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Our family loves Fiji and its people. We stay in Fiji to escape New Zealand’s winter. It has become our home away from home. While we are still in the midst of a pandemic, it’s looking hopeful that Fiji will open its doors to tourism again by 2022. So…
In this family-friendly Fiji travel guide, you will find the essential information, including the best time to visit Fiji, visa requirements, currency information, what to pack, getting around Fiji islands, top things to do, travel tips and more.
You can also find our detailed family Accommodation Guide in Fiji here.
Fiji, the happiest place on Earth. This is our 5th time here, and it’s like coming home. The tropical air of the Pacific wash over us from the moment we land, and the sweet dainty sounds of the ukelele bring us the warmest welcomes.
Instantly, we leave all our worries on the plane home, and switch to island time.
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Table of Contents
About Fiji
Fiji is an archipelago of over 300 islands, where only about 200 are habitable. Fiji’s capital is Suva, but most tourists choose Nadi and the outer islands as their holiday destination.
Fiji is a multi-cultural country that is safe and friendly to visit for families, solo travellers, couples and friends. Fijian lifestyle is very slow and relaxed, so relaxed that it’s rather rude to bring our urban-rush to the island.
People are very positive, happy and respectful. Most locals are religious, and Sunday is church day. It’s ok to wear bikinis and revealing clothes inside your resorts. However, do bring at least one set of conservative clothing covering your shoulders and knees if you need to go to town.
Flights to Fiji
From New Zealand to Fiji, direct flights are only about 3 hours.
Australia takes a little longer. From Australia to Fiji, flights are usually under 4 hours with Fiji Airways and 5 hours coming back.
Many airlines fly to Fiji, most of our experiences are with Fiji Airways, Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia. All of these airlines offer tourist-friendly arrival and departure times. Flights are short and comfortable, noting food and snacks are not included in the basic economic package, so prepare some snacks.
When is the best time to visit Fiji?
Like many other pacific islands, Fiji is a tropical island with warm weather all year round.
Late June – September is usually the peak tourism season. The weather is dry, hot and sunny most of the time. Accommodation and expenses are at their highest. A flood of tourists, mainly from New Zealand and Australia, crowd over popular resorts. If you want to experience the most vibrant time of Nadi and meet other tourists on the islands, June to September is the best time to go.
October is the shoulder season, where accommodation is slightly cheaper. The weather is still fairly hot and dry, with fewer tourists. It’s also the best season to go for tropical fruits. There will be an abundance of ripened local-grown fruits, like coconut, watermelon, pineapple, papaya, mango and banana. Seriously, they’re so sweet and affordable. Fruits in Fiji are like nowhere else! It was a real treat for us to have fruit bowls for breakfast and lunch during our time in Fiji.
Late November – Early May are the ‘wet’ seasons, where you may experience tropical storms. However, towards the end of the wet season (April), there are less rain and tourists, which make up for the occasional cloudy days. We had a chat with a local taxi driver just recently about the ‘cyclone’ season. He said many people come to Fiji during Christmas and New Years holidays, and they haven’t had rain over Christmas for many years.
Visa Requirement
Most countries are exempt from obtaining a visa when visiting. The only requirement is to hold a passport that’s valid for at least 6 months, and your stay is no longer than 4 months. You can find a list of exempted countries and other visa information from their official website here.
Packing Essentials
Depending on the type of holiday you have in mind, packing can be quite simple. Our family always advises packing light, especially travelling to a tropical island. You don’t really need a lot to enjoy a holiday in Fiji.
What should I pack for Fiji?
Below is a list of our recommended packing essentials for a family trip to Nadi and the surrounding islands.
Sunscreen, Sunglasses & Hat – UV here is fierce, slap on sunscreen or expect to be toasted within half an hour!
Mosquito Repellent – Bring a roll-on or cream-based insect repellent, or buy one in the local shop.
Camera, GoPro & Drone – Fiji islands are postcardesque, so bring your camera gear.
Sarongs & 3 sets of Swimwear – There are many local markets and souvenir shops to get Fijian sarongs & swimwear, but if you prefer your own, bring them from home.
Snorkel & Scuba Diving Gear – Although you can hire these gear from most resorts, you may want to bring your own for comfort and convenience.
Flip Flop – One pair of flip flops is all you need here, really. We didn’t even need shoes for most of the days on the islands.
Clothing – Light, summer clothing would do. If you plan to visit the village or wander in town, bring a set of clothes covering your shoulders and knees.
Currency
The official currency in Fiji is the Fijian dollar. While most hotels and resorts accept credit cards, there is a surcharge. Exchange some Fijian dollars before your trip as small local shops only accept cash. We use No1 Currency for exchanges around the world.
Should I tip in Fiji?
Tipping is not required nor expected here. However, we always encounter genuine, kind locals who go above and beyond to help us.
If you get a chance to meet some of the locals and learn about their stories, you may feel obliged to help them out as we did. Our hourly wage in Australia is often equivalent to a Fijian’s week worth of labour work. Locals will greatly appreciate your generosity.
Common Phrases in Fiji
As foreign visitors, we found the 2 words we use most frequently during our trips were Bula and Vinaka. You will hear them many times a day, so these 2 words will naturally become a part of your vocabulary. The rest are good to know.
