Everything a family holiday should be … Fiji’s spectacular natural playground.Credit: Tourism Fiji
A curious thing happens in Fiji. Spend a little time chatting here, and you’ll discover it’s full of people who can’t help repeating themselves.
We’re talking families who return to the islands year after year with many resorts boasting a remarkable guest return rate above 70 per cent.
They come back, and back and back, not only because of the sunshine, although it helps that Fiji resembles the postcard paradise we all dream about while we’re stuck in traffic. Nor do they return solely because of the gracious hospitality of the Fijian people, often a huge highlight.
Instead, something deeper draws them back – a sense of what a family holiday should be. In Fiji, time slows down, hearts open up, and the simple joy of being together as a family makes everything feel right.
Warriors in training … Vomo Island Resort.
People often ask about the best resorts and places to visit, but the answer can depend on your family, their ages, interests, how far you want to travel – and, of course, your budget. Whether you’re a first-timer bringing the kids and the kitchen sink or a return visitor heading to your favourite resort, Fiji will exceed expectations.
Here’s our essential guide to the best way – based on canvassing various categories of travellers – to experience every kind of Fijian family holiday.
Best for first-timers
Day trip dreams … the postcard tropical shores of the Mamanuca Islands.Credit: Getty Images
The lowdown Fiji is the perfect place to dip your toe in the big pool of travelling internationally with kids, thanks to its relatively short flight times, warm weather and incredible hospitality. Above all, the value placed on family in traditional Fijian culture means it’s a great place for families: Fijians just genuinely love kids. Most resorts offer a comprehensive daily activity program, from beach volleyball to basket weaving; however, the key to making the most of your first Fijian holiday is to go slow and not try to jam in too many excursions. You don’t need to do much at all in Fiji to have a wonderful time.
See + do Just 20 minutes from the airport, Denarau’s big international chain resorts can’t be beaten for their ease and convenience (although one criticism is that they lack that picture-perfect white sand beach). Swim in the pool, shop at the marina, ride the Bula Bus or take a day trip to the Mamanuca Islands off the coast of Viti Levu.
Insider tip Fiji’s kid’s clubs are exceptional, but many parents find out the hard way that most have a minimum age limit of three or four or operate for limited hours. Before you book, check opening hours, age limits, costs, and how much the nanny service will be.
Stay Denarau is home to nine hotels with varying prices and facilities; many have been recently renovated. See denarau.com
Essentials Peak season runs from June to September, with the wet season from November to March. However, don’t let this put you off: you’ll have sunny days with short tropical downpours perfect for a nap.
Best for cultural experiences
The Pacific’s largest Hindu temple, located in Nadi ... the Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple.Credit: Getty Images
The lowdown Fijians are incredibly proud of their culture and incredibly generous in sharing it. Many resorts have extensive hands-on cultural programs as part of their daily activities, from preparing a lovo (a banquet cooked using an earth oven) to cultural performances and basket-weaving. However, it’s also valuable to get out of the resort bubble and see everyday life away from the hotels.
See + do In Nadi, spend a morning exploring the local municipal market before heading to the Sri Siva Subramaniya Hindu Temple (check if there’s a rugby game at Prince Charles Park – it’s a great spectator sport in rugger-mad Fiji). Many day tours from Denarau include a village visit, but for a truly authentic experience, consider spending a few days at a village homestay. Different families will host you for each meal, you’ll stay in a traditional home, and kids can visit the local school and get a taste of village life. Best of all, your money goes directly to the community.
Many resorts run cultural programs.Credit: Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort
Insider tip Fiji is a largely conservative and religious country. If you’re visiting a village, dress modestly, covering your shoulders and wearing skirts below the knee (use a sarong or sulu, which is often provided). Follow your guide’s cues about what to do and how to act.
Stay Homestays can be found on most bed and breakfast and booking websites; in the Yasawa Islands, try yasawahomestays.com.
Essentials Tipping is not expected in Fiji, but it makes an incredible difference to the quality of life for Fijian staff. Leave a few dollars in your room, tip your driver or guide directly, or contribute to the staff Christmas fund.
Best for tweens and teens
Something for the teens ... rafting the Navua River, one of the world’s most unique canyons.Credit: Tourism Fiji
The lowdown There’s a misconception that kids “age out” of Fiji when, in reality, the best activities on offer often suit older kids. Many bigger resorts have a teens-only room or programs aimed at the 10-plus market, including climbing coconut trees, stand-up paddleboarding and survival skills.
