Resort chain Aussies love opens new location in Thailand

Australians probably know Outrigger best from Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort. When it opened in 2000, it quickly became one of Fiji’s defining family resorts, its down-to-earth atmosphere striking a chord with Australians seeking an easy, resort-based holiday. It was regularly touted as one of Australia’s favourite places to stay in Fiji.Outrigger Phi Phi Island is a relaxed, high-end resort that celebrates local culture,Then Outrigger repositioned itself, moving further into the premium market. Outrigger Fiji underwent a major refurbishment, elevating its accommodation, dining and facilities. But rather than reinventing the resort, Outrigger enhanced what made it so popular in the first place. The relaxed atmosphere remained, only with a more refined offering, and the Australian love affair continues.The Outrigger Family Garden Villa verandah is the perfect spot to chill.The same philosophy has shaped Outrigger’s wider expansion. Rather than building new resorts from scratch, the Hawaii-based company acquires established beachfront properties and invests in their transformation, all the while preserving the characteristics that made them so popular.Today, Outrigger’s portfolio spans around 40 beachfront resorts across Hawaii, Fiji, Thailand, Mauritius and the Maldives.Sign up for the Traveller newsletterThe latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now.Under chief executive Jeff Wagoner, the company has increasingly positioned itself around “barefoot luxury” – relaxed, high-end resorts that celebrate local culture, cuisine and environment rather than imposing a standardised “Outrigger” experience.Alongside Fiji, its flagship properties include Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort in Hawaii, Castaway Island Fiji and Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort.A Family Garden Villa bathroom is spacious and stylish.Its latest addition is Outrigger Phi Phi Island Resort, formerly Zeavola Resort, on the northern tip of Phi Phi Don. Following an extensive refurbishment, the 63-suites and villas join Outrigger’s growing Thailand portfolio alongside resorts in Koh Samui, Khao Lak and Phuket.Accessible only by boat, the resort occupies a secluded stretch of Laem Tong Beach within Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, where development is tightly controlled, and the surrounding environment remains largely untouched.Handcrafted furnishings, organic textiles and woven motifs inspired by local craft traditions are paired with contemporary comforts. Accommodation ranges from family villas nestled among tropical gardens to beachfront pool villas and hilltop villas overlooking the Andaman Sea.Handcrafted furnishings inspired by local craft traditions are paired with contemporary comforts in a Family Garden VillaAt Mala Kitchen, chefs celebrate southern Thai cuisine using local ingredients alongside Western dishes, while Edgewater Bar & Grill serves fresh seafood, aromatic curries and tropical cocktails overlooking the sea.The surrounding national park protects one of South-East Asia’s richest marine environments. Guests can explore coral reefs on PADI-certified dives, take long-tail boats through mangrove channels to quieter islands, join Thai cooking classes, try traditional bead-making inspired by the islands’ indigenous Urak Lawoi people, or unwind at Zeavola Spa, where treatments draw on local botanicals and southern Thai wellness traditions.Families are well catered for with a Coral Kids Club and dedicated teen facilities, while Phi Phi’s lively Tonsai Village is just a short boat ride away.The redevelopment has been guided by principles of sustainability. Existing structures have been refreshed using natural materials wherever possible; design is focused on natural ventilation, waste reduction and a minimal environmental impact within the national park.Guests are welcomed with a handcrafted bracelet inspired by the traditions of the Urak Lawoi people, whose connection to the islands stretches back centuries.See outrigger.com Julietta Jameson is a freelance travel writer who would rather be in Rome, but her hometown Melbourne is a happy compromise.Connect via email.From our partners