We’ve launched ourselves into 2019 with determination and focus. We began 2019 with a recycling and small business project in Sri Lanka.

In this blog I’ll be sharing some of the challenges and opportunities around setting up small projects here…

Written by Kylie Barton

Barbados is the diver’s dream. This is whether you are new to diving, or a seasoned diver with years of experience. The waters of Barbados are strikingly unique, and even those who have dived all over the world are sure to find something new here.

Early this…

Written by Kylie Barton

‘The Ocean as our lungs’ was the main theme of the Pacific Blue Economy Conference that was held at the end of August in Suva. The United Nations Resident Coordinator to the Pacific, Osnat Lubrani, said that the ocean is compromised, and as a result so…

Written by Kylie Barton

We are extremely excited here at Island Spirit that the International Civil Society meeting will be held here in Fiji, Suva to be exact, at the end of this year. This is the 14^th occurrence of the event, which provides a platform for key civil society…

Written by Kylie Barton

Here at IS when we read a headline about people dumping things in our beautiful oceans here in Fiji we can’t help but get a little emotional. Earlier this month, it was found that a Chinese tuna vessel has been caught in that very act. The…

Written by Laura Griffith

A plastic bag tax has been announced in a Fiji, in a bid to safeguard the environment.

Ten cents will be charged per bag used in order to reduce plastic waste and usage in Fiji. As an alternative, the ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism will introduce…

Written by Laura Griffith

There are many shapes that responsible travel can take and the rich, long-lasting impact it has on us as travellers and the communities we visit.

If you’re not familiar with the term, ‘responsible travel’ means being socially and culturally…

Written by Kylie Barton

The creatures of the nation’s we work in are without a doubt one of the biggest draws (as well as our impeccable individualised service of course!). In Sri Lanka, the Sperm Whale is certainly up there in the must-see animals.

These creatures made the news in recent…

Written by Kylie Barton

Renewable electricity is something Island Spirit is incredibly passionate about, and we are ecstatic to hear that our new host nation Vanuatu has a renewable, rural electrification project underway that will see over 9000 resident’s homes installed with electricity. We welcome this drive supported by a number…

Written by Kylie Barton

We are very excited here at Island Spirit by the recent news that the Ministry of Fisheries in Fiji will be ramping up protection efforts for our beloved Rainbow Reef in Taveuni and the Waivunia marine reserve.

Work began on the gazetting of the Rainbow Reef in…

Written by Kylie Barton

Sri Lanka is one of our new locations here at Island Spirit, and so we thought we would take a little look at the way climate change is affecting this beautiful zen gem isle.

We hear a lot about climate change, and at Island Spirit we talk…

Written by Kylie Barton

At the end of last year, Vanuatu launched ‘Vanuatu 2030 – The People’s Plan; an inclusive vision for development. This is after many years of debating, drafting, and double checking. The point of Vanuatu 2030 is to provide a comprehensive framework for a sustainable future for…

Written by Laura Griffith

Dishing up a fresh perspective for IS, our team member Laura talks about Island Spirit’s Wildcrafted Fijian headbands –  our latest product to launch in celebration of World Fair Trade Day on May the 13th.

“As a former Textile Designer, with background in designing contemporary garments & products for a Global Design…

Written by Kylie Barton

Barbados may be short of on land wildlife, but it certainly isn’t short of breath taking marine life. From turtles to sharks, flying fish to dolphins, Barbados really is a dream for the water babies among us. In this article, we will take a closer look…

Written by Laura Griffith, Marketing and Sales Co-Ordinator

Laura talks about her first month on the Fijian Islands…

“For my first official Island Spirit meeting in beautiful Fiji, Kirsty and I embarked on a 24-hour journey together to head to Fiji’s Garden Island, Taveuni with two friends. With a hire…

Written by Kylie Barton

As environmentally conscious people, we are all well aware that when the population swells – the animals suffer. People need a lot of space, and in Sri Lanka this means there is less space for the elephants that are now sadly in the threat of extinction….

Written By Kylie Barton

In December 2016, Fiji declared an impressive target to protect 16 per cent of all land area by 2020, and local communities will play a huge part in helping this goal become reality.

Here at Island Spirit we have been working with the community in Fiji for…

How to Remain Environmentally Optimistic During This Presidency

Written By Kylie Barton

With the election of a climate change denier to the White House, it would be easy for those of us who consider ourselves conservationists and environmentalists to throw up our hands in dismay and give up hope. This however,…

Written by Kylie Barton

At Island Spirit we couldn’t imagine why on earth it would take multiple governments working together to attract more tourists to the beautiful island of Barbados, but nonetheless the Bajan government has committed to working with Europe to entice more visitors in.

The Minister of Tourism, Richard Sealy, has…

Written by Kylie Barton

At Island Spirit we have talked about the importance of protecting sharks, rays and other endangered species many times over. It is an important topic, not only from an endangered species perspective, but also from the perspective of ensuring the natural balance in our seas is retained….

Written by Kylie Barton

At Island Spirit, responsible tourism is what we do, and therefore it pleases us greatly when the representatives from the nations we work with step up and challenge others when it comes to climate change action.