Bula – Hello
Vinaka – Thank You
Tagane – Men
Marama – Woman
Niu – Coconut
Levu – Big
Lailai – Small
Fiji Time
Fiji runs in Fiji Time, meaning everything slows down from the usual hustle and bustle. No one is in a hurry to go anywhere or do anything, so put away your phone and live in the moment.
If you are making appointments with local services, don’t expect them to turn up on the dot. You can, however, expect a happy face when they do eventually turn up. Set your expectations right, and you will have a great time here.
Getting Around Nadi
Airport transfers
Most resorts offer airport pickups, where staff will hold up signs with the resort name and your name near the exit. If you didn’t book an airport transfer prior, don’t fret! You are almost guaranteed to be approached by an eager taxi driver to earn your business. All taxis should charge around the same, so get a few quotes before jumping in if you don’t know how much it should cost to get to your destination.
Taxi
The easiest way to get around the main island is by Taxi. Most drivers work for a company, meaning they have set pricing that is transparent and pretty much the same across the network.
💡Insider Tip!
If you happen to come across an honest and reliable taxi driver who is punctual, be sure to get their contact details to make your future arrangements easier and smoother.
Our experience: The taxi driver who picked us up at the airport refused a ‘bribery’ to be our private chauffeur. He said he must report to his boss and therefore cannot accept our jobs privately. He was reliable, honest, and an excellent local guide. We ended up booking him for all of our trips in Nadi!
If you’re looking for a reliable driver in Nadi, we can definitely recommend Roni. He’s happy for us to pass on his contact number. Simply drop us a message here.
Car Rental
If you plan to drive around Nadi and explore the main island, consider hiring a car for a couple of days.
Bus
Buses here in Nadi are affordable and robust. However, in our honest opinion, they are not very comfortable or on time. If you don’t mind waiting in the heat for a bumpy bus ride, it may be a good local experience.
Bula Bus: Operates around Denarau Island and Marina, you can purchase passes from your resort at Denarau Island.
Boats & Ferry
Usually, boat transfers are included in your island accommodation. Make sure to confirm with your resort and check whether boat transfers are at an additional cost.
We had a pleasant surprise finding out we had to pay quite a bit extra to cover our short boat transfers to our bures.
If you’re planning to island-hop the Yasawas and Mamanucas, purchase a Bula Pass or Bula Combo Pass ranging from 5 – 21 days from a licensed tour operator. Alternatively, hop on a cruise for a stress-free exploration of the islands.
Attractions & Activities in Fiji
Whatever it is that attracts you to Fiji, the islands offer such a diverse range of activities that everyone can find their own little piece of paradise here. You can browse through a list of the highlights of Fiji here on Viator.
Below are some of our family’s favourite top things to do in Fiji with kids.
Top 10 Things To Do in Fiji for Families with Kids
1. Experience Fijian culture: fire dance, kava ceremony etc
2. Explore Denarau island & Marina
3. Go on a day trip cruise
4. Snorkelling
5. Island-hopping
6. Sunbathing on a white sandy beach
7. Daydreaming on a hammock
8. Local food: fresh seafood, seasonal fruits etc
9. Laze in the resort pool
10. Take a cooking class
Where To Stay in Fiji
Most of the accommodations in Fiji are resorts. There are Nadi hotels and budget lodges close to the airport or town centre for convenience. There is a string of luxurious 5-star resorts on Denarau Island for those seeking a little pampering.
Most island resorts in Fiji provide non-motorised water sports free of charge, whether they’re backpacker bures, bungalows or high-end luxury resorts. So no matter what type of accommodation you’re looking for, there is something for everyone.
After being in Fiji 5 times, we have experienced quite a few types of accommodation. In our post on where to stay in Fiji, we will share our stays and reviews on some of the Fiji accommodations in detail.
💞 Stay Travel Savvy
For rural regions or underdeveloped destinations, try to support local businesses by booking guesthouses directly with the hosts. Quite often, you’ll be able to negotiate a much better rate and build connections with the locals.
If you’re a frequent traveller, we recommend sticking with one hotel booking site or hotel chain to reap the benefits of its loyalty program. Such as Agoda, Booking, Hotels, Hiltons Honors Program or IHG Rewards Program.
Our Recommended Accommodation Booking Sites
Agoda: After using many hotel booking sites and comparing them over the last decade, Agoda has the most comprehensive accommodation listings, including holiday homes. We love its cashback reward system and its loyalty program. Agoda is our family’s #1 go-to hotel booking platform.
Booking: Booking.com is still the most popular accommodation booking site with the most listings.
Expedia: Expedia Group has many of our family’s favourite brands under its umbrella. It’s an excellent one-stop platform for checking availabilities and planning out your trip.
Holiday Homes: As a family, we love booking holiday homes. They’re usually more spacious and come equipped with a full kitchen and even a washing machine, adding that extra layer of convenience to our stay with kids.
Vrbo is our go-to platform for booking holiday homes around the world.
Stayz is our favourite platform for booking holiday homes in Australia.
Bookabach is where we find holiday homes off the beaten track in New Zealand.
If you resonate with us in any way, we’d love to connect with you. It’s amazing how we can find each other on the vast www.
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