Destination overview

The heart of the South Pacific, Fiji is blessed with 333 tropical islands and is known as the ‘soft coral capital of the world’. It is also home to the Great Astrolabe Reef which is a network of brilliant coral reefs that surround all the islands and atolls. The magnificent clear waters are filled with amazing coral and fish and the beaches are shaded by palms and fringed with forest. You can be as adventurous as you want, or you can just spend your time in the water or lazing next to it.

Famous for its soft coral diving, white sandy beaches and pristine natural environment, Fiji is a leader in eco-tourism. With around 1,000 species of fish and several hundred types of coral and sponges, Fiji offers a unique diving experience. If you feel like going beyond the beautiful reef dives, you can venture into reef passages and come face to face with grey reef sharks, silvertips, hammerheads and white tips. If you’d like to get to know them a bit better and at closer range, expect an adrenalin rush from what is known as ‘one of the best shark dives in the world’ as you dive with the sharks observing experienced Fijian divers carry out the famous shark feeding ritual.

If you’re looking for an amazing experience at a slightly slower pace, you can swim with the giant manta rays. Between May and October these elegant creatures bless the waters off Manta Ray Island with a visit. One of the largest fish in the ocean, some are as big as 6.5metres. Fiji is also home to five species of turtles, the most famous being the Hawksbill Turtle, which is now a protected species. Fiji’s moderate water temperature makes for year-round diving and the visibility is a photographer’s dream. With over 4,000 square miles of coral reef, the Fiji Islands offer divers unparalleled marine bio-diversity.

Fiji is packed with adventure activities to thrill and inspire you. Whether you want a dose of adrenalin or something more relaxing, you’ll find plenty of options. Not surprisingly, in a country surrounded by pristine, warm waters, there are lots of water-based activities to choose from. If you’re after something action-packed, try a thrilling jet boat ride up the Nadi river inlet or along the Denarau beachfront. Or join a jet ski safari and be led on a fun, adventurous trip offshore by experienced guides around the Mamanucas.

You could join a white water rafting trip through lush rainforests in the Pacific Harbour or venture into the Sawailau Caves on a boat and experience the ancient limestone. Fiji also has great spots for scuba diving, reef snorkelling and windsurfing. There’s almost no limit to what you can do if you love being out on the water.

But if you’re keen to stay on dry land, Fiji offers breathtaking hikes through its lush, tropical forests. It has a range of National Parks offering everything from rainforest-covered trails to sand dunes and waterfalls.

In Fiji you can enjoy exotic cocktails and delectable fresh seafood, stunning sunsets, warm breezes and even warmer people. Mingle with the locals and dine in an air-conditioned restaurant after shopping all day. The markets in Suva are fantastic for local crafts, carved tanoa, Fijian combs and t-shirts, woven baskets and mats, animal wood carvings, war clubs, ‘cannibal forks’, pottery, masi (tapa cloth) and the one-size-fits-all sulu. The food is as multi-ethnic as its population has become.

Fijians, Indians, Chinese, Polynesian islanders and ‘fruit salad’, what the Fijians call those of mixed race. Make sure you try Kokoda - fresh fish marinated in lime juice and served in a coconut, Palusami - meat wrapped in taro, Kuita – young octopus, and a delicious Indian curry. Spend the night at a Magiti (Fijian feast) and a Lovo, where the food is wrapped in banana leaves, placed on heated rocks in a hole in the ground and then covered with earth. Chicken, seafood, meat - even a whole suckling pig - emerge delicious and tender some hours later.

Fiji is widely known as the happiest place on earth. The people are warm and welcoming and are genuinely delighted to have visitors in their country. A highly multi-cultural society, the main ethnicities are native Fijians, who make up 57 per cent of the population, and Indo-Fijians, who make up 37 per cent. The result is a dynamic mix of laidback Melanesian lifestyle and Indian trading culture.

Indigenous Fijians still maintain their traditional culture, but Christianity has grown to play an increasingly important role in daily life. Christianity is the most-practised religion in Fiji, with 53 per cent identifying with a Christian denomination. Due to Fiji’s large Indo-Fijian community about 34 per cent are Hindu, and Islam is practised by about 7 per cent of people.

In rural Fiji, traditional village life is still common in many areas. Villages often hold conservative values, the principles of interdependent living are strong and the traditional hierarchical structure - with a Chief at the top - remains. In the cities, however, the culture is more modern, like you’d find in many of the world’s big cities.

Sport is a major part of Fijian culture, and rugby is followed with an almost religious zeal. Traditional Fijian arts, dance and music also remain an important part of life in many villages, and are often a big tourist attraction.

Taking a cruise is a great way to see more of Fiji. Part of what makes Fiji unique is its many groups of islands, each with its own culture, identity and attractions and cruising is one of the best ways to get around them.

The Lau group of islands in Fiji’s far east offer a serenely untouched vista of exotic bays and safe harbours where locals live as they did before Fiji was discovered by Europeans. You’ll need special permission to visit this group, but if you do, you’ll be treated to a unique view of Fijian culture.

For a taste of what life was like in Fiji’s colonial days, cruise around Ovalau Island and visit Levuka, the country’s first capital. Nearby, the islands of Gau, Batiki and Nairai are virtually untouched, consisting mainly of villages. To experience Fiji’s truly pristine environment, cruising through Kadavu is a must. The fourth-largest island in the group, Kadavu contains a mixture of volcanic peaks and magnificent rainforests which sweep down to the water’s edge.

If you’re looking for high-rises, frenetic nightlife and huge air-conditioned shopping malls, Fiji isn’t for you. It is, however, an idyllic place to go on holiday - the sort you’ll remember for the rest of your life.