The art of the romantic surf vacation: Dane Zaun and Bruna Schmitz in Fiji

Words by Jake Howard | Photos by Ricky Lesser If you enjoy meandering strolls on moonlit beaches, paddles through gin-clear lagoons, romantic interludes under a mosquito net, a biolytix waste management system, and getting piped out of your cranium, than have we got a trip for you… and you can bring your partner. Contrary to popular opinion, Tavarua and Namotu aren’t the only places to surf in Fiji. The Matanivusi Resort, located on the Coral Coast of Fiji’s south shore, is one such option. The sky’s still blue. The water’s still warm. The people smile as happy as ever. The crowd’s a lot lighter. And as we learned from our happily engaged pals Dane Zaun and Bruna Schmitz, it’s a hell of a place for a couple of lovebirds to disappear to. Bruna, about to have a very good time. “Waking up with the Fijian sunrise never gets old; and having a coffee, fresh fruit and cereal with my beautiful fiancé Bruna while planning our day is the best,” stammers lovesick Dane. Cute, right? But, let’s get down to brass tacks: No matter how organic the granola, a surf trip’s only as good as the waves. So is Matanivusi holding the second incarnation of Cloudbreak? “The waves are unbelievable,” says Dane, snapping back to surf guy reality. “Unlike the famous breaks to the west, everything down here is a touch more raw. Not raw in a bad way, but in the way that the reefs are a bit further out, the wind a bit stronger, and the swell a notch bigger. The lack of other surfers in the lineup makes it feel primal.” Overcast doesn’t mean dull. Dane, and the joys of the South Pacific. Primal. You hear that ladies? What woman doesn’t want their beau to take a hit of primal these days. Yet it’s not so primal that the resort is lacking the glory of amenities. There’s a restaurant that serves up fusion delights. The Dua Tali bar brings the tropical heat. Matanivsui is classified as an eco-resort, which means the six bures are snuggled right into the jungle just steps from the sand and everything’s been well planned to minimise human impact. Massages can be easily arranged, as can a day of island hopping or shark diving. Hell, even the sunburn feels good. “After surfing all day Bruna and I enjoyed private evenings on our deck, watching the sunset and soaking up that fresh Fiji vibe that made everything so special,” says Dane. There are a lot of waves in the area, but the two primary breaks are Frigates and Pipe. The best time of year is December to April. Think you can convince your gal to saddle up? Trips can be booked through the good humans at Waterways Travel. Ms Schmitz gets tourist in the best possible fashion. Oh, Fiji, you visual delight. Mr Zaun and a hench directional change. Bruna swooping into a bomb. Chunks of South Pacific like this feel even scarier than they are. Worth every queue, every airline meal, every screaming child sitting behind you, and every bumpy boat ride. Protocol: Don’t hang around in the boat. Jump and paddle, as soon as possible. Hard to look at if you’re sitting at a desk RN. Dane, beneath clouds and feathering lip. Bruna in the mix of a highly enjoyable gem. Hello, sunset. There’s a whole lot of setups like this to explore when the trades kick in. Bruna cleaves a lip. It’s not all scary Cloudbreak in Fiji. Couples retreats don’t get much better than this. When life imitates a James Bond film. Dane lends a bruise to a South Pacific face.