Tavanipupu Island is one of the most beautiful, remote and untouched locations that I have ever seen. When I close my eyes and picture paradise, this resort is almost exactly what I imagine.

Located on the Marau Sound, this resort emphasises the main things that define the Solomon Islands - community and culture - while at the same time fusing seamlessly with an understated modern luxury.

The original creator of this magical island resort, Dennis Bellotte, together with everyone else that has invested their time, money, effort and love into this place, have worked tirelessly to create an escape unlike any other.

While it is extremely remote and unpopulated, don't for one second think that you'll be bored on this little island. There are a number of things to do (or not to do), no matter what your idea of fun is!

Relax in Paradise
One of the best things about the island is that it is so isolated. It's impossible not to relax and feel the air of peace and serenity wash over you.

The private bungalows at Tavanipupu Island Resort are simply breathtaking! Overlooking the water, these authentic leaf houses make you feel like you are truly in 5-star paradise.

The bungalows are spread comfortable distances apart and are designed to feel completely private but also open and airy. While this gives them a great secluded island feel, it also lets in some creepy crawlies, from the usual insects to not-so-usual house guests such as crabs and possums! Don't worry too much though, you will be tucked safely in your mosquito net protected, king-sized, feather soft bed.

This vibe of relaxation is helped along by Abbi and Paul, who work at the resort full-time and are qualified masseuses (not to mention two of the loveliest people you'll find in the Solomon Islands). They offer the very best island massages which you can enjoy anywhere you want, from your personal balcony to a quiet spot on the secluded beachfront.

There are big plans in progress to create a unique, over-water spa for future guests to enjoy. This and other projects are already underway, and are going to continue improving the resort over the next few years.

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Snorkelling
As soon as you have seen the colour of the water here, you will want to jump straight in! Hence the most obvious and popular activities on the island are water sports.

You don't need to be in the water to see the magnificent and vibrant sea life that plays beneath the surface. Every morning the staff stroll down to the jetty with a loaf of bread to feed the tropical fish that swim eagerly up to the shallows.

After I saw the fish being fed, there was nothing on this Earth that could have stopped me from grabbing some snorkelling gear and racing to the waters edge! If I could see that much and that clearly by looking at the water, I couldn't wait to be submerged!

All of the reefs surrounding Tavanipupu Island are protected, hence it has been a thriving marine reserve for over 20 years. This shows with the abundance of natural sea life, from gorgeous and colourful tropical fish to giant sea turtles and manta rays.

Fishing
If you love catching fish as well as admiring them, or just want to try your hand at catching dinner for the night, jump onboard the resort's boat and head out with a member of the staff.

I went out with a few other girls and together we managed to catch what I thought was a good sized tuna! It turned out that it wasn't the best kind to eat though, so we had to rely on the set menu for the night instead (probably a good thing!).

Sailing
If you're a keen sailor, have a go at sailing around the island on the Catamaran. You are allowed to take it out whether you have sailing experience or not, but you will be charged a small fee if the staff have to come and rescue you!

Wake Boarding
If you are more of an adventure-seeker, try your hand at wake-boarding. The staff will take you out on the boat for a spin around the crystal clear island waters while you hang on for dear life on the wake board!

I would love to tell you that I was fantastic at wake boarding, or even that I gave it a go. But I was a big scaredy cat and decided instead to wade around in the shallows while I watched the experts (and the non-scaredy cats) show me how it was done. If you are feeling brave, give this sport a go! After all, you can always soothe your muscle aches with a massage when you get back on the island.

Traditional Entertainment
Every Saturday night, whether there are guests or not, the locals from Vatu Village come over to Tavanipupu to perform some of their traditional cultural dances for the staff and guests at the resort. This is a group of extremely talented performers, including the kids from the village right through to the elders.

Discover the island on foot
There's also a lot to explore on land. Take a self-guided tour around the Tavanipupu island. It only takes around 30 minutes to walk the entire way around the island and a slow walking pace. It is a great walk, boasting a network of tracks through the island's diverse natural habitats. The highlight of the walk for me was definitely the lookout, offering a gorgeous panoramic view of the entire island and surrounds.

