Daku’s tranquil setting in beautiful tropical gardens overlooking Savusavu Bay is ideal for the art workshops which we have been running since 2005. Taught by top Australian artists across a range of genres, it’s a unique course wrapped up in a blissful holiday.

Workshop programmes

The daily programme is structured around full morning workshops. These take place either in Daku or in nearby locations chosen by the tutor – a palm-fringed beach, the fruit and vegetable market, down by the yacht harbour.

Within Daku itself, we use both the gardens and the yoga platform. This is a spacious open-sided platform with stunning views over the bay, a great favourite of the artists since it was built in 2009.

We break around 12.30, when there’s time for a swim in the pool before lunch.

Afternoons are free for doing what you want. As part of the programme we organise local excursions -  a trip on the boat or to a nearby lagoon and beach; a visit to a local village where they put on either a choral performance or a meke (traditional dance). We’ll do a tapa making demonstration – tapa is the decorated Fijian bark cloth. You can also choose to have a spa massage, go snorkelling on the fabulous coral reefs nearby (Fiji is known as the soft coral capital of the world), wander into Savusavu for a bit of souvenir shopping or just relax by the pool.

And you are free to go back to the yoga platform and continue with your painting whenever you want.

In the evening we all come together again for dinner and a chance to review the day. Sometimes we’ll have singing or you can kick back with a bowl of kava before going to bed.

Teachers

Our teachers are all established Australian artists, many of them with regular exhibitions and international reputations. Both Wendy Sharpe and Kerrie Lester have taught at Daku – and Leonie Norton has brought seven groups to Daku over the years.

Genres and materials

Each teacher offers a specific genre - you can choose courses from the following line up for 2011:

You will get a list of the materials to bring before the course. We have easels, drop sheets and rags at Daku.

A bit about where it all happens

Daku Resort is on Fiji’s northern island of Vanua Levu. It’s just outside the little town of Savusavu, an hour’s plane ride from Nadi, Fiji’s international airport.

Daku is a small, friendly resort with accommodation in bures (small cottages) and villas in the lovely grounds of an old coconut plantation looking out over Savusavu Bay. There’s a swimming pool beside the restaurant / bar.  Meals are served in this area – we offer a mixture of Fijian, Indian, Chinese and European menus, and we cater for vegetarian and gluten free diets.

Other things to do

There’s plenty to do in your spare time. We have snorkels, masks and fins at the resort if you want to go snorkelling; you can take out a kayak; you can hike up the mountain behind Daku (pretty steep – bring runners) or walk along the road by the bay – and of course there are the activities already in your programme.

One of the great joys of Daku is its easy pace and the warm welcome you will receive from all the locals in Savusavu. We offer a corner of Fiji as it has always been- hospitable, welcoming and relaxed. It’s a place where you will feel like family by the end of your stay – which is why so many of our guests come back for a second and third visit.

Costs

Our courses cost AUS$2980 including flights from Sydney; or $1980 if you wish to do your own flights to Fiji.

We are happy to quote you on flights from other cities. This includes:

• course fees
• 7 nights accommodation at Daku Resort
• all meals at Daku Resort
• excursions listed in the programme
• domestic flight Nadi – Savusavu return
• airport transfers from Savusavu airport