 Fiji Tourist Information 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 (600,000 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 and an extensive tourist infrastructure. Fiji is best known as a romantic holiday 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. Accommodation in Fiji 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.
Fiji Health Issues Fiji is blessed. The country is free from malaria, yellow fever and other diseases endemic in many tropical countries. The occasional outbreak of dengue fever (carried by certain mosquitoes) can occur when the wet season is particularly wet. Cases of dengue fever are very limited and spraying in the towns to kill the mosquitoes is usually a quick response when the threat becomes real. Water is safe to drink and few tourists suffer from stomach upsets. The only real threat is the Sun - sunstroke, prickly heat and other skin irritations are quite common, the latter especially so in the more humid season between November and April. Take light, airy clothes. There are no serious animal pests or plant diseases. Most resorts have adequate medical facilities. In cases of emergency, mercy helicopter flights are quickly despatched. Pharmacies are found throughout the larger towns and most are well stocked with medicines from Australia and New Zealand. Private doctors are excellent and very cheap by International standards. However, the government health services and hospitals are not well funded and medical supplies are mostly provided by China as part of an aid package. Arrival & Getting Around 95% of visitors arrive at Nadi International Airport. Business visitors to Suva can fly into Nausori Airport about 20 minutes drive to the north of the capital Suva. Fiji is served by several large international airlines including Air New Zealand, Qantas, Air Pacific (Fiji's National Carrier) and Virgin Blue with direct flights from Australian and New Zealand cities as well as Los Angeles and Hong Kong There is a 24 hour bank at Nadi International Airport. Visa and Mastercard are commonly accepted at most resorts and at the larger shops. There are several money exchange companies in Nadi and Suva. Fiji uses the dollar and cent monetary system. Banks in Fiji include ANZ, Westpac and Colonial Domestic airline Pacific Sun (owned by national carrier Air Pacific) flies from both Nadi International Airport and Nausori Airport to 14 destinations around the Fiji Islands. Baggage allowance is 15kg per person. There are also several helicopter and seaplane companies who transfer guests to resorts throughout the islands. The popular Mamanuca and Yasawa islands are connected by fast large catamarns which depart from Port Denarau in Nadi. |
Fiji Travel Vision
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