Whether you're craving sublime relaxation or a non-stop series of adventures, Fiji is your happy place.
Fiji's natural assets - beaches, lagoons, reefs, rainforests and rivers - are perfectly complemented by the friendly Fijian people who are ready to bring your holiday dreams to life. Do you want to learn a new watersport skill, sip kava in a chief's hut or be beautified from head to toe with sea grape concoctions? Or maybe you'd like to help a village community by volunteering your time and knowledge?
Under the warm Fijian sun, the top things to do add up to an amazing island escape.
You're in Fiji to rest, refresh and recuperate, so take it seriously! Find a lounger with just the right dappling of shade and sun, order a long cool cocktail, open the best-seller you bought at the airport bookshop and let the relaxation begin. Taking it easy is always one of the best things you can do in Fiji.
You’ll find every kind of on-the-water fun in Fiji, including stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, jet skiing and surfing. At some resorts you can also ride on a giant banana or sea biscuit towed behind a speed boat, watch the lagoon life from a glass-bottomed boat or go fishing with a local expert.
Fijian resorts are famous for their kids’ clubs, and you’ll notice that the people looking after your children appear to be having as much fun as the young ones. If you’re staying near Denarau, you can also pop along to Big Bula Waterpark where all ages will lap up the fun on the epic slides, in the wave pool and on the inflatable rides.
With 333 islands, Fiji can take your Pacific holiday further. Push the boat out with a cruise or seaplane trip to the Yasawas, an archipelago northwest of Viti Levu. This gorgeous island group has a focus on eco-friendly activities to do, hand-crafted accommodation and food that's locally sourced. Or if you're looking for something a little bit more upbeat, a short 25 minute boat ride from Denarau will land you at Malamala Beach Club, located on its very own island.
Fiji's beautiful lagoons can be easily explored with a snorkel and mask straight off the beach, or you can find a local operator to take you further offshore to special places only accessible by boat. Top snorkelling locations include Navini Island, Kadavu Island and Beqa Lagoon. Many of the islands in the Mamanuca group have excellent off-the-beach snorkelling spots.
A river safari on Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu is much more than a jet boat trip. You’ll travel up the beautiful Sigatoka River on the Coral Coast, enjoying pristine rainforest scenery as you go, then disembark at a host village to can enjoy a traditional lunch and kava ceremony, followed by Fijian dancing and singing.
Organic sea grapes, known as nama, are farmed in the Yasawa Islands to provide unique ingredients for locally-made skincare products. The best way to enjoy these exceptional creations, as well as other products made with natural Fijian ingredients, is with a luxurious spa treatment - an aromatic massage, body scrub or rejuvenating facial. You’ll feel and look like new.
Fijian food reflects the country's fusion of cultures - indigenous Fijian, Indian, Chinese and European. At resort restaurants this diversity is celebrated with exciting a la carte menus and enticing buffet spreads. Reef fish, aromatic spices, luscious tropical fruit, cassava, taro and other local ingredients are skilfully cooked and beautifully presented. Keep an eye out for delicacies cooked in a lovo (earth oven).
Whether you're already a diver or want to learn, Fiji can show you an amazing time beneath the sea. You'll have the chance to see manta rays (seasonally), turtles and reef sharks in outstanding sites like Beqa Lagoon, Tavenui, Yasawa Islands, Kadavu and Bligh Water. Jean-Michel Cousteau, who has a dive resort at Savusavu on Vanua Levu, calls Fiji the 'soft coral capital of the world'.
Vinaka Fiji is a charitable organisation that enables travellers to give back to Fiji’s people and environment. You can volunteer some of your holiday time to help with education in remote schools, sustainability initiatives and agriculture in villages, or marine research and conservation. It’s a wonderful way to learn about Fijian culture and make a difference to the country’s future.