As far as wishes go, having your own private island has to be at the top of the list for most of us. That’s probably especially true right now, as we daydream about escaping it all to an isolated patch of tropical land. Maybe slipping into the water from a pop-up tent on the beach, hand-picking a lobster from the warm crystal blue waters, playing a quick round of golf on your own makeshift one-hole course, challenging the Harlem Globetrotters to a game of H-O-R-S-E when they’re shipwrecked on your shore, and waving to the seaplane pilot who is dropping off your Amazon Prime delivery.
What? So, I’ve had a little extra time to think about it. You have to admit it sounds pretty sweet.
If you share this dream and you’re looking to make it a reality, the opportunity of a lifetime is right around the corner. On July 25, Platinum Luxury Auctions will be accepting bids on Fiji’s Mai Island, which is approximately 32 acres of Pacific Ocean paradise. Previously listed for $4.2 million, Mai will sell with no reserve and it should have plenty of bidders.
This island carries the rare distinction of offering freehold ownership, which means you can do and build as you please, but Mai is certainly no blank slate. For starters, the island is home to an archaeological site more than 300-years-old—the remains of the foundation from a chieftain’s home—as well as an incredible bevy of fruit trees, including coconut, starfruit and avocado. So, make sure to pack a blender.
There is already a one-bedroom, one-bathroom cottage on the island, as well as separate staff quarters, where the island’s caretakers have lived for generations. There is also plenty of space for new bures, both on land and overwater, and residents will enjoy fresh, clean water from the sparkling spring and two wells. The island’s southwest coast boasts approximately a quarter mile of beautiful beach, offering access to a stunning coral reef, while the northeast side provides deepwater anchorage for yachts. You know, for when the in-laws visit.
And getting here is part of the fun. Mai is a 90-minute boat ride from Vanua Levu, Fiji’s second-largest island, but eager guests can arrive quicker by seaplane or helicopter from Labasa Airport. Of course, for the new owner, that trip will probably be one-way.
