fiji travel hotel guide

Fiji Holiday Activities

If you have a hobby you would like to pursue in Fiji or want to find out more about ecotourism in Fiji, this section of fiji Hotel Guide will help you plan your vacation. Here you will find detailed reviews about scuba diving, surfing, fijian village tours, historical attractions and much more...


Golf Holidays in Fiji

Perfect climate, exotic location, lush vegetation and breathtaking views - what better combination for a golfing vacation in a South Pacific paradise. Golf in the Fiji Islands has come a long way since the days when Vijay Singh was practising here. There are now three championship golf courses in Fiji, all on the main island of Viti Levu. Several smaller public courses can be found around Viti Levu and one each on Vanua Levu and Taveuni. The Shangri-La Fijian Resort and Naviti Resort in West Viti Levu and the exclusive Wakaya Island Club and Naigani Island Resort in the Eastern Islands have their own private courses. Toberua Island Resort has a nine-hole course on the beach at low tide!


 Denarau Golf Club, Nadi Area, Viti Levu
 Green fees are expensive at $150 a round although this includes compulsory golf cart. Non-playing golfers ride on the golf cart at an extra F$20! Course condition is excellent. Long, flat, open fairways with a number of water hazards and plenty of coconut trees. Some mountains views and one hole close to sea. Amenities include clubhouse with bar and restaurant, pro shop, hire of brand clubs and golf shoes, golf range and professional lessons. Dress code smart. Sheraton resort just a few minutes walk away.

 Pacific Harbour Country Club, Suva Area, Viti Levu
 Green fees are extremely reasonable at $25 a round. Course condition is good although at present under takeover so may be neglected. Fairways are sometimes tight and undulating and the surrounding vegetation can be thick and lush. Mountain scenery. Amenities include pro shop, hire of cart and clubs, bar and restaurant.

 Fiji Golf Club, Suva, Viti Levu
 Green fees $20 a round. Course condition is good, except after heavy rains when prone to flooding. This is the club for Suva residents. It often hosts competitions and can be busy at weekends. Long, flat fairways, ample vegetation. Only 10 minutes from central Suva although the surrounding scenery is rather bland. Amenities include pro shop, club hire, bar and restaurant.

Fiji resorts with golf courses

Other 18-hole public courses
Nadi Airport Club
Lautoka Golf Club
Vatukoula Golf Club
Penang Golf Club (Rakiraki)
Labasa Golf Club



Fiji Diving & Snorkelling

Over 400 species of corals, sea walls and drops
Fantastic marine life including turtles, rays and exotic fish
The Astrolabe Reef - Kadavu, Southern Islands
Rainbow Reef between Taveuni and Vanua Levu, Northern Islands
Beautifully warm seas all year round (26c - 31c)


Fiji's waters are considered to be among the best in the world for diving. Soft corals and an abundance of stunning tropical fish as well as reef sharks, dolphins, manta rays and turtles can be seen throughout the islands. Visibility is excellent, often more than 50 metres. There are some fantastic walls and drop-offs up to 100 metres and 30-km drift dives. Shipwrecks, caves and night dives are also popular. And the seas are perpetually warm ranging from 26c in July to 31c in January at 5 metres depth. Visibility can be substantially reduced between November and February due to plankton blooms and stronger seasonal winds that churn up the water in th mid-afternoon. After heavy rains, waters closer to the larger islands can become murky with river run off.

Throughout the islands, coral reefs are accessible either directly from the beach (ideal for snorkelling) or for the more specific sights, just a short boat ride away. Most resorts in Fiji offer PADI dive courses, starting from the comfort of the resort swimming pool but quickly moving into the wonders of shallow coral seas. Many of the dive operations will be independent companies operating from the premises of the resort. The majority are active members of the Fiji Dive Operators Association and agree to be bound by the Association's code of practice and thereby supprt the Fiji Recompression Chamber Facility. In cases of diving emergencies, divers will be taken by sea, road or air for recompression treatment. Charges vary according to circumstances so it is best to have adequate insurance cover. At some of the smaller budget resorts cowboys do exist, so choose carefully and if you're a beginner, don't jump to the chance of diving without proper PADI certified instruction.

