Castaway Island is celebrating 60 years by inviting guests and hosts to share memories from the resort in the heart of the Mamanucas.
The beachfront resort has spent six decades welcoming travellers to its white sand beaches, thatched-roof bures and turquoise waters with warm Fijian hospitality.
It opened with just four bures for fishermen to stay overnight when the Fijian tourism industry was just starting to chart a place on the world stage.
In 1992, new owner Geoffrey Shaw transformed the resort into an authentic, barefoot island, a place families revisited year after year. Some hosts had worked on the island for more than 30 years and some guests have made their Castaway Island visit a tradition across generations.
Under the Outrigger Zone programme, Castaway Island has embraced the island’s ecosystem as inseparable from the guest experience. In 2025, the resort launched a Sculptural Coral Gene Bank in partnership with non-profit Counting Coral. It also collaborated in the translocation of 15 endangered Fijian Crested Iguanas to Qalito Island. Finally, it became the second property in Fiji to earn a Green Key Certification.
General Manager Steven Andrews said Castaway Island was more than a destination for guests and represented generations of bonds for families.
“We’re proud to steward this legacy and are excited for everything the next decade holds as we invite more travellers to discover our island home for the first time,” Andrews explained.
From November 22 to 28, Castaway Island will celebrate 60 years with a week of events themed around 1960s vintage as a nod to the era it was born in.
The programme includes a Traditional Fijian Welcome Ceremony, a Returnee Guest Appreciation Day, and a Cocktail Gala on 27 November as the centrepiece event, expected to welcome government dignitaries, returning guests, and community partners.
As part of the celebrations, the resort has launched a guest and host-driven storytelling campaign, inviting generations of loyal guests to share their favourite 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 honour Castaway Island, Fiji’s milestone anniversary and the people who have made the resort a beloved destination for 60 years.
