1. Fiji is an island hopper’s paradise 

If you visited an island a day in Fiji it would take almost a year to see them all. And that’s before you added the 500 or so islets to your very long list. As you wave goodbye to the main island of Viti Levu you can sail out to the Mamanuca Islands (pictured) where locations from Castaway with Tom Hanks and Survivor TV shows are just the tip of the beautiful island’s iceberg. From here cruise up through the Sacred Islands to the Yasawa Islands, where a chain of around 20 islands with pristine beaches, clear waters and coral reefs await. When you’re not heading ashore simply looking out at the island scenes ensures your holiday mode is activated, all with the cruise luxury of unpacking once as you step onto multiple shores.

2. Ships can avoid the rain better than islands 

As I sailed around Fiji’s Sacred and Yasawa Islands (pictured) in the rainy season with Blue Lagoon Cruises I saw a lot of rain in the distance but only felt it once on my skin. Ships have the ability to change course to follow the best weather or to find shelter from high winds while island resorts need to patiently wait it out. While this does not apply if the weather gods are in cyclone flexing or total widespread downpour mode, on our trip I was impressed by how the captain and his team managed to stay one step ahead most of the time. 

3. The snorkelling and diving rocks 

A Fiji cruise is an opportunity to explore a range of coral reef snorkelling and diving sites including spots where you can go from sitting on a soft sandy beach to looking down at fish darting in between coral within a few metres, or get a ride on a tender to an outer reef. From May to October the Yasawa Islands are also one of the best places in the world to swim with manta rays.

4. You can also swim in a very big rock

Sawa-i-Lau Island is a head-turner that looks like it has secrets to tell. Perhaps it’s something to do with how it managed to be the only limestone island in a chain of volcanic ones. Maybe it’s the story behind why it’s known as the final resting place of the ten-headed Fijian god Ulutini. Or it could be to do with the saltwater caves that have been carved out of the limestone rock. It’s hard to tell. What I do know is that when I ducked under a large rock before stepping down to swim in the cave it was one Fiji swimming moment I’ll never forget. Picture: Amanda Woods

5. Have a Blue Lagoon or Castaway moment 

Fiji islands are so picture perfect it’s little wonder some have a movie credit to their name including Nanuya Lailai, where the original Blue Lagoon movie was filmed, and Monuriki where Tom Hanks and Wilson bonded in Castaway. Blue Lagoon Cruises, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, visits both islands and has its own private beach on Nanuya Lailai where we were able to jump off the back of the ship after it was tied to a coconut tree and swim ashore.

6. The best time to go

In Fiji the dry season runs from May to October while the wet season stretches from November to April. While Fiji doesn’t experience winter, the clearer skies and slightly cooler temperatures during our winter in Australia makes it the best time to go. And when you’re island hopping on a ship, you don’t need to worry about how busy it is in peak time on land.

The writer travelled as a guest of Blue Lagoon Cruises.

See also:

8 best adults-only resorts in Fiji

7 best kids clubs in Fiji