In the South Pacific sits an archipelago of 333 picturesque islands that make up the dreamy and oh-so-holiday-worthy country of Fiji.
An easy four-hour flight from Sydney, Fiji should be top of your island getaway list.
Whether you prefer to lie on the beach with a cocktail in hand, cruise among the tropical islands, immerse yourself in local culture, dine to your heart’s content or unleash your inner-adrenaline junkie, Fiji is the ideal holiday spot.
To get you excited for some safe travelling and into planning your holiday itinerary, we’ve rounded up some of the very best holiday must-dos in the soft coral capital of the world.
Here are nine reasons why Fiji should be at the top of your international holiday wish list.
Relax with some of Fiji’s incredible wellness programs
How you holiday is entirely up to you. But a holiday in Fiji can help you to recharge the batteries through relaxation and wellness – from personalised meal plans and herbal medicine to spa treatments and even specialised workouts.
If a bit of morning stretching and exercise gets you out of bed, Vomo Island Resort’s VomoFit program offers guests complimentary yoga, aquafit and free weight classes to help you start the day right. Or if you’re after pure relaxation, Malolo Island’s Six Senses Resort has a dedicated wellness and spa program where you can work with a wellness expert to guide you through detoxing, meditation and every kind of spa treatment your body might crave. All with lush tropical jungle in the background.
Make your trip a sustainable one
Travellers are becoming much more aware of their eco-footprint as they embark on journeys across the world. To help with that, look for Fiji resorts that implement sustainable practices, many of which adopt farm-to-table methods by growing vegetables and herbs on-site and making the most of native ingredients.
There are more specific initiatives such as Komoko Private Island’s community-supported ‘dock to dish’ seafood fishing program that works with small-scale fishermen, marine biologists and sustainable seafood advocates. Resorts such as Castaway Island, Musket Cove Island Resort and Marina, and Shangri-La Fiji give patrons the chance to plant coral or mangroves during their stay to offset the carbon emissions of flying over.
Embrace local culture and share in the ‘Bula’ spirit
If there’s any reason to visit Fiji, it’s for the welcoming nature and generous hospitality of Fijians who embrace the ‘Bula’ spirit and are ready and waiting to share it with travelling Aussies and Kiwis. The Fijian greeting is much more than a way to say hello; Bula wishes good life and good health, something we could all use and pass on right now.
From taking in local stories through traditional and contemporary dance performances to a Community Tourism initiative that helps you give back to Fijian communities by volunteering your time to building projects, the country welcomes you with open arms.
Know that you’re travelling safely
The Fijian government along with Tourism Fiji have created the Care Fiji Commitment, a standard of best practice for tourism businesses approved by the World Health Organization, so you can feel confident that you can get on a plane and travel to Fiji safely.
The Care Fiji Commitment ensures that every tourism business you encounter on your travels, that signed up to the commitment, will have 100 per cent vaccinated staff and a dedicated ‘wellness ambassador’ to ensure the highest level of health and safety practices.
Spend your days island hopping
We mentioned how Fiji is made up of 333 islands, right? So, you would assume it’s the ideal holiday destination to hop on a cruise boat and spend your days tripping around, soaking it all in, not just from the beach but from a water vantage point. If you like floating and relaxing, there are a few different ways to go about it.
You could take a day trip out to the two-level floating club Cloud9 on Ro Ro Reef for a few drinks, a swim and a night of dancing with live DJs. Or you could explore the seas with your own eyes and test your fears by taking a day cruise to snorkel with sharks. Or simply make a day of it and take inland excursions by boat to island destinations such as Malamala Beach Club or Tivua Island.
Eat and drink your way around the islands
What’s better while on holiday than cutting yourself a little slack and indulging in some of the best local cuisine, plus having a cocktail or five? From traditional eats to amazing resort fine dining – Fiji has a way of not letting you leave without fulfilling your traveller’s appetite.
Firstly, most resorts will hold a meke and lovo night for guests, which involves dancing and cooking using a traditional underground oven technique. You might also have the chance to partake in a welcoming kava ceremony, communally making the country’s national drink by crushing yaqona root.
If you’re dreaming of a beachside rum daiquiri scene that’s not in a movie, you can live it at Sofitel’s Suka Bar on Denarau. If you want to try one of Fiji’s most celebrated dishes, order the Kokoda ceviche from chef Lance Seeto in Nadi’s Kanu Restaurant. Or even spend a day on an organic spice plantation, enjoying tropical farm-to-table menus from the vantage point of lush gardens, in prime view of the sea.
Live it up in luxury
There are a few ways you can indulge in a more luxe style of travelling around Fiji to really make the most of a trip.
Top of the list has to be the adults-only boutique Tokoriki Island Resort, which was voted the number one hotel in the South Pacific by TripAdvisor for 2021. Book a beachfront villa and treat yourself to the spa package that comes with a daily massage. You can also stay at the luxury Royal Davui Island Resort, which offers a private picnic on a remote sand cay, or Yasawa Island Resort and Spa, which offers private beaches for the perfect romantic picnic. Or you can completely live it up by staying the night on your own private island and sleeping under the stars.
Immerse yourself in Fiji’s natural beauty
We’re talking pristine white sand beaches, out-of-this-world natural waterfalls, crystal clear waters for snorkelling, lush tropical rainforests, rugged coastline and dramatic mountain tops.
From trekking the Talanoa hinterland to exploring the mountain ridges and Tavoro Waterfalls of Bouma National Heritage Park – you can’t begin to fathom how much there is to discover and how gorgeous it’ll be along the way.
Dive in and explore the soft coral capital of the world
Fiji has certainly earned its nickname. Below the surface of the country’s magnificent seas is a colourful network of 4000 square miles of coral reefs, including the world-famous Great Astrolabe Reef surrounding Kadavu Island. Aussies know a thing or two about a great reef, but with more than 1000 species of fish and several hundred types of coral and sponges, it’s more than worth putting on the goggles and taking a calm dive in Fiji’s waters.
For some unique diving experiences, try diving the Great White Wall and snorkelling the Rainbow Reef in the Somosomo Strait or having the once-in-a-lifetime experience of swimming with the manta rays in several different spots between May and October.
Have you been to Fiji? Is it on your travel list? Let us know in the comments section below.
Also read: How a holiday to Fiji will make you happier
Be wary of taxi drivers in Fiji. We had to travel by taxi for a very short distance because my wife has a permanent injury that prevents her from walking very far. We asked the taxi driver how much for the 4 of us together. When we arrived at our destination a couple of minutes later he demanded we EACH pay $10. There was no miscommunication as he spoke perfect English.
Sorry, I forgot to mention in my previous post that he said he would charge $10 total for our group as it was only a short distance.