Fiji has a number of resorts for all budgets which are dedicated solely to diving and these offer a complete experience for the true enthusiast. A few of the luxury dive specialists have E-6 film processing and video-editing facilities. There are also several live aboard dive charters that can help you explore a wide range of dive sights in Fiji and some of the remoter diving areas.

specialist dive resorts in fiji



Fiji Sailing Guide

Two luxury cruise companies offer three to seven day trips through the Mamanuca's and along the Yasawa chain of islands. These cruises are an excellent way to experience traditional Fijian life and soak in the natural beauty of the area. Trips include village visits where you can visit local shell markets, participate in yaqona ceremonies and watch traditional dance performances. The Yasawa Group of islands are particularly stunning and cruise itineraries take in traditional villages with Yaqona ceremonies and shell markets, snorkelling in turquoise lagoons and relaxing on secluded beaches.

Overnight Cruise Operators



Fiji Surfing & Windsurfing

 Surfing in Fiji
 Internationally famous Namotu Left and Cloudbreak in the Mamanuca's are recognized as the most challenging surfing breaks in the South Pacific. Both are reef breaks and are not for beginners. There are two small resorts on tiny coral islands just off Namotu Reef which cater exclusively to surfers. Namotu Surf Resort is a very small and informal island with beachside bures. Tavarua is a little larger but is a package only vacation for American Surfers. For those on a budget, Seashell Cove on the mainland has budget accommodation, dormitories and camping in a secluded spot south of Nadi. Seashell Cove offers daily transfers to Namotu reef to surf Wilkes, Desperation and Lighthouse breaks although you can only surf Cloudbreak on certian days and with limited passengers so it is wise to check in advance. The beach at Seashell is not great but there is always a good atmosphere with lots of travellers coming in and out as well as the opportunity to explore the nearby town of Nadi and its surrounding mountains.

There are some excellent breaks around Beqa and Kadavu in the Southern Islands. Frigate Passage, a left-hand break in the middle of the ocean, has a growing reputation amongst surfers for its reliable big barrels and long rides. Serua Rights is a long right hander with a hollow inside section across the passage and Pipe is another left-hander with a mid to high tide break. There are two very basic surf camps on Yanuca island, off Beqa, and a more upmarket small resort on Nagigia Island off Kadavu. Alternatively, Waidroka Bay on the mainland west of Pacific Harbour offers surf packages and frequent transfers to Frigates Passage only 30 mins by boat as well as to Cloudbreak in the Mamanucas. Waidroka has several small cottages nestled into fantastic rainforest and a dormitory. The feel here is of isolation and the American hosts have evrything from scuba diving instruction to the best deep sea fishing facilities in the country. There are several smaller breaks just off the resort.

The best beach breaks are on the south coast of Viti Levu, the main island. Sigatoka has the largest and most reliable breaks although indercurrents can be dangerous. There is surfing off Hideaway although only 1 hour each side of high tide and undercurrents are dangerous. Natadola Beach is good for body surfing.

Best time April to December. If bringing surfboards into the country, check first with your airline carrier for baggage restrictions and excess costs. Local airlines will not carry surfboards without advance warning.


 Windsurfing in Fiji
Windsurfing is best at Nanau-i-Ra Island off the nortth coast of Viti Levu and at Vomo Island in the northern mamanuca Group which both benefit from the winds that whup around the top of Viti Levu. Windsurfing is also available at many of the holiday resorts in the Mamanuca Group and the larger resorts along the Coral Coast. The Coral Coast also has excellent windsurfing conditions, especially around the Sigatoka area.


Fiji Surfing Resorts / Charters


Hiking in Fiji

Fiji is an excellent place for hiking. There are literally thousands of trails around the islands that connect villages, traverse peaks and lead to waterfalls. Most are known only to the local villagers but a few have been opened up for tourism. Several areas have recently been declared as National Parks by the Fiji Island Government and offer well maintained trails, visitor centres and dedicated accommodation. The most popular destinations are reviewed below:


 Koroyanitu National Park, Nadi Area, Viti Levu
 This National Park offers several day and overnight walks, a visitor centre, scenic lodge accommodation and camping. Trails into the rainforest also pass through local villages and combine the stunning natural scenery with ecotourism. Highly recommended.


