Fiji has everything the traveller dreams of ... and more




The Fiji Islands lie in the south-west Pacific, 22 degrees south of the equator and bisected by the 180 degrees meridian. Nadi International Airport is the hub of South Pacific air routes and a major stop over for flights between North America and Australia / New Zealand.

Although Fiji is the main centre for tourism in the South Pacific Islands, the numbers of visitors is still relatively small (400,000 annually), and tourists are made to feel somewhat special. Resorts are generally small and many are run privately. There are no high rise hotels and no stretch where commercial tourism has taken over. Intimacy is what Fiji has to offer. Still, the country has more hotels than any of its neighbours, an extensive tourist infrastructure and it is much cheaper than other parts of the South Pacific. The country boasts some of the world's most exclusive small resorts that often feature in Harpers' 'top 50' hotels in the world and Small Luxury Hotels of the World. There are several International hotel chains and some exquisite locally run resorts for couples and families. There are small resorts dedicated to diving, surfing, sailing and art and several luxury cruise itineraries to choose from. There is also an extensive range of budget accommodation and camping throughout the group making it the number one stopover in the Pacific for backpackers .

Fiji is best known as a romantic destination where you can relax on the beach by day and later enjoy cocktails pondering over a stunning tropical sunset. However, few realize quite how diverse and exciting the country is. The dive sights are amongst the best in the world with soft corals, incredible sea life, walls, drifts and shipwrecks to explore. Sailors and surfers alike rave about the waters and friendly local environment. There are hills to climb for stunning views, waterfalls to cool off in, several National Parks with trails, nature reserves for bird watching and walking, rafting trips down rivers and village visits to experience the very traditional Fijian way of life. There are lively markets to visit, Fijian ceremonies to participate in and colourful Hindu festivals to see. What's more, the Fijian people are extremely warm and hospitable and are excellent with kids making it a great family destination explore one of the most peaceful areas of the world, Fiji is an all-round excellent destination for a vacation.

Climate in Fiji

The weather in Fiji varies considerably from region to region. Rainfall is highly variable and mainly orographic (influenced by the island topography). The south-east trade winds, saturated with moisture, cause clouds to build up over any high land mass. On Fiji's largest islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu therefore, there are pronounced dry and wet zones due to these south-east trade winds. The smaller islands and coral atolls on the other hand, receive little rain and lots of sunshine.

December - April
The wet season begins early in December and lasts until April. During this time it is hot and humid with almost daily late afternoon downpours on the larger islands. The small offshore islands generally miss these downpours altogether. As the heat accumulates over the Pacific Ocean during this season, depressions can form bringing with them torrential rain, strong winds and the occasional tropical cyclone. This 'wet season' is a good time to come to experience the lush vibrancy of the rainforest - rivers are full, waterfalls gushing and the hills of the larger islands become refreshingly green. The downside is the high humidity and mosquitoes, although on most of the small island resorts this is rarely a problem due to the refreshing sea breeze.

May - November
Once the rains ease off around the end of April, most regions experience a more moderate climate. Temperatures become pleasantly cool at night, and in the mountains a jumper becomes necessary in the evenings and early morning. By midwinter (July), most parts of the country welcome rain - the hills have turned brown, the towns are dusty and the rivers have all but dried up. However, on the wet leeward (eastern sides) of the large islands, particularly Suva, around Savusavu and on Taveuni, the rainclouds seem to stick over the mountains for weeks on end. In these regions, rainfall is never far away, keeping the air clear and scenery green.

Nadi Fiji Islands

GATEWAY to the Fiji Islands is the tourist town of Nadi, pronounced 'Nahn-dee'. Here is the main International Airport where each year thousands of tourists arrive for their relaxing tropical vacation. Some travelers stay in or around Nadi, while others go on to outer island destinations or other vacation spots on the main island itself. Denarau Island offers luxury resort hotel accommodation yet is only a 15-20 minute drive from the airport.

Nadi accommodationincludes a range of hotels , resorts and other lodging to suit all budgets and vacation interests, such as overnight stopovers, honeymoons, backpacker starting points for further travel adventures in Fiji. Nadi is a colourful town with a blend of Indo-Fijian and indigenous Fijian residents. Sugar cane fields can be seen around the outskirts of the urban centre, beyond which the land rises to the majestic Nausori Highlands.

Denarau Island Fiji

VACATION resorts and hotels on Denarau Island offer guests superior accommodation and amenities. They cater for all kinds of leisure travelers, including honeymooners, wedding couples, families, couples looking for a relaxing all-inclusive holiday destination in Fiji, and groups. Young or old can enjoy a wide choice of restaurants, activities, beach relaxation, golf, tennis and more. Beautiful tropical gardens, landscaped swimming pool lagoons and all-inclusive packages can be found.

