Less than an hour’s boat ride from Port Denarau in the idyllic Mamanuca Islands group, Plantation Island Resort is the ideal all-round family destination. Here are seven reasons we love it.
Plantation Island Resort was voted Fiji’s best family resort for 2025 outside mainland Fiji in our annual Readers’ Choice Awards. From a giant inflatable water park to award-winning kids’ club and nanny services, the whole family will adore this South Pacific resort destination.
Read on to discover seven reasons why Plantation Island Resort is fantastic for kids!
1. Kids eat FREE at Plantation Island Resort!
Yes, that’s right – all children aged up to 11-years-old eat for free from the kids’ menu at on-site eateries Copra Restaurant, Tavola Restaurant and Black Coral Restaurant when dining with two paying adults. They also eat free at the kids’ club buffet between 5.30pm and 7.30pm but must be supervised by an adult. Up to two children can also stay free in the same room as their parents using the existing bedding, with extra charges for the third and fourth children up to the maximum room occupancy.
2. Fun on the floating water parks
Kids will have a ball climbing over, sliding down and jumping off the bright and colourful inflatable water park on the lagoon at Plantation Island Resort. The attraction was specially designed to suit the water depth, location and other requirements of the Resort’s beachfront, and it has re-entry pods to make it easy to climb back on safely. It’s suited to children aged five to 16, with supervision recommended for those eight and under.
3. Awesome activities for all ages
There are plenty of other fun ways to fill your days at Plantation Island Resort. Cruise around the lagoon on a kayak, stand-up paddleboard or catamaran, snorkel among beautiful coral gardens or hire a bike to explore the island. You can also do boat tours to spot dolphins, go island hopping and visit a traditional Fijian village to see the chief’s village and the school and learn about coral conservation with the Resort’s resident marine biologists by building a fish house. There are also not one, not two, but three playgrounds!
4. Nanny services give parents a break
Fiji is famous for its nannies, who just adore kids. Plantation Island Resort offers child minding services for just FJD$15 per child per hour (around AU$10), with a minimum three consecutive hours required per booking and a maximum of two children per babysitter. If the service extends over normal meal hours, then a meal is also to be provided for the babysitter.
There is also a 24-hour service for FJD$150 (AU$100), plus accommodation and meals for the nanny. It’s best to request two inter-connecting Studio Garden Bures when taking advantage of this offering so the adults can sleep in one bure and the children can sleep with the nanny in the other.
5. Kids’ clubs to entertain all ages
There are two free kids’ clubs catering to different ages at Plantation Island Resort. The Coconut Kids’ Club is for children aged four to 11, with activities like making and racing coconut boats, crab racing, traditional dancing, beach soccer and movie nights. The Lairo Kids’ Club suits 12 to 16-year-olds, offering pursuits such as volleyball, table tennis competitions and touch rugby. There’s also a children’s creche for littlies and an indoor activities centre.
6. Inspiring cultural experiences for families
Children can learn about Fijian culture and take part in traditional practices like basket weaving, wood carving and cooking at the cultural village located near the Black Coral Restaurant and the kids’ club at the Resort. It’s a great way to give children an educational experience while on holidays without them even realising it.
7. Four pools and a waterslide!
At the end of the day, the thing kids want to do most on holidays is swim. Plantation Island Resort has four pools spread across the Resort, including one with that all-important waterslide. Purchase some dive sticks and pool toys from the resort shop and the offspring will be entertained for hours.
Plan your stay at Plantation Island Resort, Fiji
How to get to Plantation Island Resort
It takes around 50 minutes to get from Port Denarau Marina to Malolo Lailai Island, where Plantation Island Resort is located. Malolo Cat Transfers offer four services a day on comfortable high-speed catamarans. Children aged up to 11 are free when travelling with a parent or guardian, excluding the 10.30am departure from Port Denarau and 12.15pm departure from Plantation Island Resort.
Family accommodation at Plantation Island Resort
Plantation Island Resort offers a range of accommodation options to suit every family, from poolside and garden hotel rooms that sleep up to five people to two-bedroom bures that sleep up to six.
More information
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Produced in partnership with Plantation Island Resort
Opening image: The inflatable water park at Plantation Island Resort in Fiji
