Fiji Travel Guide

Fiji is an archipelago of over 300 islands that sits in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. This paradise escape is filled with fascinating cultures, traditions, and more recently, has become part of the top ten luxury destinations in the world. 

Of the 300-odd islands, only half are inhabited, and even fewer are free to visit unless of course, you are booked into your very own private island resort, one of the best ways to experience the exclusivity of some of Fiji’s most pristine islands. 

Go island-hopping around many of the islands, snorkelling, stand-up paddleboarding and cruising to see the abundant coral reef below. No matter what you choose to do, a hammock, a coconut and some relaxation will never be too far away. 

Within Fijian culture, you’ll see a little bit of Chinese, Indian, British, French and the local influences of Tongan and Rotuman cultures as you travel through the islands. Fijian culture has evolved through colonisation and has been influenced by travel and trading themselves; however, the Fijian people remain proud and maintain their identity. 

While travelling in Fiji, you’ll hear music wherever you go; a traditional Fijian welcome is a warm smile and a song, which are essentials in the Fijian hospitality that makes this archipelago so special.

Ready to see a comprehensive Fiji guide? Let’s dig a little deeper.

Despite having similar seasons to Australia, when on your Fiji travels, you’ll never really get cold, making it the perfect year-round destination. 

The dry months tend to be from May to October. This is also peak season, when day time temperatures reach 27-29 degrees Celcius and evenings get down to 18, depending what you are used to, this might make you shiver, so bring a jumper or two! 

It’s very rare at this time of year, but you might expect the odd storm, which can last anywhere between 20 minutes and three days - welcome to island life! 

This time of year is perfect for a family holiday to Fiji, for surfers in search of the ideal wave and divers looking for maximum visibility.

Fiji’s other season is a wet one that lasts from November to April. When travelling during the rainy season, once again, showers can last anywhere between five minutes and three days, leaving hot and humid weather behind. By then, it could be time to go home! 

Don’t be disheartened just yet, as unlike the dry season, your stretch of warm sunny days could be met with adventures to the impressive waterfalls deep in Fiji’s jungles!

Tip: Viti Levu’s southeastern side experiences considerably more rain than the rest of the island in the wet season, keep this in mind when talking to our Local Designers on the ground in Fiji and Australia.

Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park 

Perhaps the sandiest national park you have visited, Sigatoka National Park covers 650 hectares that are made up of parabolic dune systems, which are stabilised by vegetation and carved by the wind. 

Formed over millions of years, the Sigatoka sand dunes reach up to 60 metres in height. Evidence of Fiji’s past has been found through excavations that have gone deep into the sand dunes, where pottery and even human remains have been fossilised in the largest burial sites in the Pacific, some are around 2,600 years old. 

The Sigatoka National Park is an essential part of the Coral Coast of Fiji’s main island Viti Levu that warrants exploration to discover the otherwise unknown diverse landscape of the Fiji Islands. Trips like this 4-day five-star authentic Fiji trip allow you to explore the national park in your way. 

Island-Hopping from Castaway Island

Part of the Mamanuca Islands, Castaway Island in Fiji is a private island resort that ticks all the boxes when you think of remote island paradise: white sand, coral reef, swaying palm trees - you name it!

When you are not sipping on a coconut from the comfort of your hammock, an island-hopping tour is never too far away. Boarding your speedboat, you’ll be whisked away to explore the Mamanuca Islands group where you’ll pause to sunbathe, snorkel and explore the islands to discover all that lives above and below the surface. 

Island-hopping is an essential part of beach life, and great fun for the kids, just like the tour suggested in this family trip to Fiji where the kids will find lots of fun activities to do while you relax in the sun. 

Surfing around Tavarua Island

The Fijian Islands are home to some of the most sought after surf spots in the world, where surfing fanatics travel from across the globe come to challenge themselves with Fiji’s swells. This 4-day Fiji surf adventure trip takes you right to the heart of Fiji’s surfing paradise. 

A private heart-shaped island not far from the popular area of Denarau, Tavarua Island is home to numerous surfing spots that cater to all abilities. Whether you are just gaining strength enough to paddle out or have been mastering the art of catching a wave for years, you’ll cease to be amazed by the waves that circulate this island!

The beauty of Tavarua Island, and what gets surfers coming back time and time again is that there is always a wave to catch; if one spot fails to deliver, there will always be another! 

Diving around Matamanoa Island 

Have you thought about getting your PADI diving certificate? This trip to Fiji could be the time to do it!

On Matamanoa Island, both the newbies and experienced divers will find themselves in a heavenly place as diving experiences range from breathing exercises in the pool to wreck diving, reefs and shark encounters. No matter what you choose, your day underwater is all about learning to hone and develop your diving skills so that you enjoy this mesmerisingly colourful underwater world safely and responsibly. 

Zipline Fiji

Explore the treetops of an eco-reserve on the ultimate zipline experience in this 9-day Coral Coast and Yasawa Island trip to get up close to Fiji’s flora and fauna. 

After an in-depth introduction from your expert guides, you’ll go deep into the rainforest and over the Wainadoi River Valley as you flow through eight zip lines. One of the most exhilarating activities on Fiji’s main island, the ziplines total around two kilometres, each platform you land on has a different name, offering you a chance to get more acquainted with the Fijian language on the way. 

Play 18 Holes at the InterContinental Golf Resort

Fiji’s island experiences ooze luxury, and nothing quite speaks of the high life more than a round of golf at the InterContinental’s Natadola Golf Course.

Looking out across the bay, Natadola is spread across 35 acres of dramatic landscape and bays that look out across coral reef and surf breaks; this is one of the top activities to do while staying at the InterContinental like in this Fiji luxury trip.

