Oneta Resort

There is no other place like this in the world! My family and I have been here twice (so far). The people here are absolutely amazing! You never feel like a client; but more like you are part of their family. The hospitality, culture, great personalities and genuine kindness by everyone here is unlike anywhere else! Oneta Resort is an eco resort way off the grid and has breathtaking views, fabulous food, great accommodations, beautiful water and reefs for snorkeling and scuba, and my favorite, the excellent fishing! I've been to many places around the globe and hands down, Oneta Resort is #1 for me. Martin, Richard and Ann are brilliant hosts that tend to your every need. Ann is also a Master Dive instructor that took myself, my son and daughter on our first dive! It was awesome, and we felt so safe under her care. Sime is a phenomenal fishing and boat captain! Him and George are excellent guides and fisherman! It is so much fun fishing with them along with Don and Nue! Kasa, Melani, Ben, Bill, Ani, Elly, Lizzy, Meli, Kini, Milika and Jonani and everyone else treated us with such kindness and are so much fun to be around! We will 100% be going back!

This is so far above the idea of resort. It’s more of an immersion into a tiny little piece of Fijian culture and community. We went for mantra Rays and diving and time with our family and left with a whole new family. Also, lots of epic diving and Mantra Rays. It’s off the beaten tourist track and not for everyone but if you want to see a little of Fiji that is not resorts, tours and crowds this is a must.

Oneta Resort is a magical place. Selfishly I am reluctant to express how wonderful it is for fear it is over visited in the future. The location is remote – a short hopper flight from Nadi to Kadavu Island; landing on a short airstrip bordered on both ends by sea; followed by about an hour scenic boat ride to Ono Island. The resort is in a lovely tropical setting with bures and villas on both the hillside and the beaches and a central dining area. The loving Fijian staff are welcoming and ready to accommodate your every need. The food is amazing at every meal, with locally grown fruits and vegetables. Don’t miss the Lovo and Kava ceremonies on Saturday nights! Massages are available to send you into ultimate relaxation. Excursions such as kayaking, fishing, hiking and visits to local communities are offered daily. The dive center is stocked with equipment, and a safe, professional dive crew ensures you get the best dives on the spectacular Great Astrolabe Reef – which has plenty of dive sites for both new and experienced divers. And the possibility is high of you having a mesmerizing manta dance with one of the local residents. I was fortunate to be at the resort when the owners arrived for a stay. They are lovely people who I admire for working so well with the staff and local communities to provide health, education and utility resources required for a prosperous life. I traveled alone to the resort, but after my week-long visit I had lots of new friends that I will always remember. I will return.

Unforgettable, one of the highlights of our trip to Fiji! The staff make this small intimate resort a hidden gem in Fiji! The snorkel adventures we had every day were also a highlight. We were even blessed with a once-in-a-lifetime snorkel with a young humpback whale that was showing off for us for over an hour!!! You might not get to have that experience but you will definitely have the chance to see the manta ray at their cleaning station nearby. A week should be the minimum amount of time to stay here.

My wife and I just returned from 13 days at Oneta Resort and without question this resort is the most amazing place we have visited. Reasons: 1. The Fijian culture of community at least at Oneta is like nothing we and I have seen any where in the world. Mind you we have only been in ~50 countries mostly N/S American, Europe and a few in Asia but amazing. Just amazing!! We asked a few guests about this an said generally a culture of community, but Oneta is exceptionally better than they have seen 2. Coral reefs are bleaching free and the healthiest reefs we have ever seen and there is a huge abundance of sea life. 3. There is so much to do, dive, fish, hike, kayak, or just sit on the beach and relax. Yes it is not as easy to get to as some resorts on more popular islands but it is 100% for sure worth the extra effort. No ifs ands for buts!!!

This was our second stay at Oneta. We enjoyed our first stay so much, we were obsessed with returning. But, we wondered if it would “live up” to our fond memories of the first trip? It did – in every way! The amazing setting, amazing people, and amazing activities were all still there. When you enjoy something so much, you really don’t want it to “change.” Oneta is one of those places. There is literally nothing we wish was different about our stay (except, of course, to stay longer)! What we love the most about Oneta are the staff. They are a joy to interact with. They have so much to share about the culture of Fiji, about the natural surroundings, and about the wildlife. You don’t need to read up on the fish you will see, or about everyday life on the islands – the staff will be so happy to share their knowledge of, and love for, the wonderful place they call home. They will make you smile, every day, constantly. The will make you laugh. They will call you by name. They will consider you a friend. They will even make you cry – on the day you are scheduled to leave. Oneta is a “full board” resort. You arrive and you transformed into the self you strive to be, but the pressures of life back home distract you from being. You don’t have to make many decisions at Oneta. Three meals a day are carefully prepared for you. The hardest thing to do is decide which area you want to snorkel in, where you want to fish, paddle board, or dive… You can even be taken to an island for the day that – trust me – you will be the ONLY persons on that island that entire day. No matter how spectacular your day (how many Mantas you saw, how spectacular the coral and fish were from your snorkel or dive, or how romantic your private island day was), you will always look forward to the afternoon return to Oneta and the communal dinner with the other guests. Hearing about their day, and getting ideas for your next day’s agenda, is a perfect way to end the day. The setting is incredible - you're ten minutes from one of the largest reefs in the world. The facilities are wonderful and lovingly maintained. Oneta is very environmentally conscious and strives for sustainability and supporting the local communities thru the Oneta foundation. The management and owners are good people, having a wealth of knowledge about the natural surroundings and a keen knack for superb hospitality. But I want to leave with one last “shout” out to the entire staff – from the boat captains, dive masters and activity guides, kitchen staff, housekeeping staff, garden staff, maintenance, construction and other back office staff – and everyone… we can’t wait to return! Bula vinaka!