Three Hundred Islands and a Famous Welcome
Fiji is an island nation in the South Pacific, northeast of New Zealand, made up of more than 300 islands and known for coral reefs, white-sand beaches and a famously warm welcome. Viti Levu and Vanua Levu are the two largest islands, and Suva is the capital, while Nadi on the western side of Viti Levu is the main airport gateway. Fiji's greeting, bula, is heard everywhere and sets the tone for a country where hospitality is a way of life.
Culture is part of the experience. Village visits introduce the ceremonial kava drink, sevusevu welcome and traditional meke dance, and the lovo, an earth oven, produces feasts of fish, pork and cassava. Fijian, Indian and Pacific traditions combine in the cuisine, with kokoda, a ceviche-style dish of fish in coconut milk, a signature dish. Fiji's soft coral reputation, especially in waters around Taveuni and the Rainbow Reef, draws divers and snorkellers from around the world.
Mamanucas, Yasawas and Taveuni
Island groups offer different moods. The Mamanuca islands, a short boat or seaplane ride from Nadi, suit families and couples with lagoons and sandbars. The Yasawa group, further north, has long beaches and the famed Blue Lagoon area, while Taveuni, the Garden Island, is covered in rainforest and waterfalls. Denarau Island offers a resort base with marina, golf and dining, and the Coral Coast on Viti Levu has gentle beaches and cultural stops.
Activities include snorkelling with reef fish, shark-diving at Beqa Lagoon, sunset sailing, village-hosted dinners and walks through the Garden of the Sleeping Giant near Nadi. A hotel group can match every traveller, from private-island honeymooners to multigenerational families. Fiji pairs well with a stay in New Zealand or Australia, and further east lie Samoa and the Cook Islands for a wider Pacific journey.
Read the full Fiji guide on Visit Travel Group, or see Fiji.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.