Tomoya Midori Hitchhiking from Cairns to Melbourne over the course of one month
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Kokomo Private Island: How hidden sanctuary changed travel forever
It's not often you're swept up in a literal pinch me moment. Think clear skies, even clearer waters and nothing but sunshine and sand to fill every waking moment. For 72 hours, I got to live like royalty (and some of Australia's most famous faces) in perhaps one of the most picturesque hidden islands in the world. And the best bit? This slice of heaven is less than four hours from Australia's east coast. Welcome to Kokomo Private Island – a sanctuary located on the island of Yaukuve Levu — boasting the best in views, villas, cocktails and coastline Fiji has to offer. Arriving by private chopper which swooped and swayed for 45 minutes from Nadi along the Coral Coast, my young family and I were whisked straight from the helipad upon arrival to our 'home away from home' for the next three nights. With freshly cracked coconuts in hand, the island's soulful arrival song in the air and sand between our toes as we cast our eyes across the azure depths of the South Pacific — I quickly caught on to why this 'sanctuary to the stars' is the ultimate in barefoot luxury. And especially if you have little ones in tow. The Villa Stepping into our three-bedroom villa on the shores of Sunset Beach is a moment that will truly stay with me forever. The views from each room in our villa were straight from a postcard, with palm trees and catamarans framing every shot. The first moment we walked through our front door and across the expansive balcony that wrapped around our own private plunge pool and onto the sand took my breath away. And I don't think I caught it again until we left three days later. We stayed in Villa 1, which has plenty of room for six adults or a larger family with several kids in tow. With plenty of gardens to explore and open spaces between us and the next villa, the layout of the island ensures the utmost in privacy from other guests. But with activities, dining and the beach — there's also ample opportunity to mingle should you so wish. One of the many standouts was the stunning outdoor shower surrounded by swaying coconut trees. There's something truly magic about taking a shower with the ocean lapping at the sand in one ear, and the birds in the trees in the other. The island has 21 beachfront villas and five luxury residences, with villas ranging from one to three bedrooms, while the residences can accommodate larger groups with three to six bedrooms. Before jumping into food it's worth noting there's plenty in the mini bar to keep you both fuelled and hydrated (take not of the delicious choc chip cookies delivered daily) but honestly, save your appetite for one of the three main restaurants on the island. The Food Before we left for Fiji, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from daily dining experiences. But after our first meal at the island's main restaurant, the Beach Shack, I knew we had been dropped into culinary heaven. Beach Shack and neighbouring Beach Bar have uninterrupted views over the ocean and across to Namara Island, with nothing but boats, yachts and a sea plane bobbing on the surface. The food is fabulous — fresh and abundant in flavour — but it's the little touches that make dining at The Beach Shack so memorable. For anyone with a toddler, sitting back and having dinner can go one of many ways. But the staff made every effort to keep the little ones occupied — with an equally delicious kids menu, games and songs for entertainment. My two-year-old is still talking about the 'Koko Mac n Cheese' months later. For the adults, the menu is always changing — but if you're on island when Snapper crudo with red wine caramel, grape and oregano is on Beach Shack's list — order two (for yourself). For a spot of shark watching alongside your sashimi, head down the wooden deck to Walker d'Plank — a fun, Asian-style street food kitchen tucked within a sheltered cove. Just beyond the arrival jetty, Walker d'Plank is positioned over the water, offering both a lunch and dinner menu. But I suggest heading there at night (especially with little ones) because while lights beam into the clear waters below, you can watch the friendly reef sharks having their dinner while you have yours. The island prides itself on the farm to table movement, with guests encouraged to explore the island's 5.5 acre farm. Paired up with one of the island's food and beverage team members, the tour allows guests to explore the expansive vegetable gardens, herbs and edible flower enclosures, vanilla plantation and ever the buzzing hen house and beehives. Taking around an hour, the tour is the perfect way to further understand how the island has ensured their local produce gets from paddock to plate. The Experiences When you have a young family on holiday, there's a fine line between finding a place that has plenty to do — and also grabbing the opportunity to do nothing at all. Kokomo Private Island has almost every corner covered — from a 'I don't want to leave' kids club, to snorkel tours, manta ray swims and our absolute highlight — a day on our very own private island alone. During our second day on island (and after receiving a personally delivered menu suggestion from the island's executive chef Andrew Bryant about what's on for lunch) we were whisked across the South Pacific to Namara Island. Basically, this is how the other half do lunch. After arriving to a completely deserted island, with nothing more than a chef preparing a gourmet lunch and a bartender with champagne on ice — the entire island was ours for the day. A few family-friendly games were set up, a whimsical linen cabana drapped under coocnut trees, snorkelling gear and an entire beach full of untouched shells to collect — the experience was magic. You can spend anywhere from 3-6 hours on Namara, where time literally stands still. It's just you, some fabulous food and every corner of nature that Fiji has on offer to explore. The fun stuff When it comes to blending a luxury stay with kids, it can be a tricky line to walk. But the truth is — Kokomo have truly taken the experience lapped up by celebrities like radio host Jacki O Henderson and TV personality Karl Stefanovic, and brought it to the family domain. While our little one spent most of the time on island with us, it was hard to drag her away from the interactive and dedicated kids club when she dropped by. The clubs, which accommodate younger ones right through to teenage years, offer everything from fish feeding and local crafts, to treasure hunts, cooking classes and movie nights — they'll truly never want to leave. There's no denying a stay on the island is a premium experience. With 1-bedroom villas starting from AU$3900 per night and a larger, more family-friendly three-bedroom abode from AU$6200 (all meals included). But when it comes to absolute relaxation, world-class food and unmatched experiences — paired with an epic kids club on island offering the littles ones extensive activities where no two days are the same, all while the adults get to have a few hours of down time — you could argue every cent feels well worth it.
