Readers recommend best Fiji resorts, restaurants and activities

HERE'S our readers' advice on the best places to eat and stay and what to do in this South Pacific wonderland.

Fine food and great family fun in Fiji

STAY

Sheraton Fiji Resort, Denarau Island Travelling with our two children, my wife and I wanted a big resort experience and the Sheraton Fiji Resort ticked all our boxes. Spacious rooms, big pools, lots of restaurant options and plenty of activities for the kids. We treated ourselves to a dinner at the on-site Flying Fish Restaurant and can highly recommend the Fijian-style fish that is cooked over volcanic rocks. - Graham Castaway Island Fiji Castaway Island Fiji (pictured below) is the Fiji you'd imagine when you're planning your holiday. Our family of four stayed at one of the beach bures and had a wonderful time. There are plenty of free activities (catamarans, kayaks, paddle boards, snorkel equipment) and fee-based activities (fishing, jet skiing, wake boarding) to enjoy, as well as two pool areas. Our daughter especially loved the kids' club as she made some great holiday friends and the beach sunsets were really something. - Nicole Castaway Island Fiji. Picture: Supplied Five Princes Hotel, Suva The Five Princes Hotel is set among beautiful tropical gardens and lush green grass. The clean and comfortable bures have their own kitchenette, which was great for preparing breakfasts. The main building has a wonderful deck with great views of the harbour. On Sundays there is an in-house curry night that, apart from being delicious, was a lovely way to chat with the owner, Tarei, and her team. It's not right in town (20-minute walk or a couple of dollars in a taxi) but absolutely worth it. - Sarah Outrigger on the Lagoon Fiji, Sigatoka We went to the Outrigger on the Lagoon Fiji (pictured) for a big family holiday and couldn't be happier with the resort as well as the food and service. Big friendly smiles, plenty of bulas and a nanny service that costs about $A7 an hour. We stayed in a Plantation Bure and were happy with the space it provided and the kids enjoyed the novelty. The pools are fantastic and served as the main source of entertainment for our children.Snorkelling off the lagoon beach was amazing, lots of colourful fish and coral and we found a wonderful adults-only bar for some time out. The food is really good - we tried all the restaurants but the Sundowner bar and grill was by far our favourite. - Juliette SEE Suva Municipal Market We visited Suva Market for a taste of Fijian life. The beautiful tropical fruit and vegetables were so fresh and delicious, we bought much more than we needed but managed to eat it all (of course). They also sell fresh flowers and fish as well as woodcarvings and there are a few stores nearby for souvenirs. - Sarah Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course, Sigatoka The playable but challenging course at Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course was the highlight of my trip. Take your camera because the views alone are worth losing a few balls over. The course is very well maintained and there's a nice restaurant at the clubhouse to enjoy a few drinks after. - Gary Sigatoka Sand Dunes We enjoyed a fantastic nature walk through the Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park. There are a few walks from which to choose. We did the medium-length one that follows the tops of the dunes before dropping to the beach and returning via the mahogany forest, which is really beautiful. It's best to go early as it gets very hot and it's probably not suited to small children. The climb up the dunes is pretty challenging so make sure you carry plenty of water and some cash for the park entry fee - they do not accept credit cards. - Juliette Storck Cruises Day Cruise Our hotel concierge recommended Storck Cruises Day Cruise to Savala Island, departing from the Denarau Marina - we didn't want the day to end. Superman and his crew were such great entertainers - singing, barbecuing and ensuring we all had a marvellous time. Morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and drinks (including beer and wine) are included in the cruise. Snorkelling off the beach was great, we missed out on the shark feeding that day but learnt how to husk a coconut which I'm sure will come in handy one day. It was our favourite day of the holiday. - Sarah EAT Koko's Bar, Sunset Strip, Sigatoka We loved Koko's Bar for lunch and returned again for dinner another day and it was just as good. Their traditional Kokoda fish (a type of raw fish dish) with coconut milk was the best we tried and the salt and pepper squid melts in your mouth. There's a deck that looks out over the ocean so it would be a great spot to watch the sunset with a wine. There's a relaxed beach atmosphere to Koko's and they have television that you can enjoy the rugby or other sporting events. - Juliette Nadina Authentic Fijian Restaurant, Denarau Island There's excellent Fijian food by the Port Denarau Marina at Nadina Authentic Fijian Restaurant on Denarau Island. Huge serves of fresh seafood and very good value for money. The restaurant is full of personality - entertaining local musicians and there's "kava time" call outs if you want to try the potent local drink. - Nick Tu's Place, Martintar, Nadi Tu's Place on Queens Rd has something for everyone but they do Thai and Fijian-style food especially well. There's lots of seafood and curry on the menu but they also serve salads, hamburgers and fish and chips. The food is fresh, very well priced and generous in size. - Tamalyn The Old Mill Cottage, Carnarvon St, Suva The Old Mill Cottage in Suva is a nice place to try traditional Fijian and Indian foods. The colonial-style cottage has a nice shady deck to sit and enjoy your meal. Inside feels a bit like a canteen with the way you order your food but it was packed on both days I went for lunch. The cassava chips are something else and the beef and pumpkin curry with roti was the best meal I had in Fiji. - Richard