Every time I’ve been to Fiji, it has been kid-related – as a kid, with other people’s kids and finally with my own kid.

We love ’em, but maybe we want a break from ’em every now and then. So I went adults-only resort hopping and the vibe couldn’t have been more different from my past experiences.

Tropica Island Resort,Malolo Island, Mamanuca Islands

You know you’ve come across something good when it doesn’t look real.

Upon arriving by boat at Tropica Island Resort, the staff are gathered at the jetty to serenade new guests with dulcet tones and a guitar, while waving flags, massive smiles plastered across their faces.

As I was the only guest on the boat, I felt like royalty.

And they already knew my name, and used it constantly throughout my stay. The resort looks out at Wadigi Island, also known as Google Island, because the search engine giant co-founder Larry Page brought it during lockdown.

It’s such an interesting sight. A bit comical looking because it’s like they have tried to put as many houses on it as they could.

Within an hour of arriving, I was on a boat with other guests to go snorkelling.

I asked the captain what to do if l saw a shark. His response? “Smile and say bula, okay bye,” before ushering us off the boat.

And what do you think happened 10minutes later? Yep, shark. It was no Great White, perhaps a reef shark, but my heart definitely skipped a beat.

It turns out there really was nothing to worry about, he was merrily following a fish. And I swear it winked at me on the way past.

Even the sharks are friendly at Tropica. My room was a dream. I had one of the 70sqm 10 beachfront pool bures (the resort has 24 bures and suites in total) which had a large plunge pool on a spacious deck and was just metres from the beach and surrounded by lush gardens.

On arrival, staff had beautifully spelled out my name on my bed with flax, and there was an endless supply of bottled water and the usual shower goodies you find at luxury resorts. In both showers that is – the spacious indoor one and the river rock outdoor shower, which is the only one I used.

It would have been the perfect spot to watch the sunset from while sipping a cocktail had I not done it at the Lakomai Bar instead. Right on the water’s edge, staff sang karaoke -The Pointer Sisters’ Fire and Chris Stapleton’s Tennessee Whiskey were a hit – as I sipped on a sweet radioactive-looking green drink.

You can choose to eat at the bar too, which I did. My food picks are the saffron arancini balls with brie, tomato chutney and coriander.

And for the main, the brine pork belly which comes with infused rice, wok toss greens and soy honey reduction.

A point of difference from the other two resorts I stayed at was the daily yoga at 7am. Doing the baby cobra while looking outto Wadigi Island was unlike any other yoga class I’ve done (there have been many).

Things became even more unique at the end when the instructor went to each ofus and massaged our feet.

It was then time for a massage in the resort’s al fresco bure just a five-minute walk to an elevated point. My masseur had magic hands and a quiet demeanour so it felt like it was just me, the hands and the soothing sounds of crashing waves.

Dazed and relaxed, I had a late breakfast at the resort’s Lakalaka Restaurant, an openair space overlooking the pool and ocean.

A juice maker was a hit with guests. Put in any of the fresh tropical fruit, laid out for you – including passionfruit, papaya, pineapple, mango and guava – and receive a nutritious, cold juice to kickstart your day of relaxation.

Australian couple Rob and Sue Cecconi have owned the resort since 2011, two years after they visited it while on holiday when it was operating as Walu Beach Resort. When they started making their dream resort, they didn’t have a kids’ club in the plan so they soon realised they were building a holiday retreat that was not conducive to children unless they were over 16.

While my stay at Tropica eventually came to an end, I was obviously in such a relaxed state that I left my wallet behind. Big points to the staff who managed to get it on a flight back to New Zealand and into the offices of Fiji Tourism’s Ponsonby office.

Source: ALANAH ERIKSEN, NEW ZEALAND HERALD

• The following is an opinion piece which first appeared in the New Zealand Herald. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Fiji Sun.