and hiking to the island’s summit. But the impossibly clear waters are a delight for snorkelers and divers, and most activities are ocean-focused. Opportunities for marine encounters include swimming with manta rays between May and October, witnessing the annual humpback whale migration from June to October and glimpsing turtles on Kokomo’s five beaches year-round. The island is encircled by the Great Astrolabe Reef, so guests have one of the best dive sites in the world 10 minutes away by boat. One can explore the pristine reef’s diversity while swimming, diving, snorkeling, fishing and kayaking, and there’s also sailing, outer reef surfing, paddle-boarding and more. What you won’t find? Noisy equipment like jet skis. Here, it’s all about peace, quiet and enjoying the company you’ve brought to this far-flung pocket of paradise.** **

Who Should Stay

Families or groups of friends seeking a superlative villa in Fiji; avid or aspiring divers who do not wish to sacrifice high-end accommodations for proximity to an exceptional reef; and couples looking for a sophisticated take on the castaway experience.

Written by Indagare

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