Also on Denarau Island can be found apartments and villas and guests staying in these private accommodations also have access to the full facilities of nearby resorts. Sofitel, Sheraton, Westin, Hilton, WorldMark Trendwest and Radisson hotels are all represented here. Port Denarau offers a shopping plaza, cafes and restaurants, plus ferries and cruise ships for visiting the nearby islands.

Mamanuca Islands Fiji

ONE of the most popular holiday destinations in Fiji is the Mamanuca islands, which lie offshore from the mainland near Nadi. Since Nadi is the main international arrival point for most visitors to Fiji, the Mamanucas are a popular vacation destination. The many beach resorts are popular for honeymoons and weddings, with some restricted to adults only (such as Matamanoa and Likuliku on Malolo Island). There are also family friendly resorts and budget lodgings also.

Getting to the Mamanuca island resorts is by way of several options. Two of the islands (Mana and Malolo Lailai) have small airstrips, and guests may travel by light aircraft in less than 10 minutes from Nadi International airport. The remaining islands are accessed either by scheduled, fast-speed catamaran ferries, or by privately chartered helicopter or float plane. All options provide scenic glimpses of the beautiful islands.

Yasawa Islands Fiji

THIS chain of exquisitely beautiful islands, scalloped with bays of white sand sloping into shallow blue lagoons is one of the top vacation regions in Fiji. Amazingly uncommercialized, it is a holiday choice for all kinds of visitors. Turtle Island, Yasawa Island Resort and Navutu Stars Resort are top honeymoon destinations, offering romantic accommodation, gourmet cuisine, full range of activities and personalised service.

A relaxing cruise through the islands is also a popular option, with Blue Lagoon Cruises or Captain Cook Cruises, enabling guests to visit remote spots and deserted beaches. Budget travelers are not forgotten, as there are many beach bure resort options offered at low-cost. In between budget and luxury are some excellent resorts offering accommodation for couples, groups and families. A vacation in the Yasawa Islands is a vacation long to be remembered.

Taveuni Island Fiji

FIJI's third largest island is Taveuni, which is located in the lush tropical northern region. Not over-commercialized, it is an island favored by honeymooners and wedding couples who will find romantic accommodation at a number of resorts either on Taveuni itself or on the nearby islands of Qamea and Matangi. Adventure vacations can be enjoyed, with world-class scuba diving, game and sport fishing, kayaking, hiking and more.

Taveuni is 42 kilometres long with a central ridge descending to scenic volcanic coastline and sandy coves. Some of the highest peaks in Fiji are found here and the rivers that spring from the high altitudes descend to the ocean, with many beautiful waterfalls. A crater lake high in the rainforest can be hiked to by hardy trekkers and the rare and beautiful Tagimoucia flower is found here around October to December.

10 Fiji Facts

THERE are many wonderful reasons to visit the Fiji Islands in the tropical South Pacific. This beautiful and exotic South Seas destination has many islands scattered picturesquely in the blue ocean. Thousands of people fly to Fiji each year for a relaxing tropical holiday. Below are some of the top facts about Fiji.

 

1. English is spoken everywhere so it is easy to communicate while enjoying your trip to Fiji.
2. The climate is tropical, with warm, dry winters (the peak season for tourist travel) and hotter, humid summers (off-peak but the time for great discounted vacation deals and the time when the flowering trees and shrubs are at their best.
3. There is NO malaria in Fiji Islands. There can be mosquitoes in the evening but a repellent is all that is required if the mosquitoes love you!
4. There are 330 islands or so in Fiji, many of which are uninhabited.
5. The time zone in Fiji is GMT +12. The 180 degree meridien passes through Fiji Islands, including the beautiful vacation destination of Taveuni.
6. The main gateway to Fiji Islands is Nadi International Airport on the north-west of Viti Levu, with regular flights to and from Los Angeles (USA), Australia, New Zealand and Asia.
7. Fiji also has two main domestic airlines - Pacific Sun and Air Fiji.
8. Getting around Fiji is easy, with inter-island domestic flights, transfer boats and ferries as well as charter helicopters and float planes for that special luxury vacation touch.
9. The main hotels and resorts employ top, professional chefs and dining is a pleasure. Even at small locally-operated lodgings, the food is fresh and wholesome, with tropical fruits and vegetables, and fresh seafood and fish.
10. Capital of Fiji is Suva city, located on the southern coastline of Fiji's main island of Viti Levu. It is the business and educational hub of the South Pacific.