Five passionate surfers and entrepreneurs are creating Fiji’s most exciting new luxury resort, Vunabaka, near some Fiji’s most famous waves,-on Malolo island in the Mamanucas. Among them Anthony Marcotti who founded Kandui Resort back in 2004. It is not surf-oriented endeavour, but it is located only fifteen minutes by boat from the best waves in Fiji like Cloudbreak and Restaurants,” explains Marcotti. At the heart of this $350 million development is the Island Grace hotel, a five star boutique resort expected to be completed by May 2016. Architect Richard Priest will combine artisan design and natural materials to create a hotel with a 21st century Fijian feel, incorporating furniture made by local craftsman and a restaurant offering sustainable seafood and local ingredients dished up by New Zealander chef Inka Peri and his team (Peri was most recently at the luxurious Likuliku Lagoon resort). The resort will be set between two private yacht marinas with tennis and yoga on site and golf a mere helicopter hop away. http://vunabaka.com

Helena Bay

On 3km of pristine coastline on the unspoilt Tukukaka coast of New Zealand’s North Island a Russian billionaire is creating a new and exclusive luxury lodge, Helena Bay, scheduled to open in 2016. The lodge will have one master villa and several suites as well as an owner’s cottage in a private bay, within the 304-hectare estate. Guest facilities include library, three lounge areas, informal and

formal dining areas and an outdoor fire pit with fresh produce gathered daily from the estate’s own vegetable gardens and orchards and meat from the estate. There will also be a gym, sauna, massage rooms, a 25-metre heated swimming pool, four private beaches and a helipad. Owner Alexander Abramov was inspired by many of the areas early heritage buildings (such as Pompallier Mission House in Russell) so architect Greg Jones was asked to create a timeless and classic group of buildings that would readily blend and be one with the environment. www.helenabay.com