Five ways to enjoy Fiji
With an exuberant culture, idyllic beaches and superb snorkelling and diving, this balmy South Pacific Island country is worth a visit.
This is a feature from Issue 18 of Charitable Traveller.
1. Ride the River
Sigatoka, on the gateway island of Viti Levu, is the best place for adventure activities including zip lining, cycling along railway tracks, and hiking in majestic coastal sand dunes that rise up to 60 metres. Don’t miss the half-day Sigatoka River Safari, which combines a thrilling jet boat ride (including several 360-degree spins) with lunch and dancing in a traditional riverside village. The welcome is heartfelt and offers insights into how the ever-cheerful Fijians have retained an enviable sense of community, with part of the tour price going towards local projects.
2. Snorkel with Mantas
The Yasawa Islands are a dramatic run of craggy volcanic isles northwest of Viti Levu reached via high-speed catamaran from Port Denarau. Here small beach resorts cater to couples and families keen to relax beside warm, clear waters pulsating with colourful fish and coral. At Paradise Cove Resort on Naukacuvu sensational snorkelling lies steps away from your villa, while over 30 dive sites are within a 30-minute boat ride. Reef sharks and turtles are often spied while manta rays pass through from June to October.
3. Discover Levuka
Fiji’s sole World Heritage Site lies on super-scenic Ovalau where this trading port was the nation’s capital until 1881. It’s an atmospheric, time-stopped place with colonial-era churches and wood-fronted stores reminiscent of the set for a Wild West movie. Visit on a day trip by ferry from Natovi Landing, 90 minutes’ drive north of the modern capital, Suva. Here, the newly renovated Fiji Museum presents a rich array of historical artefacts and the nearby Grand Pacific Hotel, modelled on its 1914 original, has a period charm with wicker chairs and vintage ceiling fans.
4. Try some Kava
A muddy-looking non-alcoholic drink made from the pounded roots of the pepper plant, kava is central to the Fijian lifestyle and many resorts stage tasting ceremonies along with a spirited meke (traditional dance) and food slow-cooked in a lovo, an underground oven sealed with coconut fronds. Dishes to try include ceviche-like kokoda and palusami (taro leaves with coconut cream) while Fiji’s vibrant Indian community means you’re never far from a tasty curry. Other treats include fresh fish, mud crabs and tropical fruits including papaya, pineapple, and mango.
5. Spa Heaven
Forget welcome drinks – at the conservation-focused Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort on Vanua Levua arriving guests are treated to a reviving, ten-minute foot massage. Fijian spa treatments often feature coconut oil, island sugar and tropical plants while the Bobo massage is a speciality, based on the floor with the therapist using feet, forearms and hands to banish stress. There are stand-out spas at Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort on Viti Levu, with panoramic views along the coast, and Koro Sun Resort on Vanua Levu where treatment rooms lie hidden in the rainforest.
This is a feature from Issue 18 of Charitable Traveller.
by net effect