 Nausori Highlands, Nadi Area, Viti Levu
 This inland rural area is an impressive collection of rolling hills, river valleys and volcanic peaks. The highlands also offer fantastic views over the Mamanuca and southern Yasawa Islands to the west. The hills transform from sunburnt grassland to lush green valleys during the wet season from December to April.

 View Regional Guide to Nadi Area


 Colo-i-Suva Park, Suva Area, Viti Levu
 Offers 6km of trails through rainforest less than 20 minutes drive from Suva. The area offers waterfalls, indigenous flora, bird life, scenic lookouts and lodge accommodation. Buses go beyond Colo-i-Suva into the heart of Naitasiri. The area is stunning although bad weather is common and roads are frequently flooded. This is traditional countryside and although accessible to tourists, village protocol should be observed.


 Bouma National Heritage Park, Taveuni, Northern Islands
 In the beautiful Garden Island of Taveuni this park offers three separate day hikes - Tavoro Waterfalls, Lavena Coastal Walk and Vidawa Rainforest Hike, all excellent. There is also a rough trail to Lake Tagimaucia, home of the rare Tagimaucia flower that comes out in abundance between October and December.


Other good walking trails
Tropical volcanic mountains behind Levuka on Ovalau, Lomaiviti, including an arduous day trek to remarkable Lovoni Village, isolated in the centre of the island.

The rainforest around Savusavu on Vanua Levu, Northern Islands has several frequented trails to some excellent waterfalls. Tours also operate to Waisali Nature Reserve, a beautiful rainforest with trails about 40 minutes drive to the north of Savusavu.

Accommodation for Eco-Tourists



Flora & Gardens

Rare Tagimaucia flower in Taveuni and Vanua Levu, Northern Islands
 There is a rough trail to scenic Lake Tagimaucia, where the rare Tagimaucia flowers come out in abundance between October and December.

 Garden of the Sleeping Giant, Nadi Area, Viti Levu
 Landscaped gardens, orchid collections, tropical flowers and rainforest walk

Thurston Gardens in Suva is a public botanical park next to the Fiji Museum. Although there are few flowers in the park, the indigenous shrubs and trees give a calming atmosphere in the centre of this busy City.

Tropical rainforest hosting many tropical plants and indigenous orchids in the mountains of Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Kadavu



Wildlife & Reserves

Fiji's most famous animal is the crested iguana (brachylophus vitiensis), indigenous only to Yaduataba Island off Vanua Levu. The iguanas have the ability to change colour when aroused and are the only species of its kind. Their closest descendants live in South America. Other rare iguanas found in some local islands as well as other countries in the South Pacific include the rather similar banded iguana.

Sea turtles nest along many beaches in the Fiji Islands. The rich South Pacific coral reefs also provide excellent homes to dolphins, reef sharks, ray's and an abundance of other marine life.

There are over 100 species of birds in Fiji. The main island of Viti Levu has many species of birds, especially around the rainforests along the coral coast and Pacific Harbour. Kadavu, a large rainforested island in the Southern Islands, has a number of stunning musk parrots as well as unique species of fantails and honeyeaters. Taveuni in the Northern Islands has a diverse bird life including parrots and lorikeets. Endangered silktails can be found in the south eastern region of neighbouring Vanua Levu. There are several small islands that have been declared as Nature Reserves for birds, particularly nesting boobies. These include the 45-hectare Namenalala Island off Vanua Levu in the Northern Islands, Mabualau near Toberua Island in Lomaiviti, Bird Island off Vatulele in the Southern Islands and Hatana Island off Rotuma. Qamea, a large volcanic island off Taveuni in the Northern Islands is another good spot for exploring and bird watching.

Kula Wildlife Park, outside Sigatoka on the Coral Coast has a collection of Fiji's natural wildlife and is a conversation park for Fiji's endangered species.