Oceania
Fiji
Island-hopping, reef snorkelling and kava with the village chief, one boat stop at a time.
Most backpackers fly into Nadi and island-hop through the Mamanuca and Yasawa islands on a hop-on, hop-off boat pass. Beds come in simple beachfront resorts with meals included, and the days are for snorkelling, swimming with manta rays and doing very little.
Fiji is not cheap once you are on the islands, but the main island of Viti Levu is easier on the wallet. Travel its Coral Coast by local bus, or fly to Taveuni for waterfalls and some of the best soft coral diving in the world.
Good to know
- Time zone
- GMT+12
- Plugs
- Type I, 240V
- Emergency numbers
- 911 emergency, 917 police
- Tap water
- Drink bottled or filtered
- Traffic drives on the
- Left
- Tipping
- Not expected, but many resorts have a staff Christmas fund box if you want to give something.
- SIM cards
- Vodafone and Digicel sell tourist SIMs at Nadi airport for around 30–50 Fijian dollars with plenty of data, though signal on the outer islands is patchy.
When to go to Fiji
Best months to go: May to October. Pick a month to see what it’s like.
Bars show rainfall; numbers are the average daytime high. Amber marks the best months to go.
SeptemberBest time to go
Warm and dry. School holidays bring another busy spell late in the month.
- Daytime high
- 29°C
- Rainfall
- 80 mm
- Crowds
- Busy
| Month | Daytime high | Rainfall | Crowds | Best time to go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°C | 300 mm | Busy | No |
| February | 31°C | 300 mm | Quiet | No |
| March | 31°C | 330 mm | Quiet | No |
| April | 30°C | 160 mm | Busy | No |
| May | 29°C | 80 mm | Quiet | Yes |
| June | 28°C | 60 mm | Busy | Yes |
| July | 28°C | 45 mm | Peak season | Yes |
| August | 28°C | 60 mm | Peak season | Yes |
| September | 29°C | 80 mm | Busy | Yes |
| October | 29°C | 90 mm | Busy | Yes |
| November | 30°C | 140 mm | Quiet | No |
| December | 31°C | 180 mm | Peak season | No |
What Fiji costs
Work out a budget for your trip, then check what everyday things cost.
$1,120for 14 days, about $80 a day (FJD 2,520 in total)
| Cost | Per day | For the trip | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed | $30 | $420 | |
| Food and drink | $18 | $252 | |
| Getting around | $15 | $210 | |
| Things to do | $12 | $168 | |
| Everything else | $5 | $70 |
Per person, in US dollars. Flights and insurance not included.
What things cost
- Curry and roti at a café in NadiFJD 12, about $5.33
- Kokoda in a restaurantFJD 25, about $11
- Bottle of Fiji Bitter in a barFJD 8, about $3.56
- Hostel dorm bed in NadiFJD 35, about $16
- Express bus from Nadi to SuvaFJD 22, about $9.78
- Bundle of kava root for a sevusevuFJD 20, about $8.89
Routes through Fiji
Where to go and how long to stay, for the time you’ve got.
14 nights, 6 stops
The backpacker classic: a hop-on, hop-off boat pass north through the Mamanuca and Yasawa islands and back to Nadi.
Nadi
2 nights
Get over the flight, visit the Sri Siva Subramaniya temple and buy kava at the market.
Mana Island
2 nights
Snorkel straight off the beach in the Mamanucas.
Waya Island
2 nights
Climb the rocky peaks for views over the Yasawa chain.
Naviti Island
3 nights
Swim with manta rays from May to October and snorkel the reefs.
Nacula Island
4 nights
White sand, the Blue Lagoon and a boat trip to the Sawa-i-Lau caves.
Nadi
1 night
Back on the boat to the mainland, ready for your flight.
Getting around
Ferry
$250–400 for a hop-on, hop-off pass
The Yasawa Flyer runs daily from Port Denarau through the Mamanucas and Yasawas. Buy a Bula Pass for the number of days you need.
Bus
Around $10 from Nadi to Suva
Local and express buses circle Viti Levu. They are cheap, open-sided and stop anywhere you wave them down.
Flight
$80–200 one way
Fiji Link flies small planes from Nadi and Suva to Taveuni and Savusavu.
Private car
$5–15 for most taxi rides around Nadi
Taxis are cheap. Agree the fare first or check the meter is on.
What to eat and drink
Kokoda
Raw fish marinated in lime and coconut milk with chilli and onion.
FJD 25, about $11
Lovo
A feast of meat, fish and root vegetables cooked in an earth oven, often at village visits.
FJD 40, about $18
Palusami
Taro leaves wrapped around coconut cream and onion, baked until soft.
FJD 12, about $5.33
Curry and roti
Fiji-Indian curries with flatbread, the cheapest filling meal in Nadi and Suva.
FJD 12, about $5.33
Rourou
Taro leaves stewed in coconut milk, served as a side with fish.
FJD 10, about $4.44
Kava
A muddy, peppery drink from the yaqona root, shared from a coconut shell. It numbs your mouth.
FJD 5, about $2.22
Say it like a local
A few words go a long way. Tap “Hear it” to listen, where your browser can.
Hello
Bula
Say it like: mboo-lah
Thank you
Vinaka
Say it like: vee-nah-kah
Thank you very much
Vinaka vakalevu
Say it like: vee-nah-kah vah-kah-leh-voo
Please
Kerekere
Say it like: keh-reh-keh-reh
How are you?
Vakacava tiko?
Say it like: vah-kah-thah-vah tee-koh
Yes
Io
Say it like: ee-oh
No
Sega
Say it like: seng-ah
Goodbye
Moce
Say it like: moh-theh
Questions travellers ask
How do I do the Yasawas on a budget?
Buy a Bula Pass for the Yasawa Flyer and stay in backpacker resorts, where a dorm bed with three meals costs around 120–180 Fijian dollars a night. Travelling in May, June or October is cheaper than the July peak.
What should I know before visiting a village?
Bring a bundle of kava root as a sevusevu gift for the chief, and cover your shoulders and knees with a sulu or sarong. Take your hat off and do not touch anyone’s head.
Can I get cash on the islands?
There are no ATMs in the Yasawas or Mamanucas, and card payments often carry a fee. Take out enough Fijian dollars in Nadi before you leave.
Should I worry about cyclone season?
Cyclones can hit from November to April, most often from January to March. Get travel insurance, keep your plans flexible and follow local warnings.
Is kava safe to drink?
Yes, in moderation. It makes you relaxed and sleepy rather than drunk. Clap once before you take the bowl, say bula, drink it in one go and clap three times after.