Fiji travel destinations are about getting off the beaten track, hopping from beach hut to beach hut, visiting traditional villages and diving some of the best coral reefs in the world.

Nadi Town is the first place you'll arrive in Fiji and a great place to oraganise your travel plans, like day tours to the beautiful Mamanuca's or Yasawa Islands. Most backpackers find themselves hanging around for a few days relaxing and getting onto Fiji time, where things are much more relaxed than where you've come from.

Nadi's greatest attractions are the surrounding rural countryside and mountains which can be explored by foot, car hire or bus.

Koroyanitu National Park, about half an hour north of Nadi, is particularly beautiful and offers overnight accommodation, trails and guided village treks at Momi Bay (both about 30 minutes by car).

VITI LEVU

Largest and most populated island in Fiji. With plenty of beach resorts along the southern coast, main centre for day tours, exploring and island hopping.

Excellent hiking in mountains and adventure tourism. See our Travel Desk for more information on day trips, excursions or tours around the island.

MAMANUCA ISLAND GROUP

Palm fringed coral atolls and small volcanic islands, resort beaches, water activities, excellent snorkeling and diving. Nomads Skylodge offers numerous day trips and cruises from Nadi.

The Mamanuca Islands are undoubtedly Fiji's most popular island resort destination. The small group of islands are visible from Nadi Airport and take just a few minutes to reach by plane, or about 20 minutes by fast catamaran.

There are almost twenty small island resorts throughout the group - the largest being Mana Island. Some of the resorts are on tiny coral atolls which can be walked around in five minutes like Beachcomber and Treasure Island, others like Tokoriki and Malola, on the larger islands have sweeping beaches where the focus is on fun water activities - banana boat rides, jet ski rides, Para-sailing - as well as more relaxing activities like game fishing, sailing and scuba diving.

YASAWA ISLANDS

String of small volcanic islands with secluded beaches, lots of backpacker resorts are good for island hopping and sea kayaking expeditions.

The Yasawa Islands are a favourite destination for small budget beach resorts alongside local Fijian villages. There's stunning coastal scenery, traditional fishing villages, turquoise waters and secluded beaches. This is more of a chill out destination with the feeling of being off the beaten track. Accommodation is usually in small thatch bungalows (bures).

THE SOUTHERN ISLAND

Made up of Kadavu Island, the fourth largest island in Fiji, Beqa, Vatulele and a dozen smaller offshore islands. This is an excellent centre for scuba diving, game fishing and surfing as well as to experience a more remote and secluded way of life.

Kadavu Island

This traditional and remote island lies about 100km off the main island of Viti Levu. Kadavu is a rugged island almost 60km in length and 14km wide with high volcanic peaks, rolling hills and many indented bays. There are few roads on the island and travel by small boats is the easiest and often only way to get about.

The dense rainforests offer good hiking trails, some nice waterfalls and several endemic species of bird. Life in Kadavu boasts a very traditional culture with its 12,000 inhabitants living in 70 small fishing villages around the coast, isolated from the world. Village visits from all seven resorts on island can be arranged

The Northern Isalnds

Consists of two large islands (Vanua Levu and Taveuni are the second and third largest islands in Fiji), and several smaller offshore islands and coral atolls. The area is renowned for eco-tourism - the scuba diving in Rainbow Reef is considered amongst the best in the world for soft corals and there are several National Parks and Nature Reserves with hiking trails, waterfalls and plenty of bird life.

The resorts on Vanua Levu are based around Savusavu and Natewa Bays in the south-east of the island but they are all self-contained resorts with no amenities or restaurants nearby. Both bays are both exceptionally beautiful and tranquil locations and have good access to Rainbow reef.

Taveuni is referred to as the Garden Island of Fiji. Its rainforest is breathtaking and there are some fine beaches on the north side of the island where most of the resorts are located, as well as the small islands which lie of its north coast. Taveuni has good public transport, several tour companies and a number of small independent restaurants.more on Taveuni...

