Camp Taveuni

The place is fine. I stayed two nights however shortly after leaving I received an abusive message from the owner which was upsetting and frightening. He had followed me on Facebook and reacted to a photo he didn’t like and I received an incredibly insulting barrage of messages.

We were actually the very first guests to stay with Alan at Camp Taveuni, and his advice and connections and knowledge let us make the most of our two days on the island (pro tip: stay more than two days, and plan ahead a bit with booking activities). The place is minutes from the airport and close to a couple of great restaurants. It's also centrally located for exploring both coasts. The accommodations are basic but really thoughtfully appointed. We stayed in one of the rooms with an ensuite bath, as they were still putting the finishing touches on the domes and associated bathrooms, but would definitely be interested in coming back and trying one out. One of the highlights of our trip was borrowing a couple of kayaks and paddling out to the chain of islands off of Mattei. Alan was also able to arrange a last-minute snorkeling trip to Rainbow Reef, a breakfast at a fancy resort, and all transportation and a lot of our meals, and we couldn't have gotten nearly as much out of our trip without his help!

Short version: A unique place built with soul. A wonderful place to stay in Taveuni - away from the big resorts, embedded in nature with a wonderful view. Clean, safe, eco-friendly, with lots of things to do. The owner Allen is an amazing guy, very communicative and helpful. Long version: Camp Taveuni was our base camp for 9 nights in October 2023. It gave us an unparalleled experience. Originally we planned only 5 nights, but we felt home away from home so we decided to stay longer. * Location 5 Minutes drive from the airport - Allen picked us up and dropped us off without hesitation. There is one dive-center in walking distance. The dive-center we chose (because they highly value safety standards) is approximately 15' by car - the dive-center will transfer you for free from just down the road (5') of Camp Taveuni. There are at least two good restaurants in walking distance. * Accomodation We booked the large Bure with the privat bathroom. It was very clean, cozy and spacious - there is a sofa, two armchairs, a table and 4 chairs as well as a wardrobe. There are also other valuable options, so as a small bure with a bunkbed and a private bathroom. Large domes (as dorms) and small dorms (with double bed), both with shared bathroom. * Hygiene Everything was flawlessly clean, the tap water is totally safe to drink. There is only cold water available but who cares - it's hot anyway. You will meet insects and geckos but that is only logical because you are surrounded by lush nature. * Food The owner cooks very well! Give it a try! You won't stay hungry, the food is highly recommended. If you feel like going out - there are at least two restaurants in walking distance. * Programs available (to name a few): If you have time, you can easily spent some days just chilling around in Camp Taveuni, having fun (and a couple of beers) at the pool. Take your time to relax. For programs outside Camp Taveuni Allen is very helpful and organized everything for us - from driver to reservation at the dive-center. Possible program: - Diving/snorkeling at the Rainbow Reef is a must. We have never seen such a rich coral reef before. - The Lavena Coastal Walk and the 3 Tavoro Waterfalls can be combined into a single day trip. - The water slides are also reachable by a quick car ride. - Kayaking to your own secluded island! Don't miss it. * Security: The two guard dogs Xena and Zoe are perfectly trained and keep you safe! Allen is also on site 24/7. You can easily walk around after dark (in the Matei-area) - there were no issues. Safe for female solo travellers too. * Owner: Allen is a well-travelled, intelligent and warmhearted person, who built everything on his property on his own with love and lots of work. He really is such a nice person with good values! Our best evenings were spent in his company, sitting by the fire, talking until late. Just tell him, if you need anything - he gives you a solution or tells clearly, if it is not in his power to achieve something.

Amazing accommodations. The shared bathroom is spacious and clean, the beds are firm and comfortable, pillows are super fluffy which is hard to find in Fiji. Allen is a great cook, beers are always available, the dogs and cat are great, and the view from the camp is incredible. 100% recommend.

Had a great week at Camp Taveuni, the owner Allen helped me out a lot. I was suffering from an upset stomach for a few days (which happened before arriving here!) and he was accomodating enough to go and get some bland food for my poor guts, and make it for me every day. On top of that he arranged a diving trip for me and generally made my stay a lot easier than expected. The room was nice and great value, and the staff there are lovely. And two famous German Shepherd dogs are available most of the day for belly rubs, and a cute cat too if you prefer (possibly not as open to belly rubs). It's in a very handy spot, just a ten minute walk to the beach and cafe restaurant and just down the road from the airport. I'll try and stay here again next time I'm on the island. Cheers Allen and everyone at CT!