Your travel guide to Fiji, with an eco-friendly focus

Whether you are seeking the sun and beach, waterfall adventures, romantic experiences such as stargazing or an easy going family holiday with a built in nanny, Fiji offers all of this and more.

Known as the soft coral capital of the world, and for some of the world’s best diving sites, the Fijian archipelago is made up of about 333 islands, meaning whichever accommodation you choose to stay at, the beach will be at your fingertips.

The country is famous for its slogan “All on Fiji time”, encouraging you to slow down when you are visiting.

Their warm and friendly culture takes great pride in their community, fresh food, and spiritual connection – specifically, the Bula spirit. The Bula spirit is a wish for happiness, good health and the energy of life. Bula, meaning ‘life’ is one very helpful word to know when you visit, as it also means ‘hello’ and is commonly used when greeting each other.

Wherever you stay, there are a wealth of activities to choose from, with lush natural surroundings providing a nature playground. In most cases, you won’t even need to leave your resort.

These activities include Fijian cooking lessons, cultural performances such as traditional Fijian dances, water sports such as paddleboarding, kayaking or surfing lessons, waterfall hiking, snorkelling, diving and more.

Things to do in Fiji

Fiji Museum

This little known gem of an attraction is located in the Thurston Gardens in Suva, Fiji’s capital city.

Come and learn about the cultural heritage of both Fiji’s indigenous inhabitants and other communities that have settled in the island group over the past 200 years.

In their newest exhibition Voyages: Stories of an Ocean People, you can learn about the amazing traditional navigational skills the indigenous Fijians used to migrate to and settle on these islands.

You will get to see Fiji’s national cultural heritage icon, Ratu Finau. It is the name of the last surviving drua, or doubled hulled canoe – the masterpiece creations that Fijians used in the past on their voyages across the vast oceans.

Fiji Museum: Thurston Gardens, Cakobau Road, Suva, Fiji.

Our Ocean Life Mangrove & Turtle Eco Tour

Fiji Airways and Tour Managers have launched Our Ocean Life Mangrove & Turtle Eco Tour where you can plant mangrove trees at a mangrove rehabilitation site and explore a turtle breeding sanctuary to help make a positive difference.

A portion of the proceeds goes to local village partners, and harvesting and sustainable supply of mangrove seedlings.

Then you will be off to the Kula Adventure Park for a behind-the-scenes private tour to explore the Incubation Lab. This is the world’s largest Crested Iguana Captive Breeding Centre, and you’ll get the chance to feed the majestic hawksbill sea turtles and wander through the rainforest as the marine biologist explains their conservation and education program for hawksbill sea turtles and mangroves.

Our Ocean Life Mangrove & Turtle Eco Tour: Pick-up and drop-off from your hotel or resort can be arranged when booking.

Coral and mangrove planting

Most of the resorts in Fiji offer the opportunity to take part and give back to sustainability efforts.

The two common activities offered are the planting of coral, through snorkel trips, and planting of mangroves.

A strong coral eco-system makes for a happy ocean and a happy planet, while newly planted mangroves takes in four times more carbon than rainforests.

They also act as a nursery for marine life as they grow over time. Speak to your resort about arranging such an activity.

Where to eat and drink in Fiji

When you are in Fiji, make sure you try their national dish Kokoda, a ceviche made using freshly-caught fish, marinated in lime juice and served with coconut milk.

Also try dishes with cassava in it, such as cassava pancakes or cakes. Cassava is a sweet root vegetable and an important crop in Fiji.

Most resorts in Fiji will serve these at their on-site restaurants so you won’t need to go far to try them.

Here are some recommendations for places to eat and drink in Fiji:

Seventh Heaven

Take a day trip to the Mamanuca islands, a string of 20 idyllic islands where you will find Seventh Heaven, a luxury floating bar and restaurant with two large decks and plenty of sun loungers, serving up delicious meals and cocktails.

Hit menu items include the Sizzling Fiji-tas, the Fijiian Kokoda dish, and their tasty roti wraps. Kokoda dish.

A 6-hour stay will have you sipping on cocktails or beers, enjoying water activities, jumping off the 4.5-metre pontoon plank into the Mamanuca’s turquoise waters for a relaxing swim or some snorkelling. Enjoy a slice of heaven here on ‘Fiji time’.

Seventh Heaven: Mamanuca Island. (Take a 20-minute boat ride from Port Denarau to get to Seventh Heaven).

The Wreck Beach bar

The Wreck Beach Bar is on an actual wrecked fishing boat on the Wailoaloa Beach. The bar is built around a 35-foot fibreglass boat with mahogany bar counters. Enjoy unobstructed views of the beach, and take in the incredible sunsets while you wine and dine.