See + do From jet-boat safaris to white-water rafting and tubing down the rapids of the Navua River, there’s plenty on offer to meet the needs of every adrenaline-fuelled teen. Jet-ski safaris are available from most Denarau Island resorts, and if you’ve ever wanted to throw your teenager to the sharks, they can go snorkelling with them at various locations in the Yasawas and Pacific Harbour.
Kids over age 10 can try an introductory scuba dive at most resorts, and many families opt to get their certification together. If you’re in the Yasawas, don’t miss a visit to the Sawa-i-Lau sea caves; on the big island, Natadola Beach offers horse-riding and a surf beach for beginners. More advanced surfing teens can make their parents squirm by taking on Natadola’s reef break or by heading out to spots like Cloudbreak and Frigates on special charters.
Jean Michel Cousteau Resort in SavuSavu runs an eco-based program for teen guests.Credit: Film Fiji
Insider tip Internet access is expensive and patchy at most resorts. Avoid bill shock by turning off global roaming. Set expectations early for screen time. A fair warning: most resorts don’t have a TV in the room as standard.
Stay Hotels like Paradise Cove in the Yasawas have separate teen spaces (in this case, a Yurt with Xbox and foosball table restricted to 13+), while Jean Michel Cousteau Resort near SavuSavu has an active eco-based program for teen guests, including coral planting and Hobie-cat sailing.
Best for value
Find package deals at hotspot alternatives, like Pacific Harbour.Credit: Nanuku Auberge Resort
The lowdown There’s no sugar-coating it: Fiji has become more expensive, and everything adds up when you’ve got kids in tow. When planning a holiday in Fiji, the usual rules of budget travel apply: travel outside of peak season in June and July, investigate the cost (and currency) of meal plans, be creative with your meals (toss a cheap Kmart toastie maker in the luggage) and stock up on supermarket snacks. Package deals often dominate the Fijian holiday market, but if you’re intrepid enough to arrange your own trip and put your shoulder into planning, there’s a goldmine of well-run, family-oriented and inexpensive bed and breakfast and homestays available.
See + do If you’re after a value holiday, shy away from hotspots like the Coral Coast, Mamanucas and Yasawas and instead try areas like Pacific Harbour, or head to the north of Viti Levu to places like the Suncoast. If you’re settling in at a resort, remember many arrange activities free of charge for families, have complimentary snorkel gear and offer free watersports, meaning you can skip extra excursions.
Insider tip Watch out for the cost of transfers if you’re staying on the islands: often, the further out you stay, the more you’ll pay. Some transfer companies and resorts manage passenger demand by offering cheaper or “kids-free” rates if you take a ferry outside of peak times.
Stay Around Nadi, the Wailoaloa area is a good alternative to Denarau, while The Palms and Terraces Apartments by Port Denarau Marina are highly recommended. In the islands, Barefoot Manta Resort has a good reputation for value, while Plantation Island Resort remains popular for its breadth of rooms and kids-eat-free meal plan.
Best off the beaten track
Go island-hopping, Taveuni.
The lowdown Most families fly into Nadi, stay on the west coast of Viti Levu or head out to the Mamanucas and Yasawas, but with more than 300 islands, there’s so much more of Fiji to see. There are three key advantages to getting off the beaten track. First, you’ll often have a more down-to-earth and authentic experience; second you’ll save money, and lastly, you’ll support the local community. Car hire is available at Nadi Airport, while Fiji Airways flies the outer islands, including Taveuni and Vanua Levu.
See + do On the main island of Viti Levu, head north to the little-explored Suncoast and the island of Nananu-i-Ra, which offers basic self-catering accommodation and is a favourite spot for kite-surfing and windsurfing. Families with older kids can head inland with Talanoa Treks to hike through the mountains, staying in remote villages. Beyond the Coral Coast on the road to Suva, Pacific Harbour is also a great base for all of Viti Levu’s adventure activities, like shark diving, river tubing and diving. It requires an extra flight, but also consider exploring Vanua Levu and the town of SavuSavu, a favourite anchor point for yachties with a gorgeous reef accessible from the shore, a chocolate farm that offers tours and tastings, and waterfalls. Further afield, the Garden Island of Taveuni, is filled with waterfalls and has a 50-metre-long natural volcano water slide at Waitavala to keep the kids amused, along with some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Fiji.
