Beachcomber

Sustainable Luxury

Nanuku, Auberge Resorts Collection, the South Pacific paradise set along the legendary serene coastline of Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu, was the proud recipient of The Travel Awards 2019 Sustainable Tourism Company of the Year. Just weeks after also being recognised as the No.1 resort in Australia and the South Pacific in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards. Nanuku’s General Manager Logan Miller says of Nanuku’s win,

“We extend our sincerest congratulations to all the winners and proudly accept our Sustainable Tourism Company of the Year award with heartfelt thanks.”

“Nanuku’s commitment to responsible luxury is an inherent part of our DNA. Through the ‘Planet Auberge’ program, Nanuku is committed to leading the way in initiatives focused on minimising our environmental footprint, improving our surrounding environment and villages – while simultaneously enhancing our luxury guest experience.” Logan explains.

When asked about future plans, Logan reveals, “Watch this space! 2020 is going to be Nanuku’s greenest year yet!”

“With new innovations and advancements, sustainability will continue to forge forward, and so will Nanuku.” Logan concludes.

Auberge Resorts Collection is a portfolio of 19 extraordinary hotels, resorts, residences and private clubs. While each property is unique, all share a crafted approach to luxury and bring the soul of the locale to life through captivating design,
exceptional cuisine and spas, and gracious yet unobtrusive service.

Suva’s Favourite Restaurant Expands

Already renowned for its impeccable food and fine dining ambience, Eden, home to Suva’s most succulent gastronomic creations, has just expanded to house a sensational full service bar.

Stepping into the brilliant new space where a mirrored half wall forms the base of the extensive seven-metre bar, believed to house the largest collection of single malts in this part of the world. In this new area created by owner Sangeeta, the cocktails are the centrepiece with the surrounding space acting as the picture frame. Crystal wine decanters and elegant stemware glitter under the delicate lighting and put diners in the mood to see one of the shiny copper Moscow mule mugs filled with Eden’s take on the classic.

Sangeeta’s cocktail menu bespeaks a well-travelled palette incorporating sensory delights and modern influences from all over the world. While several restaurants in Suva manage to make a decent cocktail, Eden goes the extra distance elevating the proper cocktail to a poetic experience.

Eden’s passionfruit mojito, a local twist on the original which still features plenty of fresh lime, mint straight from the garden out the back and local white rum with the addition of real passionfruit pulp is our pick.

Eden is now the place to come to experience the freshest flavours from Fiji ranging from real house-infused Fijian vanilla rum, local chocolate martinis, pina coladas made with real coconut cream, local passionfruit, lime and kumquat mojitos and seasonal mango margaritas just to name a few.

When it comes to cocktails, if your personal taste leans more toward the classics don’t let the tropical temptations intimidate you. The new bar is the perfect place to sit for an afternoon aperitif where you will still find the definitive negroni, effortless gin and tonics and a range of champagne bubbles selected to elevate your palette in anticipation of your decadent meal to come.

If you stay for dinner, Sangeeta has procured a distinguished collection of wines ranging across favourites from neighbouring Australia and New Zealand all the way to special vintages from California, France, Italy and Oregon from which you will find hand picked pinot noirs selected from the renowned area of the Willamette Valley, to cabernets from Napa Valley’s impressive Stag’s Leap vineyard as well as French specialties for red and white aficionados alike.

And for those very special occasions, Sangeeta keeps on hand premium bottles from the highly collectible Penfolds Grange and Henschke Hill of Grace offerings.

Eden’s recent expansion affords you the opportunity to pull up a bar stool at the New York inspired bar and enjoy a sophisticated cocktail, an elegant glass of wine, or refresh with some local or German beer and small bites for dinner.

Of course, you can always move to the main dining room beautifully accented with colourful paintings by local artists or reserve the extensive Fijian hardwood table nestled under a one of a kind handblown glass chandelier perfect for families or large parties.

Blue Chip Investment

Perfect for the Pacific – Pantone the company which sets the standard in colour specification for printers, graphic designers and manufacturers has been announcing a colour of the year since 2000. This year the hero shade is Pantone 19- 4052 Classic Blue. Already there is a huge range of products
featuring the blue hue of the year, products range from radios to shoes, to clocks and coffee tables. There are throw rugs, beds, chairs, bags and cushion covers, socks and ottomans. As a designer, my favourite is the mug that says it boldly at the base. These ceramic souvenirs are beautifully designed and distributed worldwide by Danish company Copenhagen Design.

Calling All Underwater Photographers

This is a neat idea and possibly essential if you are so attached to your phone that you can’t bear to have it out of your hand even when swimming. Yep, with the new Seaquatix waterproof case for phones and valuables lets you take underwater photos, check emails and make calls while the phone is in the case. Great for anyone involved in water sports like kayaking, paddleboading or surfing. The case is perfect for providing protection against water, sand, dust or snow and obviously a must for millennials wanting to capture the occasional selfie for their social media feed while in the pool or on the reef. The case is airtight for up to 20 metres in depth for two hours and comes in eight vibrant colous.www.seaquatix.com