Culture, cuisine and coastal bliss: This Fiji retreat ticks all the boxes

Where: Wailoaloa Beach, Nadi Bay Road, Nadi, Fiji

How much: From $FJ626 ($429) per night for a standard room, breakfast included

The Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa has only been welcoming guests since February 1 this year. Before the pandemic, this property used to be the Pullman Nadi Bay Resort & Spa Fiji. It opened in May 2019 but the resort suffered financial problems and then the COVID-19 pandemic forced it to close its doors. The 325 rooms have been refreshed and new restaurants will progressively open this year.

The resort has direct access to Wailoaloa Beach, on the western side of the main Fiji island of Viti Levu. Wailoaloa means black beach and you can see why. The sand here is dark and so is the water. There are definitely much better beaches you may want to explore during your time in Fiji. However, this property is a great base for day trips and is only a 20 minute drive from Nadi International Airport.

Entering the lobby we are greeted by a woman wearing a traditional Fijian fibre skirt. "Bula," she says as we are given shell necklaces and icy-cold water bottles. The open lobby is very impressive. Wood panelling, driftwood art and pottery on minimalist shelving give a sense of refined luxury. A long water feature guides guests towards the pool area. The restaurant continues the earthy tones with woven baskets adorning the walls and acting as light fittings.

We are in a spacious room, which has a large bathroom with separate bath and shower. The king-sized bed is adorned with frangipani flowers and palm leaf strips spelling out "Bula". The cool, crisp air-conditioned room is a reprieve from the humidity outside. The staff member who showed us to the room checks if our keys work. Unfortunately, the cards we were given do not open the door. Eventually we are moved to the room next door that has a working lock. Check out is on Fiji time - a leisurely 11am.

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The Lobby Bar and Breeze swim-up bar offer a crowd-pleasing menu. We opt for the selection of locally inspired dishes: an okra and pumpkin burrito and fish kokoda, which is a salty-sour fish curry served cold. The drinks menu covers all bases, including a good list of non-alcoholic mocktails. The main restaurant, Harvest, has a broad menu likely to please an international palate, from burgers and pastas to local curries. We hear the buffet breakfast is incredible, however, we settle for a breakfast box to take to the airport to catch our early flight. More dining options are on the way, including an Italian restaurant, pan-Asian restaurant, and another pool bar and kitchen is under construction.

The pool area is the focal point of the resort, with platforms for lazing about in the water and a small water slide for the kids. A separate pool features a swim-up bar for the adults. Use the resort as a base to explore local sites, such as the largest Hindu temple in the pacific, the Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple. The resort has a temporary spa and gym, but these will have permanent spaces later in 2024. At the end of a day of exploring Fiji, sip a cocktail and watch the sun set over Wailoaloa Beach.

The welcoming staff and touches of Fijian culture made it a memorable, if brief, stay. When we told the pool attendant we were from Canberra, his eyes lit up and he lifted his uniform to reveal a green Raiders shirt underneath. Up the milk!

Explore more: ihg.com/crowneplaza

The writer was a guest of The Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa.