Powder-soft, sugar-white sands, lapping cyan waters, and timeless traditions make Fiji a super island-hopping escape. However should you’d desire to base your self in Nadi, Fiji’s foremost gateway on the island of Viti Levu, you’ll be able to simply expertise a few of Fiji’s greatest islands on day journeys.
From the very first Bula! (which means life, and the go-to greeting right here), to the laid-back, archipelago-wide ‘Fiji-time’ that can soothe you out of any stress from house, you’ll be able to unwind as simply in a resort as on a yacht journey across the archipelago. Particularly as smiles crack as typically as coconuts right here
However Fiji isn’t precisely famed for being the most affordable of locations, and taking non-public transfers across the extra luxurious islands can rapidly add up. As such, not straying removed from the airport might be tempting. Whether or not you base your self on the resort-heavy Denarau Island, decide an reasonably priced hostel close to Nadi, or keep at my favorite, the First Touchdown Seashore Resort additional up the coast – it has a foot-shaped island and shaded bungalows – these Fijian day journeys will mean you can expertise all the pieces the archipelago others. From crusing journeys on catamarans to scuba adventures and mud-heavy thermal swimming pools, listed here are all of the implausible day journeys I took from Nadi.
The foot-shaped island at First Touchdown Seashore Resort
Castaway Island
An island escape doesn’t get rather more pristine than Castaway Island, and for essentially the most half, you’ll must cough as much as keep in one of many non-public islands’ lovely Bures and luxuriate in an indulgent Fijian keep. Nonetheless, a restricted variety of day guests are allowed to alight on these paradisical sands and luxuriate in all the pieces the resort has to supply.
The paradise-like Castaway Island Seashore Resort
From snorkelling alongside the coral reefs and strolling by the forested hills to lounging within the shaded swimming pools or sipping a cool one within the bar beneath Tom Hank’s oar from the movie of the identical identify, a couple of hours right here can have you relaxed and rejuvenated. However don’t get this confused with uninhabited Modrik Island, the place the precise movie was set, otherwise you would possibly inadvertently find yourself trespassing right here, courtesy of some native fishermen, as I did.
As an alternative, take a day journey to Qalito Island (the official identify of Castaway Island) to get pleasure from all the pieces it presents. You need to completely e-book your day journey to Castaway Island prematurely, because it’s widespread and numbers are restricted in order to not infringe on the resort’s company. However as soon as right here, you’ll don’t have any regrets – and it saves you forking out for a luxurious suite.
Kava Ceremony on Robinson Crusoe Island
Robinson Crusoe Island
This palm-fringed spec of sand, formally Likuri Island, is a implausible place to remain a couple of nights and take in the island life. Often known as Robinson Crusoe Island, the lodging on supply right here is superb worth when in comparison with a number of the different island resorts. Sadly, since my go to a couple of years again, they’ve rid of their dorm rooms, which have been a wallet-friendly solution to stay the island life. Nonetheless, the non-public rooms nonetheless don’t break the financial institution.
If you happen to aren’t staying right here, then it makes for a wonderful late afternoon day journey from Nadi. On the favored sundown crusing go to to Robison Cruise Island, you’ll glide by jungle-shrouded waters earlier than reaching the island, the place a serenade of meke dancers and musicians awaits.
Fireplace dancing on Robinson Crusoe Island
You’ll have a little bit of time to benefit from the island, take a dip, and watch the sundown from beneath a gently swaying palm tree earlier than the night’s leisure begins. Together with a Kava welcoming ceremony, extra dancing, hearth performances and an enormous buffet cooked historically in an underground Lovo. All in all, I discovered it a extremely first rate worth tour, given all the pieces that’s included.
Simply know that this present day journey from Nadi requires a bus switch that provides an additional hour or so on – the jetty by the jungle-edged waters is a bit away from Nadi itself. It’s additionally honest to say it’s a comparatively tourist-primed occasion quite than uncooked and genuine, however if you wish to expertise all the above and don’t have a lot time, it’s a strong selection for a cracking evening out.
Head to a floating bar on a day journey from Nadi
Cloud 9 Bar
This bar is nowhere close to the clouds, neither is it close to the rest. A big picket deck, full with a bar and daybeds, Cloud 9 Bar floats in the midst of the ocean, surrounded by a large number of cerulean-hued waters. Its foremost draw is the sheer coolness of having the ability to sip a cocktail, take heed to a DJ, and seize a pizza earlier than leaping off the bar into the bath-like waters beneath, the beautiful Mamanuca Islands within the distance.
We rocked up right here with our fisherman buddies and went onto the floating platform for a couple of drinks and a fast go to (which, I believe, is allowed should you randomly occur to be passing by the center of nowhere and want a beer), so this is likely to be an choice should you don’t wish to dedicate an entire day right here. Nonetheless, most individuals e-book this present day journey from Denarau Island. Given Cloud 9 was so widespread, it’s no shock {that a} second floating bar now exists, the Seventh Heaven Floating Bar and Restaurant, and day journeys to this one might be barely cheaper.
Take a day journey to personal Savala Island
Savala Island
For sure, Savala was one in all my favorite islands that we visited on a day journey from Denarau Island. It’s distant, peaceable, and lapped by essentially the most inviting of turquoise waters. On the boat trip right here, guitars enjoying and free beers flowing, I used to be already in my aspect, and that’s earlier than I noticed the tiny isle within the distance.
