Solomon Islands/Accommodation/Tavanipupu Wellness & Retreat
Tavanipupu Wellness & Spa Retreat
A privately owned 5-star island in Marau Sound, 25 minutes by plane from Honiara — the South Pacific's best-kept secret, and once home to Prince William and Kate.
Marau's mangrove and coconut-bordered deep channels are sheltered by coral reefs and countless sandy islets, an unusual and beautiful tropical landscape. The island was a 19th-century coconut plantation, bought from locals by Norwegian traders for ammunition — some of the traders' gravestones still sit hidden in the long grass. Political tensions and a temporary airstrip closure nearly forced Tavanipupu shut, but a handful of passionate people kept it going; today it's a turquoise-lagoon paradise, with manicured lawns of coconut palms the only trace of its colourful past.
Accommodation
Spacious private bungalows overlook the water, with king beds under mosquito nets, fan-cooled rooms, and high traditional roofs that keep them cool day and night — or hang a hammock by the beach (provided) with a good book. The Premium Royal Bungalow — where Prince William and Kate stayed — has a king bed, an expansive bathroom with bath, a private outdoor deck with shower, and its own jetty with ocean and beachfront views. The Deluxe Bungalow matches the king bed, bathroom and private outdoor deck with equally stunning views. Two Family Bungalows on the east side of the restaurant sleep up to two adults and two kids, and one Standard Bungalow has an indoor bathroom.
All rates include gourmet breakfast, lunch and a 2–3 course dinner, daily room service, bathrobes and turndown service, complimentary tea and coffee in-room, daily water, a fruit platter and champagne on arrival, plus a complimentary 30-minute four-hand massage.
Dining
Fresh seafood is the star, though land-lovers are equally well looked after — full breakfast on your veranda whenever suits, and elegant two-course lunches and three-course dinners in the dining pavilion, backed by a well-stocked cellar and full-service bar. The kitchen works from the finest local and imported ingredients, with a particular focus on the seafood thriving in the waters around the island.
Activities
Marau Sound delivers unspoiled beauty, solitude and a genuine range of things to do — boat excursions to native villages and enchanting uninhabited islets, world-class charter fishing, walking tracks and bike rides around the island, or a casual one-hour SUP/kayak circumnavigation with a swim or two along the way. Fishing off the jetties with light gear is a must for anglers, and surfers can bring their own gear for uncrowded sessions on the local reefs. Snorkel gear is free for all guests (bring your own if you prefer), alongside sea kayaks, canoes and paddleboards.
Massage & spa
A full-body massage while gazing through a porthole at the calm waters of the Coral Sea — genuinely one of the more memorable ways to unwind on offer anywhere in the Solomons.
Ready to stay at Tavanipupu?
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