I think if you have the time, it is definitely worth it. If nothing else, you get over your jet lag in a nice laid-back setting. And they don't come much more laid-back than Fiji! And the diving is simply fantastic.
I have only been there once, so I'm not an expert. We landed at Nadi (pronounced 'Nandi'), which is at the western end of the main island. That is handy to the Mamanuca Islands, which are relatively close inshore. (The Tom Hanks movie was filmed on one of them!) That is where most of the middle-of-the-road resorts seem to be, with the higher-end resorts to the north, around the second-largest island.
There is a lovely sort of country-club area just outside Nadi with several name-brand resorts (Sheraton, Sofitel, Raddisson, etc..); that might be an option for you too. They call it 'Denarau Island' but it is on the mainland. You can get day-trip boats out to the islands from there.
Don't stay in Nadi, it's a dump. And don't stay near the airport, there are some dark stretches of road and lots of BIG Fijians sitting around. I KNOW! :o
If you are after coral, stick to the protected areas to the west and north of the main island; the trade winds blow from the south east, and the swell that that kicks up does not allow soft coral to flourish on the southern shore. (There's a big barrier reef south of the Mamanuca Islands to protect them - one of the Billabong Pro surf events is held there.)
The other airport is at Suva, the capital, at the eastern end of the main island. Nice spot, pick me up a T-shirt from the museum if you go. ;) But I don't think there is much in the way of resorts over that side. There is a town outside Suva to the west - Pacific Harbour. It looks suspiciously like time-share heaven. Bad vibes, I don't recommend it.
Stop over in Fiji?
in Australia & New Zealand
Posted
Hi Kathy,
I think if you have the time, it is definitely worth it. If nothing else, you get over your jet lag in a nice laid-back setting. And they don't come much more laid-back than Fiji! And the diving is simply fantastic.
I have only been there once, so I'm not an expert. We landed at Nadi (pronounced 'Nandi'), which is at the western end of the main island. That is handy to the Mamanuca Islands, which are relatively close inshore. (The Tom Hanks movie was filmed on one of them!) That is where most of the middle-of-the-road resorts seem to be, with the higher-end resorts to the north, around the second-largest island.
There is a lovely sort of country-club area just outside Nadi with several name-brand resorts (Sheraton, Sofitel, Raddisson, etc..); that might be an option for you too. They call it 'Denarau Island' but it is on the mainland. You can get day-trip boats out to the islands from there.
Don't stay in Nadi, it's a dump. And don't stay near the airport, there are some dark stretches of road and lots of BIG Fijians sitting around. I KNOW! :o
If you are after coral, stick to the protected areas to the west and north of the main island; the trade winds blow from the south east, and the swell that that kicks up does not allow soft coral to flourish on the southern shore. (There's a big barrier reef south of the Mamanuca Islands to protect them - one of the Billabong Pro surf events is held there.)
The other airport is at Suva, the capital, at the eastern end of the main island. Nice spot, pick me up a T-shirt from the museum if you go. ;) But I don't think there is much in the way of resorts over that side. There is a town outside Suva to the west - Pacific Harbour. It looks suspiciously like time-share heaven. Bad vibes, I don't recommend it.
Cheers,