IMAGINE a novelty beach style pool complete with an 18m waterslide and a large swim up bar, live band with tourists and locals mingling about.
That is the Tiki Pool & Bar which is the hottest place to cool off in Pacific Harbour.
It is dominated by a giant Tiki head, which has an 18m water slide hidden inside from whose mouth the brave splash into the pool.
It has become a firm favourite with the Pacific Harbour crowd as they can enjoy a relaxing swim and a drink listening to the latest sounds in the islands.
With a new management, the pool and bar at the Arts Village in Pacific Harbour has been given a facelift which is attracting more tourists and locals.
Director Imraz Iqbal says the swimming pool and the bar are built to cater for urbanites from Suva and surrounding places.
“I think this particular bar here was built for a reason.
“It was to accommodate a lot of the crowds that are coming in from Suva and have nowhere actually to have fun.”
The place was built like an amusement park where you got a nice big waterfall, nice people, beautiful beach and environment.
“The reason we’ve taken over the place is that we’ve seen a potential in it. Here is a place of one of a kind.”
Location
First and foremost it’s a controlled beach environment.
“If you go out there, you are subject to the elements, the wind, and the people.
“Here, we have people who control the environment.
“Secondly, it’s one of the best pools in the area and thirdly there is no big water slide in Fiji.
“This is probably the longest and the biggest water slide in Fiji at the moment. It’s a nice amusement area.
“It has an entertainment stage area, nice beach environment, water facility with a pool, big hot tub that can fit about 15 people in it.”
He said what was unique about the place was the physical infrastructure.
“If you go around Fiji and look for a place like this, you won’t find it.”
He said the great thing was that they wanted to market it for the local people.
“When the locals come, a lot of foreigners also come as well.
“A lot of tourists come to Fiji not to hang around with other tourists, they go to the bar at the resort or wherever they may be and ask where the locals hang out.
“This is where the locals hangout.”
He said locals were the biggest spenders.
Development
Development is in the pipeline with plans to expand the existing pool and bar and build a mini golf course.
“There are a lot of things in the pipeline, to build a little golf course later on, few more slides and turn it into a place where on Saturdays and Sundays where parents can bring their kids, few beers at the bar while their kids are enjoying themselves using a water slide.
He said the most important thing was to providing for a segment in the market that was not being catered for.
“There are locals who deserve this such as local expats, local foreigners who have settled here and the Fijians, who have really got nowhere to go.
“You go to places you pay seven to eight bucks for a beer, pay $30 for a meal and it’s really not an affordable environment. Here, I would say probably is the best around and it’s being marketed for the local crowd,” he said.
Local talents
There is also a stage for regular performances and for showcasing Fiji’s hottest bands and talent.
“You can actually come here and enjoy yourselves. We have live music on the stage; you can come and enjoy yourself with your kids, have something to eat, have a drink and relax because this is a place for the local people.”
He said they also wanted to keep promoting local bands.
“Our main focus is to prioritise the locals and give the service to the local people that tourists get.”
“I extend an invitation to everybody out of Suva, the Coral Coast to come and enjoy activities and live music here.
“It’s a place where you can afford to enjoy yourself. It’s a very different environment.
“The people of Navua and nearby place always congregate at the bar to enjoy themselves on a Friday night. We cater for everything.”
The Melting Pot restaurant is alongside the pool and offers customers delicious food all day long.
The pool and bar open seven days a week.
It opens at 2pm on weekdays and 10am on the weekends.
