Go West!

Nadi, on the west coast of Viti Levu, is the tourist gateway of Fiji. If Suva is where the region’s movers and shakers do their thing, Nadi is where the tourists pull in to head off and explore. Nadi is home to the South Pacific’s main airport, but there’s not much to recommend the town itself other than as a useful base for heading further afield. There is a colourful market selling the usual collection of souvenirs, but most visitors head straight on out to one of the nearby resorts.

Most of the Viti Levu’s hotels are in and around Nadi, and the surrounding countryside is well worth exploring. Fields of lush green sugarcane stretch to the horizon, the local beaches are fairly quiet and the Nausori Highlands to the east are well worth a visit. On your way back stop in at the ‘Garden of the Sleeping Giant’, about five kilometres north of the airport on the road to Lautoka. This private garden boasts an impressive collection of Asian orchids as well as a wonderful walk through landscaped gardens and dense jungle.

Wailoaloa beach is the closest stretch of sand to Nadi town, but is not the best Fiji has to offer. If you’re into white sands and waving palm trees best you get on a boat or plane for the Mamanuca Islands.

Island style…

Apart from beautiful beaches and great accommodation, the Mamanuca Islands’ other claim to fame is as the location for the Tom Hanks film ‘Cast Away’. With scenery like this to enjoy I don’t see why he wanted to get rescued!

READ MORE...

Published courtesy of travelideas.
Unfortunately you won’t have the islands all to yourself though… the Mamanucas are one of Fiji’s most popular destinations, and home to most of the traditional tourist resorts in the region. Just a short boat ride (or even quicker plane ride) from Nadi, the almost guaranteed sunshine makes this the perfect spot for a beach holiday. You won’t find much authentic Fijian culture here, but get your dose of that on the mainland and then hit the islands for some sun, sea and sand.

What’s great about the Mamanucas is the range of accommodation on offer. Travellers on a budget can find everything from a dormitory bed on the iconic Beachcomber Island (aimed at the single, party crowd) to a family-friendly resort or a five-star exclusive retreat. Not as exclusive as Tom’s island, but pretty darn close. Just make sure you’ve charged the credit card before you get there, as tropical paradise doesn’t always come cheap.

It’s worth every penny though, and once you’re there the living is easy. Spend your days swimming, snorkelling, sailing, sun-tanning or scuba-diving, and when the sun goes down you can (depending on where you stay) enjoy a romantic candlelit meal, a deux on your own private balcony or party till dawn in the resort nightclub. Paradise…

More info: Visit www.bulafiji.com, the official website of the Fiji Visitors Bureau.

Page: 2 of 2 - back