Renowned across the world, Natadola Golf Course has an 18-hole course offering a mix of challenging holes with five choices of tee to match your ability as well as being fit for internationally renowned golfers. No matter what level you consider yourself, there will be a tee for you!

Rental Car

It is possible to rent a car from the tourist areas of the main island for ease of getting around to explore Viti Levu. Renting a car is the best option for those who want to seek out the national parks and quieter beaches away from the tourist stretch. 

Public Bus

Perfect for those who are on a budget, the public buses run regularly to the Coral Coast, Pacific Coast, Suva and Lautoka on Viti Levu. You can expect to get around for no one more than FJ$20 (US$9), however, don’t go in a rush - you can’t! Bus times can vary, and the journey can take up to four hours. 

Seaplane

If you have booked a private island like on this Kokomo Island trip for your time in Fiji, you’ll find that package deals for resorts include a seaplane from the main island. An experience in itself, seaplanes are much faster than boats and offer panoramic views of the Fijian archipelago as you arrive in style. 

Ferry

A much more affordable mode of transport, ferries leave from Denarau to the more popular Fiji islands several times a day. The number of times the boat leaves a day is mostly dependent on the island’s popularity; the more remote you go, the fewer options you have.

Top Private Island Accommodation Options

Just off the coast of Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu, there are a multitude of private islands that are resort-owned, remote, romantic and staggeringly beautiful. 

Ideal for honeymooners and couples looking for a romantic getaway, like this 4-day Kokomo Island trip, a private island resort has everything you want and more! Explore the beaches and jungle that surround the resort, go snorkelling, island-hopping or stand-up paddleboarding any time you please and never miss a sunset with a cocktail from the pool bar. 

Mid-Range and Budget Options in Fiji

While private resort islands are strictly reserved for luxury trips, islands such as the Mamanuca Islands and the Yasawa Islands offer the chance to have a Fiji island experience -without the big price tag- with beach bures (overwater bungalows) that provide a more local feel. 

The islands have accommodation that ranges from hostels to small family-run resorts that offer a little luxury with a pool. All-inclusive options are available.

While there is a lot of international cuisine on offer in the many many resorts Fiji is home to; the local cuisine is a must while in Fiji. With a healthy and hearty cooking style and a strong influence of Chinese and Indian cuisine, you’ll find a lot of similarities across the islands. 

Some essentials to try;

Lovo

Cooked in a giant hot stone pit, lovo is a cooking style that is used for cooking everything. A slow-cooking method, the pit is covered with banana leaves that make a conical shape and is left for hours. As this is effectively a giant oven, lovo-style cooking is also used to make gelatinous cakes, steam corn, slow-cook meat, bake potatoes - all piled up next to each other!

Mahi Mahi Kokoda

This is perhaps the most typical Fijian dish you will find. Kokoda is a fish ceviche using the local and most popular fish, mahi-mahi. 

The soft butteriness of the fish is what completes this dish. It is marinated in coconut milk and left raw. To give a little bite to the dish, there is the addition of fresh vegetables and lashings of lime - the perfect island dish!

Curries

Available across all of the islands of Fiji, curries in the archipelago are taken seriously and give a Fijian spin. With a large Indian population, curry in Fiji is made with added freshness and zest yet still keeping the comforting hot and spicy flavour. 

Lolo Buns

The perfect breakfast! Lolo Buns are packed with coconut for that hearty morning freshness you want to enjoy! Similar to a bao bun in Southeast Asian culture, Lolo Buns are boiled not baked to seal in the freshness and give them that light doughy texture that makes them so moreish. 

Despite appearing quite easy to make, you might find yourself shopping around to find the consistency you are looking for. No matter what your choice - you’ll instantly be hooked.

Hibiscus Festival

Think small local fate and you’ll have the right idea for the Hibiscus Festival since it began in the mid-50s, the Hibiscus Festival has grown into a 9-day festival that brings in locals from across the archipelago to Viti Levu. 

Taking place during the August holidays, the main event of the festival is a beauty pageant where the winner is crowned the Hibiscus Queen.

Diwali

Held in the second week of November, Diwali is a festival celebrated by the Indian-Fiji community who make up about a half of the Fijian population. 

Diwali in Fiji is typically celebrated through the fasting of meat. During Diwali, families pray to Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity through ritual prayers and candles arrangements that spill out onto the streets. Diwali is typically a time of sharing and celebration with friends and family. 

Lautoka Sugar Festival 

Similar to the Hibiscus Festival, Lautoka Sugar Festival is more of a beauty pageant where nine contestants are chosen for a chance to become the Sugar Queen. While the competition is fierce, the Sugar Festival comes with an undertone of community aid, as money is raised for local causes which changes every year.

333 Islands: Fiji is made up of over 333 islands, however 87% of its population lives on the two main islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.

Language: Fiji is one of the few countries in the world that has three national languages - Fiji-Hindi, Fijan and English. 

Rugby: Fijans are mad for rugby and it is their national sport. Introduced by the British during their colonial rule, the national team of Fiji has grown to be one of the most successful in the world.

Religion: In Fiji, Christianity is dominant, followed closely behind by Hinduism and Islam. 

Currency: The currency of Fiji is the Fijan Dollar (FJD). At the time of writing, November 2020, 1 FJD was equivalent to 0.47 USD. 

Plastic-Free: Being surrounded by the ocean and incredible coral reefs, Fiji is committed as a country to being single-use plastic-free by the end of 2020.

With Designer Journeys, you can browse our range of fully-customisable Fiji trips and tailor any one of them to your preferences with a Local Designer.

Better yet, select what you want out of a trip using the ‘Design your Own Trip’ function and let one of our Local Designers design your perfect trip!