Natalei Eco-Lodge

Natalei Eco-Lodge is situated in, and is owned by, Nataleira village, who established the facility in 2002 and operated it until 2007. The village is part of Tailevu Province, about a 2 hour drive north of Suva. In February 2010 the village decided to rejuvenate the business and requested STIL to write up a business plan, which included guidelines for management, staff training, commercial operations and marketing. With some funding secured from the Tailevu Provincial Council the bure style accommodation and central facilities were renovated and upgraded.

Beachfront accommodation includes four traditional Fijian style bures with shared bathrooms and 2 contemporary style bures with private ensuites, providing a total of 40 bed spaces. A Community Training Centre has also been established which is used to conduct ‘in-house’ training programs for Nataleira villagers and other surrounding villages. The Manager is packaging this Training Centre facility with the Eco-lodge accommodation targeted at outside, generally Suva based, groups. STIL has advised the Manager to develop a more strategic, sustainable and viable business and conservation development program that could include:   

  • A Model Village for a Climate Change Adaptation Programs and Research
  • Agritourism and Ecotourism Business Development to Improve Livelihoods
  • Training Programs to Build Capacity in Local Communities

A range of ecotours are also available, especially the dolphin watching, by arrangement with the neighbouring Takalana Bay Eco-lodge. Visitors are also encouraged to join in and learn about the various village or eco-lodge activities like helping with the fruit tree and vegetable gardens, peanut farming, waste management program, river prawn farming, beach adaptation program or mixing a bowl of kava!