Fiji Art & Culture
The ultimate guide to Fiji: Where to dine, stay and play
Plan the perfect Fijian escape with this curated guide to must-visit spots, cultural gems, and indulgent retreats
The jewel of the South Pacific, Fiji is an archipelago that has to be seen to be believed. Turquoise waters, lush rainforests, abundant marine life, and a rich cultural tapestry are just some of what the island nation’s highlights, and jetsetters from around the globe make the pilgrimage to their sandy shores to experience it all for themselves.
With so much on offer, the challenge can be knowing where to begin, and how to craft an itinerary that taps into the true spirit of Fiji and all its natural wonder. Luckily, Tourism Fiji have curated the perfect escape, creating a bucket-list island experience that covers off the best places to stay, explore, and indulge so that every day has a truly one-in-a-lifetime feel.
Perfect for adventurers to honeymooners and everyone in between, this list unlocks some of Fiji’s most unique experiences and exclusive locations. Closer to Australia than you realise, five-star private islands, underwater wonderlands, ocean-to-plate dining and beachside retreats are just a short plane ride away. So get your passports and start planning your bucket list, because this trip is all about finding that BULA spirit.
Where to stay
With so much natural beauty, you’d be hard pressed to find accommodation in Fiji that isn’t postcard-perfect, however Tourism Fiji has got the inside scoop on villas and locations that almost defy expectations. From five-star resorts to floating homes, each of these picks offers its own slice of paradise, perfect for days spent on crystalline waters, and nights sampling the freshest local cuisine.
It doesn’t get more bucket-list than a stay on a completely private island, where respite, seclusion, and total relaxation are at the top of the itinerary. For guests craving the most memorable of experiences, both Dolphin and Wadigi islands offer luxury private island accommodation, with sumptuous villas and impeccably prepared meals the perfect accompaniment to uninterrupted access to some of Fiji’s most untouched island paradises. Perfect for a honeymoon escape or an iconic group trip, these island stays are the perfect places to lose yourself.
Keeping to the theme of privacy, Seventh Heaven is a floating pontoon that lets guests sleep on the gently rippling waters of Mamanuca Island. Surrounded by seas that stretch into an uninterrupted horizon, guests of Seventh Heaven will make memories of a lifetime as they dine before the setting sun, watch movies under the stars, and wake up to one of the world’s most magical sunrises.
Back on land, Yasawa Island Resort and Spa combines the privacy of a private island with the amenities of a five-star resort. Meaning “Heaven” in the Fijian language, Yasawa has just 18 luxury bungalows for a truly tranquil stay. Step from your bungalow onto the pristine white sand, take a dip amongst the schools of fish, before exploring one of their 10 private beaches and ending the day in Fiji’s first beachfront spa.
If you want a bit of altitude, head to Sega na Leqa[1] , the newest luxury residence on the pristine Wakaya Island. Nestled amongst the island’s lush forests, this sprawling 35,000sqft, two bedroom estate is one of the most stunning retreats in the Southern Hemisphere. Look over the softly rippling waves from the villa’s master wing, or relax in the incredibly spacious living area, nestle in with the book in the library, or swim laps in the infinity pool.
For luxury stays that are also helping to preserve Fiji’s delicate ecosystem, look no further than Kokomo Island Resort, and Likuliku Lagoon, where sustainability is an intrinsic part of their guest offering.
At Kokomo Island, beachfront villas and grand residences offer world-class luxury, while simultaneously hosting the South Pacific chapter of Dock to Dish, an international network of small-scale fishermen, marine biologists and sustainable seafood advocates that is bringing sweeping reform to seafood supply chains around the world.
Similarly, Likuliku Lagoon is so much more than its sublime over-water bures, redefining luxury eco-tourism by providing a platform for guests to support the initiatives of the resort and its parent company (Ahura Resorts) which include the likes of social sustainability (with royalties paid to traditional Landowners), species conservation, coral gardening and restoration, mangrove restoration, and tropical dry forest restoration. The group have also been responsible for the preservation of the Malolo Island Crested Iguanas, which were previously considered extinct.
What to do
Once you’ve checked off those bucket-list stays, it’s time to build an itinerary that you’ll remember for a lifetime, with adrenaline, adventure, and indulgence all part of Tourism Fiji’s top three picks. Whether on land or on water, these activities are the best way to fully appreciate all Fiji has to offer and the perfect way to forge connections and make memories with your travelling companions.
For the adrenaline junkies, there’s nothing better than Namotu Island’s “unlimited week”. Just a stone’s throw from Fiji’s best surf breaks, Namotu Island is an adventure-lover’s paradise year round, but their unlimited weeks take things up a notch, with a seven-day experience with big-wave kitesurfer Ben Wilson. From kitesurfing, surfing, winging and foiling, these weeks offer guests the best of everything, with coaching, equipment, morning yoga, farm-to-table meals, and professional sports photography all included.