Island Hopping
Once again, call on the always accommodating staff to take you Island-hopping! There is an Island nearby named Kosa, which they lease. There is nothing like relaxing on a private island in the middle of the pacific, just you and the sand (and a few people to cook you a 5-star lunch, of course). As Pamela (one of the Resort owners) says, "If you don't fall in love with Kosa, then there is something wrong with you!"

Vatu Village
If you are getting a little lonely from all this peace and quiet, why not visit one of the local villages on a nearby island? I visited Vatu Village just around the corner from Tavanipupu.

The villagers greeted us traditionally, checking that we were arriving peacefully by storming into the water, spears and machetes raised and ready to strike. Of course, we were terrified at this unexpected welcoming party and cowered on the boat, eyes wide with terror.

They then smiled their amazing Solomon Islands smile and lowered their weapons and we shakily went ashore to explore their village and way of life.

We toured their village from top to bottom, seeing where and how they lived, exploring their local schools, shops and homes and meeting most of the villagers who were all extremely friendly and happy to share a story or two. It's a very different way of life, but at the same time completely natural and peaceful. The kids in the village were all gorgeous, making pinwheels out of palm leaves and overjoyed when we presented them with coloured pens to draw with.

Eating
You will never go hungry at Tavanipupu, trust me when I say this. The food I had the pleasure of eating on this small remote island was among the freshest and most delicious I have ever eaten. All of the produce is fresh and either grown on the island or straight from the sea. They also bring in the best produce, meat and seafood from Honiara when needed.

I loved waking up to a beautifully set table on my private balcony each morning. You just tell the staff the night before what time you would like it and voila! You will wake to a delicious continental breakfast! I highly recommend the breakfast dumplings. They taste like doughnuts and if you dip them in honey you will be in breakfast heaven!

Lunch varies to suit your activities. But rest assured the staff will make sure you are well-fed, wherever you are!

Dinner on Tavanipupu is just magical! Sitting by candlelight in the dining area, in front of the ocean with the breeze in your hair and the sound of the water lapping against the shore, you will be spoilt with 3 delicious courses. After dinner, you can simply wander over to the bar and enjoy a nightcap in this magical setting.

Getting there
Transportation in the Solomon Islands is a fickle thing. Don't ever rely on it to be on time, or even available. You really need to be flexible and prepared to go with the flow (that seems to be the motto of the Solomon Islands).

There are two ways to get to Tavanipupu: by air or sea (neither of which are simple). Both have their pros and cons.

I love the ocean, so I enjoyed the two hour boat ride in the sun... but maybe that's the sun-stroke talking! To be able to feel the wind in your hair and smell the ocean is so refreshing and makes you feel free.

The Solomon Islands shorelines are just fascinating. Their are a number of tiny villages to spot and locals to share a wave and smile with. I saw an entire family in a dugout canoe who had obviously just come back from the Honiara Markets. How they all fit in there with all of that shopping is beyond me, but they still found the enthusiasm (and balance) to all turn and wave as we sped by.

Travelling by air is completely different, but equally as fascinating. In a small plane (9-12 seater), the trip takes just 15 minutes and you will get a perfect birds eye view of Honiara, the Solomon Islands coastline and Marau Sound. Once on the ground, the friendly staff of Tavanipupu Island Resort will pick you up and transport you by boat to the resort.

There is no designated flight from Honiara to Tavanipupu at the moment. The resort charters flights on request for guests and these can be a little unpredictable.

Worth the effort
The fact that Tavanipupu is just out of reach is both a blessing and a curse. To realise why it is a blessing you have only to go there and see it for yourself. The island is completely untouched by development and tourism. When they came up with the definition of 'paradise,' they had this place in mind, of that I have no doubt.

It is a curse because to get there you need to be willing to put in a little more effort than to get to most tropical paradises. It's well worth the extra effort to get there. In the case of Tavanipupu, it's the destination, not the journey.

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