Reviews of Bay of Plenty Nature Lodge

Rosa and Jerry’s homestay is really wonderful. You can experience all the Fijian culture here. All of the guys here are very friendly and welcoming. And the food here is amazing so yummy and fresh, it’s better than any restaurant, Evelyn I miss your food so much! This is the place that when you back to your country you will miss every day. The most closest beach(Blue Lagoon) is so beautiful, you could chill for the whole day there. Vinaka all the people we meet there, we miss you guys so deeply. Definitely will come back next time!

No hot water but if you want to make friends and experience the Fijian culture here is the first and best choice!

Incredible view, welcoming people, good food, real life like an islander, we felt like a part of the family! They made Lovoo for us! No mandatory food plan and affordable food prices, which was great.

It is a homestay, not a lodge or resort. The little cottages need renovation. I missed clean towels and pillows as well as a lockable door (which I think can be expected for the price we paid).

I had a wonderful time at this Accomodation. The place is calm and beautiful. The family kind and lovely and I felt a bit like home. Every day we received three delicious meals, with ingredients freshly harvested from the garden or caught from the ocean. Even though it’s a small island, there were many free and charged activities available. I’ve booked many snorkeling tours with the owner who showed me beautiful spots. I will never forget my time at this place!

I really liked the authenticy of the property and accommodation. After being in resort for fews days, it was really interesting to live a local life experience. The view from the bungalow is beautiful, you can do kayaking around the island. (take in consideration the tide, which can be really low) It was a real pleasure to share moment with this family, specially with the kids. We had the possibility to visit the school and a part of the village. The trip to Blue Lagoon was good, we were alone on the island, the water is clear, and possibility to do snorkelling. Just take in consideration the tide before to been there again. The food was really really nice, one of the best memories we will have. It was the best opportunity to try local food. You can’t find this kind of food in the resort. The other guests were really nice, it was a pleasure to share moment with different people all around the world.

We loved our stay but there is different thing that we didn’t expected. I think that the photos on Booking.com need to be updated, because most of them are not really reflecting how your stay will be. The bathroom wasn’t very functional, so if you’re hoping to shower properly, this won’t be the place for it. Be prepared for a truly immersive experience, with significantly less comfort than what you’d expect from a "lodge" or resort. The first trip only is free to go to Blue Lagoon, if you are staying few days, you should pay for the next trip. A little bit disappointing that nobody was coming with us visiting the school to explain us and showing us properly, and I was excepting having the experience of fishing with the family as I saw in the last review, but to organise excurstion with the family it look like difficult.

Perfect hidden location, removed from the bustling resorts but not so isolated that you feel alone! Incredible view from the houses, the most warm and welcoming family too. Every meal was homemade, fresh and absolutely delicious. The best meals on our entire holiday were all from here!! We felt so safe and at home - there is a myriad of wonderful activities you can choose to do (some are paid, but there are just as many that are free!), but you are under absolutely no pressure to. I highly recommend to any experienced travellers or those looking for a balance of cultural immersion, relaxation and fun!

I cannot really fault this place, but if I could brace any future travellers: Please know that this is not a resort! Do not expect high pressure or abundant water, internet connection, power to operate big devices like hairdryers, or a menu that you can pick and choose from. This is a cross between a homestay and a villa - so be respectful and take what you are given by those who call this place home.

Evelyne, Rosa, Jerry an Toki were amazing! We had the best time with them and all the kids that were around. There are so many things to do and a lot of those things are for free. The property is insanly beautiful and the food from Evelyne is fresh and super good! It was one of the best stays we ever had!

There is not really a beach at the property, but it doesn’t matter at all! The first ride to the blue lagoon is free and after you have to oay a little fee.

The place is beautiful, we really enjoyed the wonderful landscapes and the local family is so friendly, Evelyn and her family were really kind with us and the food was an unforgettable experience.

Lodges might be upgraded a little bit. The shower was a bit uncomfortable as the tube was too short,

I really liked how welcoming they were to us, especially to my pet dog. Although this was a homestay, the property we stayed in was private and quiet. Still, the family was very engaging and always made sure we were having a good time. I cannot recommend this place more!

I enjoyed the stay fully. I have nothing negative to say.

My little bungalow, set on a breezy hillside, looked adorable from the outside, and was surrounded by nature and flowers. It's a very quiet location beneath attractive rocky hillsides and above mangroves and tidal flats. The food is very good, especially Evelyn's dhal and vegetable curry 'samosas'. There are kayaks for rent, and one free trip to the Blue Lagoon included, which is a nice touch considering there isn't really any snorkelling in the immediate area. Unfortunately the masks, snorkels etc. are mostly non-functional, so bring your own. The tide goes out very far, especially during big tides (full moon) and it's not possible to swim or kayak, so arrange your activities with this in mind. There's a moderate climb on a mud path over tree roots to get to/from the rooms. It's beautiful, full of frogs and birds, and not a problem for me (it means it's lovely and quiet up there) but if you aren't fit, you might struggle with it.

