How did the mongoose make its way to the shores of Fiji?
The mongoose, originally from South and Central Asia, was introduced to Fiji by colonists to control rats in sugar cane plantations, but has since thrived — and even multiplied — on the islands, with two species now calling Fiji home.
Also in the program, we spoke with award-winning journalist and budding sports commentator, Jamie Haro who at only 20 years old, has already accumulated a long list of career milestones across PNG's media landscape in print, online, and national broadcast television.
And we also checked in with our Port Authority in Vanuatu, Moses Cakau Willie about what's on for the kids during the school holiday period.
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News.com.au
3 days ago
- News.com.au
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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. 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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.
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