Fiji holiday for Australians: choosing where to stay

Fiji holiday for Australians planning comes down to one choice: where you sleep. Most flights land at Nadi on the main island, Viti Levu, and from there you can stay near the airport, on Denarau Island, on the Coral Coast, or out in the Mamanuca Islands. This guide compares those four areas and lists what to check before you book.

Prices and rules change, so treat this as a starting point and confirm each detail with the sources below.

Sources for this section: Tourism Fiji, Fiji Islands Travel Guide, regions and places to stay.

Getting there and what to check first

Air Pacific, Fiji's national airline, lists Nadi flights to and from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne on its booking page. Nadi International Airport is the gateway for almost every visitor. Some island resorts also use Air Pacific's domestic network: its booking page lists Mana Island and Malololailai among its destinations.

Smartraveller, the advice service of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, says visa and entry conditions change regularly. It tells Australians to contact the nearest Fiji embassy or consulate for the latest rules before they go. It also says a Fiji trip needs a passport with six or more months of validity left. Do these two checks before you pay for flights or a deposit.

Sources for this section: Air Pacific, booking page and destination list; Smartraveller, Fiji travel advice, Entry and Exit Requirements.

Nadi and Denarau: the short transfer

Staying near the airport keeps the first and last day simple. Tourism Fiji's directory lists Nadi hotels, and one beachfront resort there says it is a 10 minute drive from the airport and Nadi town.

Denarau Island is the resort strip just outside Nadi. The directory lists the Radisson Resort Fiji, the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa, the Fiji Beach Resort and Spa managed by Hilton and the Sheraton Denarau Villas. It also lists an 18 hole golf course and Golf Terrace Apartments, which describe themselves as suited to families and couples who want a furnished apartment at a lower price. The Radisson describes itself as a good choice for a family getaway.

Denarau suits a first trip, a short stay or a trip with young children, because you spend little time travelling once you land. You pay for that ease with a busier, more developed setting than the outer islands.

Sources for this section: Tourism Fiji, Fiji Islands Travel Guide, Nadi and Denarau Island pages.

The Mamanuca Islands: the postcard choice

The Mamanucas are the island group off the Nadi coast, and they are the area most Australians picture when they book a Fiji holiday. Tourism Fiji's guide lists the group as its own region, with highlights listed as Sandbanking, Castaway Revisited and Mamanuca Highlands.

The trade off is the transfer. You must get from Nadi to your island by boat or air, so ask the resort what the transfer costs, how long it takes and what happens if the sea is rough. Check whether the transfer is included in the price. Because you travel after landing, a late flight can mean a night in Nadi first.

This area suits couples and travellers who want quiet beaches and snorkelling. It is less convenient for anyone who needs shops, a pharmacy or a doctor close by.

Sources for this section: Tourism Fiji, Fiji Islands Travel Guide, Mamanuca Islands page; Air Pacific, destination list.

The Coral Coast: more to do on land

The Coral Coast runs along the southern side of Viti Levu. Tourism Fiji's guide lists the Sigatoka Valley, the Sigatoka Sand Dunes, Kula Eco Park, the Coral Coast Railways and the Sigatoka River Safari as its highlights. That makes it a good base if you want day trips, local villages and a mix of activities rather than only beach time.

The cost of staying here is more road time. Allow for a long drive between the airport and your resort, and ask the resort whether it runs a transfer. Check the distance with the resort before you book.

Sources for this section: Tourism Fiji, Fiji Islands Travel Guide, Coral Coast page.

Comparing the four choices

On cost, Tourism Fiji's directory sorts places to stay into four bands: budget and backpacker, midrange ($70 to $300), upmarket ($300 to $700) and luxury ($700 and above). The page does not say which currency or what the figures cover, so ask for a full price in Australian dollars before you commit. The directory does not give a price for each region, so compare the actual room rates and transfer fees side by side.

Sources for this section: Tourism Fiji, Fiji Islands Travel Guide, places to stay by rating and region; Air Pacific, booking page.

Weather, safety and health

Smartraveller says the cyclone season runs from November to April and can bring flooding, landslides and disruption to services. If you travel in those months, ask your tour operator whether services at your resort are running, and expect flights to be delayed.

The advice for Fiji is to exercise caution. Smartraveller points to the unresolved political situation after the December 2006 coup, and says Fiji is ruled under emergency regulations after the constitution was abrogated in April 2009. Avoid demonstrations and large gatherings. It reports robbery, theft and assault, mostly in towns and at night, and gives Suva a higher warning than the rest of the country. Resort areas are not the same as the capital, but keep valuables locked up and take care after dark.

Smartraveller also warns that boat and tour safety standards are not always what Australians expect. Boats between islands may carry too few life jackets, so check the operator and the equipment before you go.

This is general information, not medical advice. For Fiji, Smartraveller says hospitals are generally not as well equipped as those in Australia, and it urges comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical evacuation. A travel clinic or your doctor can advise on vaccines and health risks before you leave.

Sources for this section: Smartraveller, Fiji travel advice, Safety and Security, Natural Disasters and Health Issues.

Sources

1. Smartraveller, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Fiji travel advice: smartraveller.gov.au
2. Tourism Fiji, Fiji Islands Travel Guide: fijime.com
3. Air Pacific, flights and destinations: airpacific.com