It's my mistake, but I had no idea this place was a homestay. In my language, 'lodge' means something different, and for the price I paid - the most expensive I stayed in - I did expect something a bit better. My room was attractive and comfortable enough but it did need a LOT of tlc/maintenance. It was very windy during my stay and it wasn't possible to close the glass slats any further, causing the curtains (necessary for privacy) to billow horizontally all night. At least the wind kept the mosquitoes away; there were plenty on the balcony and in calmer weather they would have been inside, since the screen on the windows was torn in several places. It was suggested I stuffed the gaps with toilet paper. A bit of duct tape would have done the trick more efficiently but I guess there wasn't any. There's a lot of staining in the toilet, which is not a problem in a cheap place but I just felt that for the price I paid - not an insignigicant amount - it was a bit disappointing. I had no electricity in my room (a lightening strike, apparently) so I was lent a lamp and had to charge my phone downstairs during mealtimes. The light wasn't much of a problem but it would have been nice to plug devices in. There's no wifi at the property. Luckily they kindly let me use a hotspot for urgent emails but that was only available at mealtimes and for short periods. Evelyn is a lovely friendly person and has a couple of cute kids, often joined by several more and all very eager to join in with whatever you're doing. For people expecting this kind of set-up, who love kids, this would be a plus (they ARE adorable as kids go) but for anyone who, like me, isn't especially comfortable around lots of young children, this may not be your thing.

The family is very kind and try their best that you feel welcome and well. The cooking was good and also the bed&matress. The huts are a bit of a walk up a small hill, with a nice view. We were able to use the Hobie Cat (paid Activity) which was fun. We walked to the school&village which was intresting.

The huts are come down, very basic. Also you are in a spot, where with low tide you can‘t do alot if things. There‘s no beach arround, very secluded.

Food and Authentic Fiji family. Every dinner was special. Kava experience was wonderful. Thank you Bay of plenty nature family for hosting us.

Insects

We stayed with Rosa and Jerry for five nights. The place had four bungalows set above a narrow cove with mangroves. Really fun place for kids and family to stay. There are water activities for the kids, plus Rosa's grandkids are very friendly and took our daughter under their wing. Jerry is a repository of wisdom and cultural knowledge. Rosa was a very practical and effective host and her daughter Evelyn the same. Food was fantastic, a real highlight and our 2 year old loved all the food.

The stay is not for those needing all the comforts. Be ready to walk around barefoot in rainy season as the track from dining room to bungalows is constantly wet.Also, mosquitoes are around and you have to bring repellent and any resources you can to protect against bites.

The bay was serene and had a good energy with Rosa and Jerry’s family. We enjoyed the food that Rosa prepared for us and the other guests, who we shared meals with at the communal dining table. The hospitality of the family showcased great Fijian culture, particularly Evelyn and Toki.

The activities required a bit of forward planning, particularly around the tides which we hadn’t considered. Best to have overpacked on some supplies as the shops were not always accessible or open.

The room and the food

- the behaviour of the boat "captain " : minimum 30min late when he gives the appointment for an activity + he left us alone on the turtle sland and forget to bring us back to the homestay... we had to ask someone we didn't know after awaiting 1h30... the rest of the staff apologise except for him - the location : not possible to swim in the sea (mangrove)

This is a very basic resort. Cabins are old and need repair.No hot water or air conditioning, There was a fan.Food cooked Fijian style was plentiful. Friendly accomodating family. Experience how a Fijian family lives.Electricity for 24 hours.Cold spring water availble.Beautiful view of the Bay

Expected to interact more with a Fijian family but the guests stayed in a separate location and ate apart from the family. Cabin was small and run down. A bit overpriced for what you are getting.Mandatory meal plan billed separately

The place is extremely quiet, with only 4 cabins onsite. If you're looking for something outside of the resort sphere, then this is a good option. The bed was comfortable, and the breeze on top of the hill kept my room cool during the evening. There are plenty of free activities available. The family is really lovely and accommodating. I have various dietary requirements, and they catered very well for me. They helped arrange my return boat and answered any questions I had pre-arrival.The facilities are quite simple and dated, but if you're okay with basic comforts, then you'll be okay. I would return.

I would have liked curtains on all of my windows for greater privacy and a lock on my door. But otherwise, all was fine.

The room was one of the best things. It had plenty of light, no mosquitos in it, the electric system one of the best we found, and the bathroom work really well. Also the views were just amazing!

Well, if we have to say something maybe that you don’t have a beach in the lodge. If you want to go to one you need a boat ride or you can go with the kayak as well.

Wow. We loved eveything about this experience. It was amazing. The environment, the views, the family and especially the food. It will stay with us forever.

That we couldn’t stay longer

Kayak Snorkeling Hiking Low tide to walk on the beach

Not hot water We are disappointed to not eat with the family

Nice homestay experience, good hike nearby with beautiful view, great food, solar powered electricity, cute (basic) bungalows

Bay not for swimming (although this is clearly pointed out in description), quite windy during our stay, we‘d have wished for some more interaction with the family

Very cool to stay with a small family, learn about their way of life. Private location, perfect for RnR

It was ‘a little breezy’, but efforts were made to make the eating area more pleasant under these conditions