Best places to visit in FIJI
Planning a trip to Fiji and wondering what are the best places to visit in Fiji?
Fiji is an island country in Melanesia and a part of Oceania. It is an archipelago that consists of more than 330 islands, many of them uninhabited. Fiji is known for heavenly tropical beaches and stunningly beautiful coral reefs.
The islands of the archipelago boast not only gorgeous beaches, but also lush rainforests, hills, rivers, waterfalls, lively towns and local villages where you can meet friendly locals.
Sounds interesting?
So, check out our list of the best things to do in Fiji for some travel inspiration!
6 best places to visit in Fiji
Mamanuca Islands
Mamanuca Islands is an archipelago near Nadi.
The archipelago consists of about 20 islands. Mamanuca Islands is one of the most picturesque regions and one of the best resort areas of Fiji. The archipelago boasts world-class luxury resorts and dining venues.
With crystal clear waters with live reefs, Mamanuca Islands are popular among divers and snorkelers. The archipelago offers a variety of terrain, for example, from lagoon reefs to shipwreck and wall diving. Island hopping in Mamanuca Islands is among the best things to do in Fiji. There are several great surfing spots around the archipelago, both for experienced surfers (e.g., “Cloudbreak”) and beginners (e.g., “Swimming Pools”).
Yasawa Islands
The Yasawa Islands is an archipelago consisting of about 20 volcanic islands.
As there are several fun things to do in Yasawa Islands, but the archipelago is one of the best places to visit in Fiji. Known for their palm-fringed, white sandy beaches and calm lagoons, Yasawa Islands attract sun-seekers from all around the world.
Here are some of the best things to do in Yasawa, for example:
- Explore the Bay of Yalobi on Waya Island.
- Go hiking on Waya Island. There are a number of trails leading to different parts of the island.
- Hike to the top of Mt Tamasua on Yasawa Island.
- Hike to the peak of Drawaqa Island.
- See the sandbar connecting the islands of Waya and Wayasewa.
- Sawa-i-Lau Caves — join an organised tour and admire the ancient limestone formations.
- Kayaking in the Yasawas. One day and multi-day tours are available.
From May to October, you can spot manta rays between Drawaqa, Naviti and Nanuya Balavu Islands when mantas come there to feed. Many local tour operators offer boat tours to snorkel with manta rays during these months.
Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park, Viti Levu
Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park is known for its immense dunes and beautiful coast.
It is a nature preserve with towering seaside sand dunes, lookout points and walking trails. The national park boasts some of the wildest landscapes of the country. There are several trails leading to various parts of the national park.
The national park is located on Viti Levu, one of the two major islands. The proximity to Nadi, the main transportation hub of the country, make it a very popular tourist attraction.
Kula Eco Park, Viti Levu
Kula Eco Park is a major attraction and one of the best places to visit in Fiji.
It is an ecological preserve and an adventure park located on Viti Levu. Kula Eco Park offers a wide variety of family-friendly activities such as water slides, sea turtle pool, animal interaction, coral and animal displays. Visitors of the park can hold iguanas, snakes and help the park rangers feed turtles.
Kula Eco Park offers its visitors an unforgettable experience — the only roller-coaster zip-line in Fiji, Kula Krazy Canopy Flier. It’s a zip-line that glides through the rainforest and descends to the river bed.
Coral Coast, Viti Levu
Coral Coast is a stretch of coastline on the southwest side of Viti Levu.
It stretches for 125 km — from Sigatoka to Suva and features various resorts along the coast. The main town of the area is Sigatoka.
With white-sand beaches, resorts and restaurants, it’s a popular destination for holidaymakers. Coral Coast offers a lot of facilities and is family-friendly.
Apart from the beaches and water-based activities, there are plenty of other things to see on Coral Coast. So, go on a quad bike tour to The Naihehe Caves, Fiji’s largest subterranean cave system. Do not miss the Sigatoka River and visit the local villages near the river.
Garden of the Sleeping Giant, Viti Levu
Situated at the foothills of the Nausori Highlands, Garden of the Sleeping Giant is a picturesque park with a tranquil setting.
The proximity to Nadi makes this landscaped garden a popular destination for tourists. The park is known for its collection of orchids. It boasts a whopping 2000+ types of orchids, plus many other native plants.
There are a number of paths and picnic areas for visitors. Enjoy a jungle walk through the native rainforest and admire the lovely lily pond.
Fiji travel tips
- Citizens of many countries do not require a visa for Fiji for visits up to 4 months.
- Fiji is quite an expensive country to travel to, so stay in local guesthouses to save some money and eat at cheap local eateries. Island hopping can get expensive too. So, limit yourself to just a couple of islands if you are on a budget.
- Do your research first. It may be cheaper to stay at an all-inclusive resort than to pay for a hotel room and meals separately.
- To experience traditional Fijian life, join a tour to visit a local village. In the local villages, you can experience, for example, kava ceremonies (traditional drink; kava root is a mild sedative), see dance performances, try local foods and take Fijian cooking classes.
- In Fiji, tipping is not customary and it’s not required.
- The best time to visit Fiji is between May and September (dry season).
- The power outlets in Fiji are identical to those in Australia and New Zealand. So, if you are travelling to Fiji from the EU, UK or US, bring a travel adapter.