Vanua Levu is the second largest island in Fiji. Similar to Viti Levu, it has a distinct dry and wet side. The north and western side is dry and dominated by the dry dusty town of Labasa, sugar cane farms and small Indian settlements. The southern coast of Vanua Levu to Savusavu is very scenic with lush rainforest and several large rivers, though few beaches.

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. Most of the accommodation on Vanua Levu is around Savusavu Bay.

Lomaiviti Islands

The mountainous island of Ovalau in the Lomaiviti Group is a great destination to sample a bit of everything. Levuka, the old capital of Fiji and main town on Ovalau, is a charming historical town with a very slow pace of life. There are several good colonial style budget hotels as well as independent restaurants, coffee bars and historical sights.

The mountains behind Levuka are truly spectacular and there are several nearby trails into the rainforest and to swimming pools and waterfalls. Of notable interest for hikers is an arduous day trek to remarkable Lovoni Village, isolated in the centre of the island. There is an excellent village stay operation based at Devokula in the north of the island. The beauty of Ovalau is that it is east to get around the island by both bus or bicycle.

Visa and Arrival Information

International Airport

Nadi, West Viti Levu, 10km from Nadi Town.

Visas

Entry visas for Fiji are automatically granted on arrival for a stay of 4 months to most Nationals. These include: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Finland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and USA. Other Nationals must apply for a visa before departure at their nearest Fiji Embassy.

Visas may be extended for two months at a fee of F$82.50 giving a total maximum stay of 6 months. Extensions must be made in person on application to the Department of Immigration in Nadi, Suva or Lautoka with proof of onward ticket and sufficient funds (at least F$50 per day).

Vaccinations

None required except for yellow fever and cholera if coming from an infected area. Importation of plants, animals and associated products is strictly prohibited.

Transfers

A Free Nomads Skylodge Shuttle bus meet every flight into Nadi. Taxi NZ$10 to Nadi Town, local bus 80 cents.

Weather

Fiji's climate is hot and sunny all year round (day/night average temperature is Jan 24/30; July 20/27) with higher rainfall and more mosquitoes from Dec to April. The are several peaks in the tourist season, notably from July to September when the package holidays are popular with Australians and New Zealanders escaping their winter.

Summer - December to April

Summer begins early in December and lasts until April. During this time it is hot and humid (32C by day) with bright sunny mornings and predictable late afternoon downpours on the larger islands, although the small offshore islands often miss these downpours altogether.

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 down side is the high humidity, the increase in mosquitoes and the possibility of tropical storms or mightier cyclones.

Winter - May to November

By the end of April, Fiji experiences a more moderate climate. Temperatures are comfortably warm by day (27oC) and pleasantly cool at night (19oC) when a light jumper may be necessary. By midwinter (July), many parts of the country welcome rain - the hills around Nadi turn brown and water shortages occur on the smaller islands. However, on the eastern sides of the larger islands, notably Suva, Savusavu and Taveuni, rainfall is never far away keeping the air clear and scenery green year round.

Money & Tipping

Fiji is one of the cheapest destinations in the South Pacific. Tipping is not encouraged and contrary to local culture.

The fiji currency uses the dollar and cent monetary system (Fiji Dollar - F$). There are several international banks in the country including Westpac, ANZ and the Bank of Baroda. Nadi Airport has a 24-hour ANZ bank as well as ATM machine.

24-hr ATM cash withdrawal machines are available in Nadi, Sigatoka, Pacific Harbour, Suva, Rakiraki and Lautoka on the main island and in Savusavu and Labasa on Vanua Levu. Banks are open from 9.00am to 3.30pm Monday to Friday.

Thomas Cook Travel has offices in Nadi and Suva and there are several local money exchange shops in Nadi Town. Most resorts accept credit cards in Fiji - visa cards and master cards - as do the larger shops and tourist boutiques in Nadi and Suva.

Travellers cheques are readily accepted in most places in Fiji.