Loloata Island Resort

An island resort just off Port Moresby, Loloata Island Resort gives you the useful version of an escape: sea air, a private beach, a pool with a view and somewhere to eat without having to organise a small expedition. The setting suits divers, couples and families, with rooms and villas facing the ocean or set over the water.

The tone is relaxed rather than over-programmed. You can walk the shoreline, sit in the warm shallows of the Coral Sea, or make for the spa when your shoulders have had enough of carrying the day. There are also beaches, water sports and views across Bootless Bay, so non-divers have plenty to do while you are out on the boat.

English is not listed among the hotel team's languages, so language support is worth checking before you travel if that matters to you.

Loloata Island Resort is on Loloata Island, in Papua New Guinea, on the edge of the Papuan Barrier Reef. The property sits directly beside the sea, with a private beach and house reefs at the shoreline. A footpath follows part of the coast and leads to a smaller red-rock beach, as well as to the island's highest point for broad views over Bootless Bay and the surrounding islands.

Port Moresby is close enough for the resort to work as an arrival or departure stop, but the island setting changes the feel of the stay. Downtown Port Moresby is about a 20-minute drive away on the mainland, while Jacksons International Airport is around 10 miles away by road. Your transfer then continues by land and sea, rather than ending at a hotel forecourt.

The resort has its own restaurants and coffee house, which matters here: mainland cafés and restaurants are several miles away, not places you will casually wander to in flip-flops after sunset.

For two divers travelling as a couple, a sea-view suite or a balcony suite makes the most of the island setting, particularly if the room is part of the holiday rather than merely a place to drop a wet towel. Balconies and sea views give you somewhere to sit between the boat, dinner and sleep. The Standard King Room keeps things straightforward for two, with a super-king bed and a private bathroom.

If you are travelling with family or simply refuse to holiday with your kit squeezed into every available corner, the villa is the sensible choice. It is the largest accommodation option, sleeps up to four and has two bathrooms, which can prevent the usual post-dive queue for a shower. Family rooms are also available.

Air conditioning is fitted throughout the accommodation, and rooms include a refrigerator and an electric kettle. That means cold water and a proper cup of tea when you come back hot, salty and slightly too tired to be sociable. Daily housekeeping, a wardrobe, towels, bathrobes and toiletries keep the practical side covered, while free Wi-Fi reaches the rooms. Some ground-floor units are available, useful if stairs are not your preferred surface after a full day at sea.

Breakfast is included and served as a buffet, with continental and vegetarian choices. You can also take breakfast in your room. That gives you the option of a quiet start before a boat departure, rather than beginning the day by negotiating a table while still thinking about yesterday's current.

Sea Breeze Restaurant covers lunch and dinner beside the sea and pool. Its menu combines local ingredients, seafood and international cooking, with dishes such as tempura prawns with wasabi aioli and ponzu, crackling pork belly with kaukau mash, and strawberry pavlova. The point is not a themed menu for tourists; the kitchen brings local produce and South Pacific flavours into recognisable dishes.

There are two restaurants in total. Bootless Bay Restaurant & Bar adds a second dining address, while The Beach Club sits at the resort's highest level with wide views over Loloata Bay and a more private setting for cocktails or celebrations. A bar, coffee house, high tea, cocktails, packed lunches and special-diet menus are also available, giving you options beyond the main meal times.

The infinity pool is the obvious place to stretch out when the sea has done enough for one day. The private beach offers a different pace, with sun loungers, umbrellas and warm shallows along the Coral Sea. If you prefer movement without another briefing, kayaking, paddleboarding, canoeing and other water-sport facilities are available on site.

The shoreline path gives you a reason to walk without pretending it is a training session. Hiking, guided walks, beach games, pétanque, beach volleyball, golf mats and board games cover the space between lunch and dinner. There is also a games room, with indoor and outdoor play areas for younger travellers, plus a children's pool and children's meals.

For proper recovery, Sea Salt Spa offers massages, facials, body scrubs, body wraps, foot reflexology and foot-spa treatments. Its products use natural and organic ingredients, including locally sourced coconut oil, avocado, ginger, lemongrass and coffee beans. Couples' treatments are available, and each treatment comes with herbal tea and cut fruit. Booking ahead is required, so do not leave it until you are already lying face down on the treatment table.

This is a cashless island resort. Payments are made by credit card or bank transfer, so arriving with cash alone is not a reliable plan. Check-in runs from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm, with photo identification and a credit card required; check-out is from 8:00 am to 10:00 am. Early check-in and late check-out can be requested.

Airport transfers are available through a scheduled land-and-sea shuttle and must be arranged before arrival. The airport pickup service operates from Jacksons International Airport for flights between 6:00 am and 5:00 pm. Free car parking is available at Tahira Terminus, where the ferry connection continues to the island.

Day visitors must book in advance and follow the island's access rules. Outside food and drinks, including alcohol and cooked food, are not allowed, and day visitors must leave by 5:15 pm. Children of all ages are welcome; children aged four and over are treated as adults under the property's child policy. The minimum age for check-in is 18.

The resort's environmental work is focused on the places around it rather than on vague promises. Reef-friendly operations aim to reduce pressure on coral, while guests are encouraged to snorkel and dive responsibly and avoid standing on the reef. Beach sweeps help remove marine debris.

Waste reduction and recycling include composting organic material, while energy-saving technology and water-saving measures are part of the resort's operations. Local sourcing is prioritised for products used on the island, linking the kitchen and the wider resort more closely to the surrounding community.

Loloata Island Resort also supports coral planting, mangrove restoration and marine research, including work relating to epaulette walking sharks. Its partners include the University of Papua New Guinea and CEPA PNG. Employment, training and community education form part of the local programme, with further coral and mangrove planting planned.