This award-winning Fijian local reveals their favourite spots

Working towards becoming a captain, Nau is the Gold winner for employee excellence in service at the ANZ Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards. She reveals her top tips for visitors...

Seini "Nau" Adivuti works at Blue Lagoon Cruises and shares her tips for visiting this island nation. 

The best thing about seeing Fiji on a ship is… the weather.

When it’s raining we can always move to a different place or another bay and look for sunshine elsewhere, whereas on an island you’re stuck there. On a boat you also get to travel and see other places, and on Blue Lagoon all of your excursions and food is included too.

Nau driving a tender. Picture: Amanda Woods

My favourite part of Fiji is… the Yasawa Islands.

As a triathlete I have travelled and competed in different places but nothing beats the Yasawas. The beaches and the water here – you just see the water and you want to jump in straight away. If I was competing in a triathlon in the Yasawas I’d be the last person out because I’d be so distracted by the beautiful coral and fish.

Blue Lagoon Cruises in Fiji

The best time to come to Fiji is…

July, August and September because those are the cooler months. They’re also the months when the manta rays visit and when sometimes dolphins will be chasing the boat. Last year we even saw some whales.

My favourite activity… on a Blue Lagoon cruise is snorkelling.

I love looking at the lovely, healthy, colourful coral. Sometimes you see eagle rays and manta rays, turtles and sharks. Fiji has so many amazing snorkelling spots. Some are like coral gardens, some are rockier, others have places were you can dive down and look underneath. They’re all so different. The best snorkelling places are off Drawaqa Island and in Yalobi Bay at Waya Island.

Sometimes you see eagle rays and manta rays, turtles and sharks

In Fiji we have lots of dialects…

the country has 14 provinces and each one has its own dialect. If I was to speak my mother tongue to people in the villages or some people on the ship they would not understand. So instead I speak the main Fijian language, Bauan. Most of us can speak three languages – two Fijian and English.

Idyllic turquoise water by an exotic beach in the Yasawa islands

When I’m not working…

I love to go to islands like Malamala and South Sea Island. They’re both easy day trips from Denarau and they’re the best because the activities like snorkelling and kayaks are included. And if I’m taking my family you can’t go wrong with South Sea Island. They also have a free kids club that can look after your little ones, and you have organised activities every hour whereas some other islands have nothing organised and you have to pay extra to use snorkels and equipment.

The remote Malamala Island

You have to try… miti in Fiji.

It’s a traditional Fijian dish where you boil the fish and strip the coconut to make coconut milk and add diced onions and tomatoes. Then you take the fish out of the pot and pour the sauce over the top. It’s my favourite.

For fish and chips… 

You should either try Cardo’s at the marina if you’re in Port Denarau or go to Waimalika Fish and Chips. That’s near the village where I’m from. And oh, it’s so good you should try it. They’re the best.

Cardo's at Port Denarau. Picture: @cardos_fiji

When you visit a village in Fiji… 

You cannot wear anything on your head, so no hats or sunglasses. The reason is because back in the day only the paramount chief wore a head piece, so if you’re not the chief you can’t wear anything there. Women should also cover their knees and shoulders. You should lower the noise you make. If you’re in the town it’s okay, but if you’re visiting a village in the islands or on the mainland you need to respect the protocols.

The traditional gift…

is kava when you visit a village. First you should announce yourself when you arrive. That’s because we didn’t have doors on houses so rather than knocking you would announce yourself, and that’s still the protocol today. Then you present the chief with kava. On Blue Lagoon we bring kava for you and let you know what to do in the kava ceremony.

For a Fiji souvenir…

Placemats and coasters are a good idea. I’ve been to some houses with Fiji printed on the placemats and it’s really nice. I like things that you can decorate your table with and use every day.

Originally published as This award-winning Fijian local reveals their favourite spots