For those looking for something slower paced, the Royal Davui resort offers private sand cays, where guests can enjoy a private lunch on their own tidal islet. From the island resort, guests will embark on a small boat, where hotel staff will drop them off directly onto the sand cay, setting them up for a remote picnic in the most picturesque of locations. With a sunshade, picnic mats, and food all provided, guests can soak up the sun and explore the resident reefs from a world entirely of their own.
Explore even more of Fiji’s hidden treasures with a private boat charter. Get a group together or spend the day solo with Magique Fiji Charters, who take guests around the Mamanucas islands to discover secret beaches, snorkel beautifully intricate beach systems, or surf the best breaks. Stretch out on the back deck, feast on specially prepared lunches, or get the captain to moore the boat while you explore a hidden island, the adventure is in your hands!
Where to explore
Of course, in a location as naturally blessed as Fiji, no bucket-list trip would be complete without experiences in nature, where you are brought face-to-face with the culture, community, and the surrounding landscape. These are the things that make Fiji the paradise it is, and Tourism Fiji knows that it is in these experiences that guests will find their own sense of Fijian happiness.
Starting on land with Talanoa Treks, multi-day hiking itineraries that take people into the Fijian highlands, winding along ancient paths and meandering tracks to see dramatic peaks, pristine forests, sparkling rivers, and remote villages. As Fiji’s only dedicated hiking company, Talanoa Treks prides themselves on offering an authentic and grounded service, with local residents sharing the stories and tales of their land – their vanua – with visiting guests.
If you’ve got a taste for wandering the verdant Fijian landscape, a stop over in Tavenui is a must, with the garden island filled with hidden waterfalls that look straight out of a fairy tale. Grab your favourite swimsuit, throw on some walking shoes and head to Bouma National Heritage, where you’ll start the day at the Tavoro Waterfalls, where a triple cascade creates a stunning effect. Venture uphill and wade through a picturesque gorge and you’ll be rewarded with the Wainibau Waterfall and its surrounding lush plant life. Spend the afternoon here or head over to Waitavala waterslide, a natural waterslide that is 50m of twists and turns carried by rushing water.
Once you’re acquainted with the Island’s hills and gullies, it’s time to head into the water to experience seas teeming with marine life. While you’re still on Tavenui Island, explore the Rainbow Reef or the Waitabu Marine Park, where you can see 298 species of hard coral, 1198 species of reef fish and the famous giant clams. With so much to see, check in for a night (or more!) at either The Remote Resort, or Rawaisa, both of which have been globally recognised as leading small hotels.
Aside from Tavenui, Waya Island is also a must. Book a room at the serene Waya Island Resort and explore the local reefs, swimming with schools of fish and large manta rays for a truly memorable adventure.
While Fiji brims with activity and excitement while the sun shines, there’s a whole new world after dark, with clear skies full of shimmering stars creating a celestial ceiling to lose yourself in. After long days spent in the water or immersed in the forests, there’s nothing better than relaxing under the stars, and there’s nowhere better for this than Nanuku Private Island, where guests of Nanuku Resort can spend a night under the stars, with local turtles and hundred-year-old coconut trees the only neighbours.
How to Indulge
With accommodation, activities, and time in nature all accounted for, Tourism Fiji recommends finding time to truly relax and unwind, with experiences that will show you a side of Fiji that is all about treating yourself. Whether dining on gourmet meals, hitting the dance floor, or disconnecting at a spa day, no bucket-list trip is complete without some well-planned pitstops designed to recharge and reset.
First stop for every wellness lover should be the iconic Six Senses, where their signature wellness programs are specially designed to achieve a healthy and balanced mind and body. Your stay starts with assessing key health biomarkers, before experts tailor an individual program that may include the likes of hatha yoga, guided meditation, sleep support, and detoxing.
Now you’ve balanced your mind and body, it’s time to treat yourself with a dip into Fiji’s thriving cultural scene. Head to the new beach club at the Crowne Plaza – Urban Sugar – for a taste of the Mediterranean in the South Pacific. This two-story oasis looks out over Wailoaloa Beach and Nadi Bay, with premium cocktails, wines, and spirits are served as the sun sets and international DJs step up to the decks. Once the stars come out and the night sets in, wander down to the as the sun is slowly swallowed by the horizon, or spend a fun-filled evening dancing to the Wailoaloa beach bars where locals, expats and travellers unite.
Once-in-a-lifetime Luxury
Tourism Fiji’s luxury bucket-list escapes will take guests into the heart of Fiji, experiencing an itinerary that is beautiful, exciting, unique, and enriching. Each stop will have guests experiencing a new side of luxury, from overnight stays on private islands, to days spent finding hidden waterfalls, and expeditions to learn about sustainable fishing, to nights sipping cocktails before the slowly setting sun, every day is a new adventure into paradise.
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