With a limiteless, all-inclusive bar, wonderful lunch buffet, sea kayaks, snorkelling gear and even a therapeutic massage tent, you’ll be able to pamper your self, tan your self or head straight into the water to your leisure. There isn’t a lot shade right here, so pac your sunscreen, however if you’d like a get-away-from-it-all island escape, e-book OoLaLa’s day journey to Savala Island.
4 of us employed a small boat for a day journey to Bounty Island
Bounty Island
Bounty Island was the set for one of many first Celeb Love Island seasons greater than a decade in the past. Being comparatively near Viti Levu and having a resort, it’s additionally a well-liked place to remain. Nonetheless, if you wish to go to on a day journey from Nadi, it’s additionally doable – and given it solely takes round half-hour by boat, it’s one of many quickest you’ll be able to take.
White sands, palms and all the pieces else you’d anticipate are discovered right here. There are additionally some wonderful snorkelling and scuba diving journeys off the island, making it a well-liked, easy-access island for recognizing marine life. Households can even admire the services, leisure, and water sports activities which are available. You may both e-book a brief day journey should you don’t have a lot time or go for this longer day journey from Nadi that sails between a couple of of the Mamanuca Islands with lunch and water sports activities included.
Hiring an area boat and stringing collectively sand bars was a dreamy outing
Do it your self!
There are such a lot of completely different day journeys from Nadi and Denaru Island to numerous different islands that it may be laborious to decide on, and the prices can rapidly add up. An alternate, which we did for a few days, was to befriend some native fishermen who have been already going out anyway, and we provided a good worth to affix them on their fishing journey.
These two days have been my highlights in Fiji. Not solely did we get to speak and join with the 2 younger guys – and attempt to assist them fish – however we ended up visiting random spots, stopping at tiny little sandbars whereas they headed off with their rods, and mixing a couple of islands into someday.
Stopping at tiny sandbars is a Fiji day journey spotlight
Nadi’s markets and temples
Nadi City is a comparatively sleepy place, however you need to completely not miss taking a day journey into Nadi itself to see the native recent produce markets and craft stalls and sip on a criminally low-cost coconut. It’s greatest to attempt to keep away from the day’s cruise ships are on the town, as then it may be crowded. However this can be a first rate Fiji day outing as you’ll be able to simply hop in an area taxi, no tour wanted.
Get your driver to additionally take you to the small Sri Siva Subramaniya Hindu temple, a fast cease can be sufficient time to go to.
My journey buddy Simla and an area artisan in Nadi’s markets
Nadi Sizzling Springs
For a special sort of water rest, enterprise to the Sabeto Sizzling Springs and dirt swimming pools. It’s a good half-day journey from Nadi. After a brief drive, you’ll arrive on the laid-back venue the place a handful of sellers hawk their native items, and effervescent sizzling springs sit close by. Given the temperature of the springs themselves, the water is filtered into a group of swimming pools, which you dive into after caking your physique within the heat mud, baking it out to dry after which washing it off.
Don’t go anticipating a full-blown spa-style web site, as that is something however that. It’s only a cool factor to do, and the folks working there have been a pleasant bunch, and so they had an excellent playful canine. No must pay for a high-priced tour, simply leap in a taxi and pay whenever you arrive. If you happen to’d desire to e-book a day tour from Denarau Island, then this tour takes within the city’s highlights, together with the recent springs, gardens and the temple.
Soaking within the Nadi Sizzling Springs
Gardens of the Sleeping Big
One other widespread day journey from Nadi is the close by Gardens of the Sleeping Big. It’s a lush landscaped backyard space with native, vibrant flowers and shaded trails round a legendary dormant volcanic crater. You could possibly use your taxi to do each the recent springs and gardens collectively.
Past the gardens, and one thing you would possibly wish to e-book a tour prematurely for is the zip-lining and waterfalls situated close by. I didn’t personally hassle with this as I’d heard the zip-line wasn’t that spectacular and wished to save lots of my money. However if you’re , you’ll discover extra particulars right here.
The peaceable Sleeping Big Gardens
Need to island-hop on a funds?
One other various, if you wish to island-hop with out such excessive prices, is to have a look at Feejee Expertise. It’s removed from a luxurious operator and is extra focused at backpackers, however its journey passes and wallet-friendly choices will mean you can go to a collection of islands with out paying a small fortune.
Total, Fiji is a bit dear – and flights from Australia and New Zealand might be the most important funding of the journey. I truly flew from Singapore, and the direct flights with Fiji Airways have been surprisingly cheaper from there than the nearer nations.
Lodging doesn’t have to be too costly, although. After my buddies had departed, and we have been not splitting the price of Bures between 4, I went and checked into the excellent worth Tropic of Capricorn hostel. I solely discovered this place by asking round about hostels, because it wasn’t listed on the main reserving web site – so do store round if you wish to discover a first rate deal. Positive, the seaside there isn’t one in all Fiji’s best, however it made for an reasonably priced base to increase my vacation and take a pair extra day journeys from Nadi to different islands.
Nonetheless you discover Fiji, I hope it offers you a similar everlasting grin that it gifted me. There’s one thing very particular about this archipelago – and a go to actually doesn’t have to be as costly as you’d think about one of many world’s greatest seaside locations to be.
Diving into crystal-clear waters from a ship – Fiji doesn’t get significantly better than this.