In partnership with Tourism Fiji
Fijians are famously friendly. Maybe there’s something about living in a destination where natural beauty abounds on land and sea. With these eight incredible adventures, you’ll be in good spirits on your trip to Fiji, too.
1. Trek along untouched trails
You already know about Fiji’s swoon-worthy beaches. Pack a pair of hiking shoes in your suitcase to discover another side of the islands — one that’s lush, laden with waterfalls and never crowded. On Taveuni, the Garden Island, trek to three cascades in Bouma National Park. Or, trod where forest meets sea on the Lavena Coastal Walk, where a swimming hole and waterfalls await at the end. Also on the island is a thrilling natural rock slide beloved by local kids (and the young at heart).
Image credit: Elliot Grafton | Tourism Fiji
For day hikes and overnight hikes throughout Fiji, book a trip with Talanoa Treks. On their Highland Escape trek, you’ll climb to Fiji’s tallest mountain and spend the night at local villages during a three-day adventure. Joji Tamani from Talanoa Treks also leads multi-day hikes customised to your abilities and preferences.
2. Venture down Fiji’s rivers
Rumble down the Navua River through Viti Levu’s highlands with Rivers Fiji. The scenery changes with every river bend, leading through ancient gorges, quiet villages and raging rapids. When it’s time to cool off, your guide will lead you under a misty waterfall or stop at a natural rock pool.
Image credit: Tourism Fiji
For even more thrills (and insight into Fijian culture), set off on the Sigatoka River on a jet boat ride with Sigatoka River Safari. Your journey stops at one of eighteen villages nestled along the riverfront, where you’ll be welcomed in the village’s community hall to participate in a kava ceremony and enjoy lunch made from locally grown ingredients–the river provides fresh prawns and fish for each meal, and the fertile region is known throughout Fiji for its produce.
3. Learn about Fiji’s seafarers
Fiji’s seafaring history spans 3,000 years when voyagers crossed the South Pacific onboard a drua, a double-hulled sailing canoe. Visit the Fiji Museum in the heart of Suva, Fiji’s capital city, to see a replica drua, learn about the country’s seafaring strategies, see ancient fish traps, and learn about how Fiji came to be.
Image credit: Tourism Fiji
For an on-the-water experience, plan a tour of the Uto Ni Yalo, a working traditional sailing canoe that cruises throughout the Fijian islands. Visitors can volunteer or book a trip onboard the vessel, depending on the time of year.
4. Blow bubbles with bull sharks
Come eye to eye with tens of bull sharks on a two-tank scuba dive trip. Operators like Beqa Adventure Divers, Aqua Trek and Coral Coast Divers arrange trips to Beqa Lagoon, a haven for all types of marine life. While bull sharks tend to be the stars of the show, you might also seven other species of sharks (silvertip, lemon, whitetip, blacktip, grey, nurse and the occasional tiger shark).
Image credit: Tourism Fiji
Beqa Lagoon is also home to rays, sea turtles and over 1,000 reef fish species. Occasionally, pilot whales cruise through the deep passage. After your diving adventures, take a day trip to Beqa Sand Cay and spend the night on Beqa Island to see world-famous fire walkers tiptoe across piping-hot rocks.
5. Escape to remote islands
With over 333 islands, there’s no shortage of places to find your slice of paradise. For a remote retreat, embark on a Captain Cook Cruises trip to Lau, an archipelago reachable only by boat. Here, you’ll find unbelievably blue waters and limestone islets in Fulaga, sea caves and coral reefs in Vanua Balavu and an inland lake in Vuaqava.
Image credit: Tourism Fiji
For islands that are a little more reachable, explore the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands west of Nadi. Here, accommodations range from budget-friendly backpacker stays to five-star luxury retreats. The movie Castaway was filmed on Monuriki Island in the Mamanuca Islands, and you can enjoy your very own version of Brooke Shields’ The Blue Lagoon at the Sawa-i-Lau caves in the Yasawa Islands.
6. Discover why Fiji is known as the “Soft Coral Capital of the World”
Jaques Cousteau, one of the founders of modern-day scuba diving, once deemed Fiji the “Soft Coral Capital of the World.” Just a short swim or boat ride from the shore, you’ll be transported to a kaleidoscope of colour and marine life. Scuba dive and snorkel the Great Astrolabe Reef, the second largest fringing reef in the world, off Kadavu.
Image credit: Getty Images
Or, learn how Rainbow Reef earned its name off Taveuni. The abundance of vibrant corals is best explored through the lens of a diving mask. For monochrome beauty, there are also the aptly-named dive sites of the Great White Wall and the Purple Wall, made up of hundreds of same-colour corals.
7. Hang out in Nadi
While many travellers leave Nadi shortly after their plane touches down, it’s worth sticking around and soaking in Nadi’s natural and cultural sites. Shop for heaping piles of seasonal fruits like mangoes, pineapples and bananas at Nadi Produce Market. Walk through botanical gardens and gain a bird’s eye view of the Mamanuca Islands from the Garden of the Sleeping Giant. Dine on the fragrant vegetarian fare at the restaurant outside of Nadi’s colourful Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple.
Image credit: Getty Images
Dive into Nadi’s art scene and visit Sigavou Art Studios, art inspired by the colours and landscapes of the Pacific by Maria Rova. And for an explosion of music, dance and rhythm, visit the VOU Hub performing arts centre.
8. Embrace village life
Connect with Fijian communities during your trip to Fiji. While most hotels can arrange a village visit, you can have an immersive experience with Finding Islands Tours Fiji. You’ll spend the night in a village, enjoy a feast of Fijian fare cooked underground (lovo), learn how to cook staple dishes like palusami (taro leaves cooked with onions and coconut milk), and sip coconut shells filled with kava (a relaxing drink made from ground pepper root).
Image credit: Tourism Fiji
If you want to visit a village, it’s customary to bring a gift, called a sevusevu, for the community. Kava is a wise choice! Don’t be shy when it comes to getting involved, either. Many communities will happily to tag you into a game of rugby, lead you on a hike to a hidden waterfall and show you how to husk a coconut.
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