Minister Ronald Warsal from Vanuatu Justice and Community Services was the…

Written by Kirsty Barnby

Published in the Fiji Times on the day after Fiji won the Olympic Gold in Rugby Sevens:

As Fiji’s big stars proudly stride forward in full swing showing their best at the Olympics, there is a whole galaxy out there doing amazing things in this strong, resilient,…

Written by Kirsty Barnby

Fiji’s undergrowth is home to a colourful and often surprisingly humorous bunch of creatures and wildlife.

This parrot pictured above is native to Taveuni and has a very cheeky personality. (Whilst photographing him – He actually climbed onto my arm whilst chatting to himself then took the lens…

Written by Kylie Barton

It has been all go here at IS! Island Spirit is the first company with WFTO (World Fair Trade Organisation) membership to trade with any Pacific Island Country. It is also the first WFTO to specialise in responsible travel.

At Island Spirit we work with the local…

Written by Kirsty Barnby

Updates and notes from our second recce trip to this remote, tribally rich and adventurous location – Vanuatu. 

Here you can read about our trip to get a feel for the forthcoming Escapes we are designing. They will be dedicated to eco tourism as all…

Written by Kirsty Barnby

It’s time for us to spread our little wings! The Atlantic Ocean calls this time and so to Barbados I head.

This blog is a run down of the places and people I met as I uncover this wonderful coral limestone island.

My ambition is to meet local…

Written by Kylie Barton

As the Coral Reef controversy surrounding dredging and the Great Barrier Reef continues, Island Spirit thought it would be a nice idea to look at some different coral reef management methods to see who is trying to protect what, how, and what is proving…

Written by Kylie Barton

Giant Clams are one of the biggest unsung heroes of the coral reef system. Here at IS we fully support the current work of the Ministry of Fisheries in Fiji who are working to repopulate the Taveuni reefs (along with others) with…

Written by Kylie Barton

The most important message to come out of the 5^th annual World Ecotourism Conference held in the Philippines last weekend was that for sustainable tourism to work it must focus on generating more opportunities for local communities that keep marine life thriving; not dying.

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Written by Kirsty Barnby

“Hurrah Island Spirit have spotted Squids! .. Sometimes it all just makes sense! Today was the first day I’d been in the water at the coral gardening reef in more than four months. I’d saw an increase in algae and some of the coral planted on…

Written by Kylie Barton

Countless research has demonstrated that societies with the least material prosperity are often richest in terms of happiness, community spirit, and general emotional well being. So is ‘development’ in the way the term is most often used actually desirable?

We at Island Spirit ask this question as…

Written by Kirsty Barnby

Tadra Womens Arts and Crafts Project, Taveuni is now officially under the Island Spirit umbrella and will soon be supported by a AusAid volunteer.

3% of each guests Island Spirit escape will go straight into the fund for this project – that equates to at least $USD32…

Written by Kirsty Barnby

Monday

We collected 100 crown-of-thorns from the pearl farm. I spotted a banded sea snake which are poisonous if they bite you but their mouths are small so they can only bite your earlobe or skin between your thumb and forefinger! As I watched come out of…

Written by Kirsty Barnby

Robyn, the owner and manager of Nakia Eco Resort, has kindly donated 40 young trees to Island Spirt for replanting in Vidawa village and along the farming section of their rainforest trek.

During the Taveuni Island Discovery trip in April with Kyle Waters from Toronto, Canada, we…

Written by Kirsty Barnby

Eco adventures with ‘Island Spirt’ ( in Fijian – ‘Yanuyanu Yasi’).

This has been one of  my best days on Taveuni. I have finally discovered the brilliance of the natural…

Written by Kirsty Barnby

We help people organise adventure holidays on Taveuni, Fiji. We take real pleasure in helping people find the best adventure for their dates, budget and appetite for adventure.

There are all sorts of possibilities to explore, but sometimes finding practical information about getting to Taveuni and even…

Written by Kirsty Barnby

We turn right under the mango tree and bump our way slowly past the corrugated shed, known as the virgin coconut factory, along a tiny track until we reach the end.

The verges are lush, green manicured grass beyond which the undergrowth is having some kind of…

Written by Kirsty Barnby

I did a little presentation to a group students and guests at Daku Resort, Savu Savu, Vanua Levu, Fiji this week.

It was a last minute request and I ended up with a dog as an onscreen companion instead of any fancy slides. (Note to self -…

Written by Kirsty Barnby

Coconuts trees stand in unison quietly. One side of their tall, lean trunks are glowing orange as the afternoon sun continues to slow-roast them. I…

Written by Kirsty Barnby

Cocktails in coconut shells? More like kava in coconut shells. I’ve got myself a bit of a reputation for being the kava queen wherever I go and drink with the locals because I am one of few women who enjoy drinking it and can stay up for hours chatting…

Written by Kirsty Barnby

Volcanic in origin, Fiji is a group of 300 islands located in the South Pacific approximately 1,770 k (1,100 miles) north of New Zealand.

Flight times to Fiji are 10 hours from Los Angeles; four hours from Sydney; slightly over two hours from Auckland and about six…