So what exactly can New Zealand travellers expect from the luxury resort\u2019s facelift? I headed to Vomo Island to check it out. <\/p>\n
The entrance to the Vuda space features a reflection pond and natural materials.<\/p>\n
Vomo has long been known for its attention to detail \u2013 from design and service through to its all-inclusive (minus alcohol) offering. While it sits in the high-end luxury category, with prices starting from around $1900 a night, there\u2019s an ease to the place. It\u2019s polished but relaxed, with an unspoken \u201cleave your ego on the boat\u201d atmosphere. <\/p>\n
Arriving on the island to a warm Fijian \u201cbula\u201d, I expected the differences between old and new to be obvious during the welcome tour. They weren\u2019t. <\/p>\n
That, general manager Leon Pink explains, is the whole point. <\/p>\n
The new main reception area.<\/p>\n
\u201cVomo Island has always evolved thoughtfully over time. This renovation felt like the natural next chapter, honouring what people already love while ensuring the experience continues to feel special for years to come.\u201d <\/p>\n
At the heart of the refurbishment is the transformation of the central hub, known as the Vuda Space. What was once a single venue has been reimagined as nine distinct yet connected spaces that guests can move easily between. <\/p>\n
Part of the new Vuda bar and lounging space.<\/p>\n
The space has everything from a bar, pool, restaurant, beachfront, lounge, TV room and relaxed arrival space, but it doesn\u2019t feel overworked. The design encourages an easy flow rather than drawing attention to itself, and luxurious yet natural finishes add warmth to the space. <\/p>\n
New cabanas and beach loungers add another layer. These can be reserved for anything from a special-occasion breakfast to lunch or dinner, offering privacy without removing you from the atmosphere of space. For us, it struck the right balance while celebrating a special occasion \u2013 quiet, but still connected.<\/p>\n
The recently added beach cabanas.<\/p>\n
The reimagined Vuda Bar & Restaurant is the centrepiece of the refurbishment, and the open kitchen design creates an interactive feel and has already hosted highly acclaimed chefs from across the world. <\/p>\n
Sydney chef Nelly Robinson (NEL Restaurant) recently launched Vomo\u2019s new culinary series as part of Vomo\u2019s ambition to further expand their reputation as a standout dining destination, but also to provide learning opportunities to their local chefs.<\/p>\n
We experienced part of this during the now weekly Monday night showcase at The Rocks. Robinson\u2019s influence came through across the menu \u2013 from a black pearl scampi tart to viti gold chicken breast served with Fijian curry sauce, bok choy-wrapped coconut rice and chicken skin crumble. Dessert \u2013 a sticky pineapple pudding with toffee sauce, ice cream and coconut sand was a standout.<\/p>\n
The dessert offering on showcase night.<\/p>\n
In the day-to-day offering, the menus still cater to every taste and age. My son loved the sushi bento boxes, which also came with a brownie that may well have been the best I\u2019ve had, and we loved the daily ritual of sitting by the pool enjoying our lunch as he swam.<\/p>\n
Accommodation has also been updated and given a facelift, but demand has seen them need to grow their two-bedroom villas offering. Vomo have a clear focus on space and privacy; after all, it\u2019s been host to some very famous faces like Rebel Wilson and Elle Macpherson.<\/p>\n
We stayed in a one-bedroom beachfront villa that felt generous without being excessive, with plenty of room for my 7-year-old to sleep, relax and play. <\/p>\n
Our one-bedroom beachfront villa. Photo \/ NZ Herald
The bathroom space was large with an easy flow. Photo \/ NZ Herald<\/p>\n
The thoughtful details in the room stood out: Pure Fiji amenities, a fully stocked fridge, and daily deliveries of fresh cookies (which we devoured) and local snacks. Practical touches we loved included laundry service (up to 20 pieces a day), which was a genuine game-changer, especially for families who dread coming home to piles of washing. <\/p>\n
The kids\u2019 club continues to be one of Vomo\u2019s strengths. With its nanny\/buddy system (assigning kids one-on-one care, depending on age) and even a private chef for children, it felt well considered rather than an afterthought . While not always one to settle in quickly to a Kids Club (and he\u2019s tried his fairshare), my son instantly took off with his buddy Josh, and we felt comfortable leaving him in the staff\u2019s care. <\/p>\n
Vomo have expanded its two bedroom offerings.<\/p>\n
His highlight was bonfire night \u2013 he was enjoying it so much that we decided to leave him to it for a while longer, after initially arriving to pick him up. As we headed back to the bar for one more pina colada, we listened to the roars of giggles on the beach.<\/p>\n
The resort has also recently joined the Luxury Childcare Association, which requires strict standards and training, which gave us the extra layer of peace of mind.<\/p>\n
Daily snorkelling was a highlight. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
Each day, we took advantage of the island\u2019s reef, widely considered among the most pristine in the region. Snorkelling with a guide is worth doing; ours, Api, brought both knowledge and genuine enthusiasm that made the experience more meaningful. <\/p>\n
Pink tells us future plans are already in motion for more renovations. A new-look kids\u2019 club, including a small water play area, is part of phase two, alongside a spa relocation and more multi-bedroom accommodations. <\/p>\n
But if this latest refurbishment is anything to go by, those changes are unlikely to shout for attention. <\/p>\n
And that\u2019s ultimately what defines Vomo. The updates are there, considered, cohesive and quietly executed, but the core experience remains unchanged.<\/p>\n
The view from The Rocks, an adults-only area. Photo \/ NZ Herald<\/p>\n
Checklist<\/p>\n
Fiji<\/p>\n
GETTING THERE<\/p>\n
Fly from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch on Air New Zealand or Fiji Airways. <\/p>\n
DETAILS<\/p>\n
The writer travelled to Fiji at their own expense but was hosted on the island courtesy of Vomo.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"So what exactly can New Zealand travellers expect from the luxury resort\u2019s facelift? I headed to Vomo Island…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":506303,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[138,198,19338,26092,11424,71,6871,2514,57200,807,56715,57201,111,139,69,2873,20593,17509,223,252522,1803,252521,6923],"class_list":["post-506302","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","tag-business","tag-can","tag-expect","tag-fijis","tag-finds","tag-from","tag-has","tag-island","tag-jenni","tag-kiwis","tag-luxurious","tag-mortimer","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-renovations","tag-reopened","tag-so","tag-the","tag-understated","tag-update","tag-vomo","tag-what"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/506302","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=506302"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/506302\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/506303"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=506302"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=506302"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=506302"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}