Sandy Beach Resort
Located
on Foa, an unspoiled island in the northern islands of Tonga's Ha'apai
group where pods of dolphins and whales are regular visitors, Sandy Beach
Resort is designed for nature lovers who enjoy life's little luxuries.
Owners, Sigrid and Jurgen Stavenow left Germany in 1987 and operated Tonga's most prestigious restaurant for seven years before chancing upon Houmale'ia Beach and deciding to build a resort. It seems that their appreciation of the area is shared as Ha'apai, with its fine sand beaches stretching to infinity as far as the eye can see, has been nominated as a potential world heritage site.
The resort opened in May 1995 after a building process that managed to defy many of the difficulties of such a remote environment. Jurgen was assisted by local villagers to build 12 large comfortable fales amongst the tropical foliage on their seven acre site.
Aligned
with nature...
All
fales are situated right on the tree lined beach where swimming and other
watersports are possible at all tides. Magnificent reefs lie within
swimming distance and the tariff includes use of snorkelling equipment and
Polynesian outrigger canoes. Sandy Beach Resort won't have outboard
motors, jetboats or anything that disturbs the environment or tranquillity.
Also
included are bicycles, guided bush walks and airport transfers. By
arrangement for an additional fee, other activities available include
horseback riding, scuba diving, daytrips by boat to some of the other
inhabited and uninhabited islands, game fishing, trips by amphibian plane,
and sea kayaking.
Enjoy
incredible sunsets from the resort's terrace to the sounds of classical
music before adjourning to the fully licensed restaurant. Elegant
artefacts including carved whales, brass ship lamps and an antique wood
stove create an ambience to complement the first class cuisine with
highlights including fresh fish and lobster. Entertainment includes Tongan
cultural shows and kava ceremonies, but there is no TV, disco or nightclub
and this is definitely not a resort to bring children to.
A glance through the guest book seems to say it all, with 'fantastic' being a word often used to describe everything from the holiday to the cuisine. For those who truly appreciate nature, Sandy Beach Resort is like no other.