Paradise Found by Susan Miles

I’ve found heaven on earth and it’s called ‘Fafa Island’.

Amazingly this tropical paradise is not a challenge to visit. A mere four hour flight from Australia’s east coast is the Polynesian Kingdom of Tonga. Fafa Island is a pleasant thirty minute boatride from the main island of Tonga, Tongatapu. Arrive during daylight hours, visitors will be enticed with the ever growing view of a pristine sandy coastline. However arrive under the cover of darkness, and guests are rewarded with an astronomical spectacular of a star drenched sky above.

Comfortably fitting into the category of ‘secluded retreat’, the island resort is home to just thirteen private fales (Tongan huts), traditionally constructed of palm trunks and finished with woven and thatched palm leaves. The interiors are tropical escapism personified with netted canopy beds, steeple wood lattice ceilings and verandah style bathroom suites that open onto lush private gardens. Shower under the shadow of swaying palms with a background soundtrack of gentle rolling waves is guaranteed to melt away any remaining stress.

The fales’s decor is purposely minimal, allowing the natural beauty of the seascape views that pour through the picture windows to provide the artistic finishes.

Ranging from family friendly double fales that front gentle rolling lawns that lead directly to the beachfront, to secluded honeymoon fales tucked away at the end of tropical garden pathways, each are finished with furnished verandahs for lounging and palm tree strung hammocks for snoozing.

From each fale it is beach stroll or tropical trail wander to the resorts deckside bar and restaurant. Offering breakfast, lunch and dinner menu rich with local seafood and fresh fruits, with no more than twenty four guests on the island, the service is friendly and attentive.

Activities need be no more strenuous on Fafa than a sway in a hammock with a good book from the resort's well stocked library, or snorkelling off the beach amongst the colorful coral garden and tropical fish. For more active pursuits there are paddle boards, catamaran and dive/or snorkel excursions to outer coral reefs.

However, with nothing but clear, stretches of pristine white sand set against crystal blue sea, nothing beats a stroll at sunset along the shore – paradise found.