Insider tip If you do decide to get off the beaten track, remember to carry plenty of cash. Expect the unexpected and be prepared to adjust your itinerary in case of a breakdown or if you make new friends.
Stay Many of the best owner-operated bed and breakfast properties off the beaten track in Fiji can be found on Booking.com and Airbnb.com, including several village-operated homestay programs.
Best for multigenerational families
Take a trip to one of the island beach clubs like Malamala.
The lowdown The happy chaos of multigenerational travel is huge in Fiji, with many parents who travelled with their kids to the destination in the ’80s and ‘90s now returning with their grandchildren. Part of Fiji’s appeal is that it’s such a versatile destination for all ages, offering kids’ clubs for the ankle-biters and much-needed spa treatments for mum and dad.
See + do On top of taking advantage of their resort facilities, many big families enjoy booking one to two activities, like a visit to one of the outer-island beach clubs like Cloud Nine, Seventh Heaven and Malamala while activities like Ecotrax, which involve taking electric bikes along old sugar plantation railway lines, is incredibly popular with all ages (it books out months in advance). If your family loves cruising, on select dates during school holidays, Blue Lagoon Cruises offers three to seven-night family cruises catering to families with younger kids that are perfect for multi-generational family trips.
Insider tip If you plan to eat together as a family, make sure you book as early as possible with your resort or restaurants in the vicinity.
Kid-free … relax at Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort’s adult-only pool.
Stay In the Mamanucas, the family bures at the Malolo Island Resort sleep up to seven while the family beach bures at Castaway Island Resort sleep up to 10. For ultra-luxury, Vomo Island Resort offers spectacular private residences with private chefs that offer full access to the kids’ clubs and adults-only areas, as well as all resort activities. If your family has different budget needs, resorts like Plantation Island or the newly renovated Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort, have different categories of accommodation and prices (and are big enough that you can occasionally find a quiet spot to yourself if the family revelry gets a little much).
Best for luxury
The lowdown Fiji’s premium resorts offer the dream family holiday in some of the world’s most idyllic, luxurious locations, but book well in advance. Resorts like Vomo, Nanuku and Jean Michel Cousteau all provide a personal nanny for kids under a certain age and feature incredible kids’ club facilities with extensive activities ranging from ziplines to waterslides and private pool areas. Kids often have so much fun at these resorts that you may struggle to convince them to spend time with you.
Take advantage of a personal nanny in your luxury digs at Vomo Island.
See + do Many premium resorts occupy their own island and have a spectacular house reef for the usual water activities, while some offer inclusive activities you’d pay extra for elsewhere. Jean Michel Cousteau Resort, for example, has a series of weekly excursions to waterfalls, markets and local villages for the whole family to enjoy included in their stay, while the Sheraton Fiji Golf + Beach Resort has a family-oriented activity schedule called Side by Side: that includes cooking demonstrations for the whole family.
Insider tip One of the advantages of such bigger resorts is that they often have comprehensive environmental awareness programs, including mangrove and coral planting, for grown-ups and kids with marine biologists on site.
Stay Resorts like Sofitel and Vomo have special adults-only sections if you need a guaranteed break from your own (and other people’s) little darlings.
Five more Fiji must-knows for fretful parents
Forgot something? From swim nappies to sunscreen, Port Denarau Marina has everything you might have left behind, plus a chemist, supermarket and bakery. In case of lost luggage, there are various stores selling resort wear.
Car seats Concerned about airport and hotel transfers? Car seats for babies and kids are not compulsory by law in Fiji, so your options are to bring your own or request and confirm if your transfer company provides them.
Babes and bottles Take formula with you, and buy bottled water from your hotel or a supermarket (fresh milk is not available – UHT milk only). Not every room will have a microwave or kettle, so carry a travel kettle if necessary. Bring sterilising tablets with you for cleaning.
Drinking water Tap water in Nadi is treated but can become contaminated after a storm. Some resorts have water filtration or desalination plant systems, while bottled water is plentiful and can easily be purchased.
Families with special needs Many of the bigger chain resorts have wheelchair-accessible grounds and bigger ground-floor rooms, some with beach wheelchairs available for guests (confirm before booking).
The writer travelled as a guest of Tourism Fiji. See fiji.travel