Laucala is the honeymoon you plan when the brief is simple: no compromises. The island belonged to American publisher Malcolm Forbes for three decades before Red Bull cofounder Dietrich Mateschitz bought it in 2003 and spent years shaping it into one of the most ambitious private-island resorts on earth. Since late 2021, it has been operated by COMO Hotels and Resorts as COMO Laucala Island.
The numbers tell the story. Roughly 3,300 acres, most of it left wild. Just 25 residences, each set on a vast plot with its own pool. A championship golf course, a farm that raises much of what you eat, a fleet of boats, horses for riding the beach and a staff that far outnumbers guests. Everything, from the morning dive to the evening wine, is included. For couples who want privacy on an almost cinematic scale plus the freedom to fill every day with something new, there is nothing quite like it in the South Pacific.
Highlights at a glance
- Private island of about 3,300 acres with only 25 residences
- All-inclusive dining, drinks and activities
- 18-hole David McLay Kidd golf course
- Every residence has its own pool and personal Tau
- Farm-to-table cooking from the island's own farm
- Private 45-minute charter flight from Nadi
The Island
Laucala lies in Fiji's northeast, a short hop from Taveuni, the lush "Garden Island," and far from the busier resort chains of the west. Volcanic ridges covered in rainforest drop to coconut plantations, white-sand coves and a lagoon edged by reef.
More than two-thirds of the island remains untouched, crisscrossed by around 14 miles of hiking trails. The resort's footprint sits mainly along the northern shore, while a large farm and garden in the interior supply vegetables, fruit, herbs, poultry, cattle and honey. The island has its own clinic and doctor on call. Guests get around by golf cart or with a driver. It is self-contained in a way few resorts can claim.
Residences: Beach, Lagoon or Hilltop
Every residence is a standalone home built from Fijian timber and thatch, with a private pool and a personal host, called a Tau (Fijian for friend), who handles every detail. Plots are enormous, often thousands of square meters, so neighbors are neither seen nor heard.
- Plantation Residences: Beachfront homes under sago-palm thatch, ideal for a classic barefoot honeymoon.
- Seagrass Residences: On a quieter stretch of coast with a sundeck pool and a private piece of beach.
- Plateau Residences: Up on the hillside with long views and private pools.
- Wai Residence: An overwater two-bedroom with its own jetty and a rock pool at the water's edge.
- Udu Residence: A secluded peninsula retreat with a private cove.
Honeymooners usually find a one-bedroom Plantation or Seagrass residence more than enough house for two.
Dining Without a Menu Plan
There are five places to eat and drink, plus private dining anywhere you care to name. Plantation House is the fine-dining room, with menus that change daily and a serious wine list. Seagrass serves pan-Asian dishes in a treetop setting, the Rock Lounge pours drinks and light bites over Seagrass Bay and the Pool Bar keeps tropical cocktails flowing. The Beach Bar grills the day's catch.
Because so much of the food comes from the island's own farm and waters, the cooking is remarkably fresh. In-residence dining runs from early morning until late evening. Your bar is replenished daily. Ask your Tau to set up a beach dinner on the sand or a picnic at a cove you discovered on a hike.
Why guests fall for it
COMO Shambhala Retreat
The COMO Shambhala Retreat brings the brand's wellness philosophy to the island. There are four couples' treatment villas, wet rooms with Vichy showers, steam facilities and a beauty salon. Treatments draw on Fijian ingredients such as local herbs, flowers, fruits, stones and even volcanic soil.
Yoga sessions and fitness classes are offered. The island's hiking and biking trails provide plenty of movement. A couples treatment in one of the private villas is the natural way to slow down after a day of diving or golf.
The Playground: Golf, Reef and Ranch
Activities are included. The list is extraordinary. Golfers can tee off on an 18-hole championship course designed by David McLay Kidd that winds between jungle and sea. Riders can canter along the beach and through the plantations.
On the water, there's diving and snorkeling in the soft-coral-rich waters of northern Fiji, plus sailing, game fishing, kitesurfing, wakeboarding, jet skiing, kayaking, paddleboarding, surfing and underwater scooters. On land, add tennis, mountain biking and miles of trails. The beauty is that nothing needs booking weeks in advance: tell your Tau what you feel like and it simply happens.
Why Guests Fall in Love
Guests who have stayed at Laucala tend to speak of it in superlatives. The same themes recur. The first is scale: residences so large and private that couples say they rarely saw other guests. The second is service. With staff vastly outnumbering visitors, requests are anticipated rather than fulfilled. The Tau system makes the experience feel personal.
Reviewers also praise the sheer range of activities included in the rate and the food, especially the freshness of farm and ocean ingredients. Above all, couples describe an unusual feeling of freedom, the sense that the whole island is theirs to explore.
Good to Know
Laucala is among the most expensive resorts in the world, with all-inclusive rates that typically start in the mid four figures per night for a one-bedroom residence. A minimum stay, usually around five nights, applies, though shorter promotional minimums sometimes appear.
Getting there is part of the experience. After landing in Nadi, guests relax in a private lounge before a roughly 45-minute charter flight to the island's airstrip. Some private jets can fly directly to Laucala, with arrangements handled by the resort for an additional fee. The resort welcomes families, with babysitting available, but its size means you'll rarely notice other guests at all. May to October is Fiji's drier, cooler season; November to April is hotter and wetter, with a cyclone risk. Pack insect repellent; if you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices for Fiji.
Insider tips
- A one-bedroom Seagrass residence pairs privacy with your own stretch of beach.
- Ask your Tau to arrange a beach dinner or a cove picnic; these are the most romantic moments here.
- Combine diving with a Taveuni-area itinerary; the region is renowned for its soft corals.
- Watch for promotional periods when the minimum stay drops from about five nights to four.