The Wreck Beach Bar is in the Aquarius On The Beach hotel, located midway between Nadi International Airport and Nadi town.

The Wreck Beach Bar: 17 Wasawasa Rd, Nadi, Fiji.

Bulaccino cafe and organic farm tour

Bulaccino, a popular cafe in Nadi, Denarau and Suva, recently launched tours to their organic farm to bring awareness to the food that is served on their plates. The farm was formerly idle sugar cane farm land.

The cafe is renowned for serving food made from natural, quality ingredients, and now from their farm, which is only a 15-minute drive from the cafe. This ride will be arranged for you as part of the tour.

There are sheep, chicken, ducks and a wide selection of fruits and vegetables. Fruits include paw paw and soursop, heralded by many as a potent natural cancer killer, according to Bulaccino. Honey is also made on-site.

Bulaccino Cafe: Bulaccino Namaka Cafe, Nadi Challenge Plaza (approx. a 10-minute drive from Nadi airport).

Where to stay in Fiji

Nanuku Resort

If you are seeking privacy, a bit of seclusion and a quiet resort with outstanding service, look no further than five-star Nanuku Resort.

Located in Pacific Harbour, the adventure capital, it’s a 2.5-hour drive from Nadi airport.

For couples, the resort can set up an exclusive treetop dining experience, or you can take a ride on a boat to the nearby Nanuku private island to dine on a chef-prepared gourmet picnic, stargaze or even stay overnight.

Fiji is one of the best but lesser known destinations for stargazing, and NASA has donated one of their Dobsonian telescopes so that you can catch a clear view of Saturn, Venus, Mars and the stars while you wait for your dinner at the beachfront restaurant.

Expect to be swept away by the staff’s warmth and care with their impeccable service, starting with the traditional warrior greeting when you arrive. The rooms here are just divine, within steps of the beach and each with their own pool, outdoor shower, popcorn machine and a scrumptious spread of welcome desserts.

When snorkelling, you will see bright blue starfish, angel fish, damsel fish, parrot fish and lion fish, with the breathtaking Beqa Lagoon as the backdrop. Beqa Lagoon is known for its intriguing wrecks and incredible fish diversity of more than 300 species, making it a diving hotspot.

Nanuku Resort: 11 Nanuku Drive, Pacific Harbour, Fiji

Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort

The Outrigger is located on the popular Coral Coast, with access to white sandy beaches, and only an hour’s drive from the busy main hub of Nadi.

All accommodation options provide incredible views of the ocean, such as the Beachfront Bure suites situated right in front of the beach, complete with your own hammock.

If you thought your holiday couldn’t get any better, this resort includes priority housekeeping, complimentary laundry service, a Talai Butler service (including afternoon canapes and glass of sparkling wine), complimentary high tea and a private invitation to the weekly VIP cocktail party.

Outrigger resort is expansive and resembles a Fijian village with traditional thatched roofs. There are also two separate pools: one for families with children, and one for adults only with a swim-up bar.

A short walk from the resort is the Kula WILD Adventure Park where you can see animals such as iguanas, turtles, and snakes. There is a hawksbill turtle feeding experience too. The rainforest park is a pleasant, peaceful nature walk in itself and offers the chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of the resort.

Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort: Sydney Drive, off The Queens Highway, Sigatoka, Fiji

Six Senses Fiji

Interested to stay on an island off Viti Levu? You can, by catching a ferry to one from the Port of Denarau in Nadi.

One of these islands is the Malolo Island, the largest of the Mamanuca Islands, where Six Senses resort is located. The gardens’ fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs are used in the meals at the resort’s three restaurants, the deli and ice creamery.

If you are into beauty and skincare, the Green Tour may be of interest. You can learn how local plants grow in the tropical environment and how they are used for cooking and medicinal purposes. The tour will also visit the Alchemy Bar at the Six Senses Spa where you can use your freshly picked ingredients to create your own body scrubs and soaps.

You won’t need to go to the gym here, as you can walk among tropical forests while admiring viewpoints, making it a great way to see Malolo Island. For the wellness conscious, their spa features a herbal sauna and wet area, a yoga and meditation pavilion, and a jungle gym.

Six Senses Fiji: Malolo Island (Take a 35-minute jetboat ride to Six Senses from Port Denarau, or arrive in style via a 10-minute helicopter ride from Nadi Aiport or Denarau).

Getting to Fiji

Fiji is about a 4-5 hour flight from Australia’s east coast.

Fiji Airways, Jetstar and Virgin Australia fly to Fiji, and direct flights are available from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

Getting around Fiji

If you need to leave your resort, for something other than a tour where transport is arranged, taxis are the best option. Expect to pay similar prices to Australia.

Disclaimer: The writer travelled as a guest of Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort, Nanuku Resort, and Fiji Airways.