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 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 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

So I landed once again in one piece, on this tiny island of ‪Taveuni‬ in Fiji‬.

Look at this place it’s insane! I spend a lot of time going up and down the rainforest coastline on a little track by rickety bus which hugs the…

Written by Kirsty Barnby

Fiji celebrates World Tourism Day as a Democracy once more – rejoice!

Although this may seem a tenuous link; the fact that today the Fijian tourism industry is experiencing World Tourism Day as a democratic country once more is something to be very much celebrated. The focus…

Written By Kirsty Barnby

Island Spirit’s Crowdfunder Solar Project; A Brighter Future in Fiji. June 2014.

Island Spirit and Belmont High School are once again teaming up. This time we are asking people to come forward, dig deep and put some pennies towards a solar unit for Vidawa Community Hall, Taveuni,…

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 Kylie Barton

Fijians are well aware of the damaging effects extreme weather can bring, especially as an Island state like that of Tonga which was hit by a category five tropical cyclone with winds up to 300km per hour earlier this month where 70 per cent of buildings…

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

The health industry has been using mobile phone technology to tackle health issues plighting the world’s poorest for some time now, but as technology continues to advance and become more wide spread, IS asks if it could aid the development process for some of the world’s…

Written by Kirsty Barnby

Monday 13th May

• VESA arrive on Taveuni and start to use Beverleys as their project site.
• I start researching new coral gardening locations to add to the outer reef of Beverleys.
• On one of out trips to the inner reef between two stunning islands not far…
  

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

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…