The best islands to visit in Fiji: A dummy's guide to island hopping
Whether you’re a first-timer to Fiji or have been many times but never ventured beyond the main islands, this is your guide to island-hopping in the archipelago.
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Before I visited Fiji for the first time late last year I didn’t know my Yasawas from my Mamanucas.
I was totally baffled by the geography and the concept of main islands and outer islands. Fiji’s 333 isles may not be as hard to digest as the Indonesian archipelago, which is made up of more than 17,000 in comparison, but it’s overwhelming all the same.
By the end of my second visit, however, I was an expert (self-titled, of course) and confidently began to grasp the lay of the land. Whether you’re a first-timer to Fiji or have been many times but never ventured beyond the main islands, this is your guide to island-hopping in the archipelago.
What’s the main island in Fiji?
Trick question, there are two. Viti Levu is known as ‘the main island’ because as well as being the largest in Fiji, it’s also the commercial hub. It’s home to capital Suva, Nadi International Airport and a gated resort community on man-made Denarau Island.
Many don’t venture beyond the hotels here, but if you want crystal clear water, white sand and haute luxury, you’ll want to. If your flight arrives in the evening, stay overnight at low-rise Hilton Fiji Beach Resort & Spa, where the suites open onto the beach and it’s just a short drive to Port Denarau where the boats depart. Vanua Levu to the north is the second major island and the second largest in Fiji.
What are the outer islands of Fiji?
It kind of sounds like an episode of the X Files, but Fiji’s outer islands are the scattering of volcanic isles of all shapes and sizes that lie in all directions beyond Viti Levu. These islands are further divided into nine geographic groups, such as the Mamanucas, the Yasawas and the Lau Islands.
Which islands are the closest to Nadi?
The Mamanuca islands are a coconut’s throw from Viti Levu’s west coast and their proximity to Nadi airport makes them a first choice for many travellers. Malolo Island, which has a handful of luxe and mid-range resorts, including iguana sanctuary Likuliku Lagoon Resort and Malolo Island Resort, is a 55-minutes ferry ride with South Sea Cruises, which operate day cruises and resort connections in modern, air-conditioned catamarans. Also within easy reach is Castaway Island and stylish Tokoriki Island Resort, (both 90 minutes on a South Sea Cruises catamaran). For something a little different head to Kadavu Island or one of the small islands around it. This area takes longer to get to than some of the others (you'll either need to take a boat or seaplane) but has some of the best diving in the world (did someone say Manta Rays?) in the Great Astrolabe Reef.
Is it easy to get from one island to the other in Fiji?
Yes, and this is one of the great appeals of the Mamanucas. You can hop between islands on the South Sea Cruises routes via the public catamaran, but there’s also the option of a private speedboat transfer. SeaFiji offers private transfers between the islands on safe, comfortable boats with professional captains, with prices starting from USD$285 ($AUD420) for up to four people. There are some islands that are accessed via private speedboat only, such as Vomo Island, which operates a 35-minute private charter from Vuda Point Marina.
Can you fly between islands in Fiji?
If you have deep pockets, helicopter transfers are also a common way of getting to the more luxe escapes. For example, Turtle Island in the far-flung Yasawa Islands group operates its own seaplane charters via Turtle Airways, which are included in the stay and a novel way to arrive in paradise. For those not keen on flying small, there’s the option to arrive by boat transfer, but the journey can take between four and six hours. If you wish to explore the islands around Vanua Levu, to the north of Viti Levu, you’ll need to take a domestic Fiji Link flight, in a small plane from Nadi to Savusavu or Taveuni.
Why are there speedboats guarding some of the islands in Fiji?
If you see a couple of dinghies hanging around Monuriki Island in the Mamanucas, it’s because they’re currently filming Survivor there and security has been employed to make sure tourists and operators don’t go beyond a certain point. Fiji has been a go-to filming location for US production houses since the 1980s tropical island romance Blue Lagoon was filmed at Turtle Island (with its impossibly vivid water, it’s not hard to see why). Monuriki is also known as ‘Castaway’ Island, because it’s where the Tom Hanks movie was shot and Survivor has been shooting on nearby Mana Island for years.
How many islands should I fit into one trip to Fiji?
It depends on how long you plan to stay. If it’s a short trip of less than a week, then you wouldn’t want to do any more than one. If you’re staying two weeks you could fit in two or three. Another good option for island-hopping is a three- or four-day cruise with Captain Cook Cruises Fiji.
The writer travelled as a guest of Fiji Airways and Tourism Fiji.
Originally published as The best islands to visit in Fiji: A dummy's guide to island hopping
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