RELEASE NUMBER 27 | 26
One of Fiji’s longest continually operating beachfront resorts marks its milestone anniversary and invites travellers to be part of its next chapter
AUSTRALIA – Castaway Island, Fiji is gearing up to mark its 60th anniversary, with the beloved resort having first opened on July 6, 1966. Between now and the end of 2026, Castaway Island, Fiji will be winding back the clock, opening the doors to its archives and encouraging guests past, present and future to experience the charm of its beachfront location.
A New Kind of South Pacific Escape
One of the longest continually operating beachfront resorts in Fiji, Castaway Island, Fiji has spent six decades welcoming travelers to its white sand beaches, thatched-roof bures, and turquoise waters, all with warm Fijian hospitality.
Fiji’s tourism industry was still charting its place in the world when Castaway Island, Fiji first opened on Qalito Island. The property was carved from the island’s foliage, with workers clearing scrub with bush knives to build the bures that would define an entirely new kind of South Pacific escape, quietly opening with just four bures for fisherman to stay overnight.
In 1992, the resort was transformed by the arrival of new owner Geoffrey Shaw, an icon in Fiji’s tourism industry. Under Shaw’s stewardship, Castaway Island, Fiji became synonymous with authentic, barefoot island hospitality, a blueprint that drew guests back year after year and established the resort as one of the defining properties in Pacific tourism. That legacy endures in the resort’s hosts, some of whom have worked on the island for more than 30 years, and in the guests who have made Castaway Island, Fiji a family tradition across generations.
Conservation at the Heart of Hospitality
Today, under OUTRIGGER Resorts & Hotels and thanks to its OUTRIGGER Zone programming, Castaway Island, Fiji’s approach to hospitality has deepened to embrace the island’s ecosystem as inseparable from the guest experience. This longstanding stewardship of the reefs began as a founding member of the Mamanuca Environment Society.
In 2025 alone, the resort:
- Launched a Sculptural Coral Gene Bank in partnership with non-profit Counting Coral; a marine-grade steel installation housing more than 500 carefully selected parent corals, it is designed to support the long-term regeneration of the surrounding reef.
- Collaborated in the translocation of fifteen endangered Fijian Crested Iguanas to the island, their first presence on Qalito Island in more than 40 years.
- Became the second property in Fiji to earn Green Key Certification, signifying its commitment to sustainability and serving as an assurance for guests that it adheres to strict environmental requirements.
Steven Andrews, General Manager of Castaway Island, Fiji, said: “Castaway Island represents something rare in hospitality – more than a destination, it has allowed travelers to connect with each other and for generations of families to bond across six decades. The loyalty of our guests and the dedication of our hosts are a testament to what happens when a destination is built on authenticity. It’s the reason why our returnees and multi-generational families continue to call Castaway Island ‘home’. We’re proud to steward this legacy and are excited for everything the next decade holds as we invite more travelers to discover our island home for the first time.”
Celebrating 60 Years
From November 22-28, 2026, Castaway Island, Fiji will celebrate its 60th Anniversary with a full week of events themed around 1960s vintage, a nod to the era in which the resort was born.
The program includes a Traditional Fijian Welcome Ceremony, a Returnee Guest Appreciation Day, a Management Cocktail Evening, an Environment Day centered on coral planting and the Coral Gene Bank, and a Cocktail Gala on November 27 as the centrepiece event, expected to welcome government dignitaries, returning guests and community partners. In a nod to the island’s cultural roots, a commemorative sulu will be worn throughout the week.
As part of the celebrations, the resort has launched a guest and host driven storytelling campaign, inviting generations of loyal guests to share their favorite memories through photos, videos and personal reflections. Spanning six decades of island stays and meaningful connections, the campaign will also spotlight longtime hosts whose stories have helped shape the resort’s enduring Bula spirit of hospitality. Together, these shared moments will honor Castaway Island, Fiji’s milestone anniversary and the people who have made the resort a beloved destination for 60 years. Share your story here.
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