When I say Fiji, what do you picture? If you said gorgeous beaches, turquoise water and islands galore, you’d be exactly right! Luckily for all of us, Fiji is welcoming visitors back to the islands on December 1st. If you are itching to start traveling again post-COVID, I highly recommend you consider a trek to these South Pacific islands, which are perfect for family adventures. My family and I were fortunate to visit Fiji back in April of 2018, and it’s one of those trips that we continually revisit in our minds because it was that amazing.
About Fiji
You can find Fiji in the South Pacific about 1300 miles north of New Zealand. It’s an archipelago made up of 330 islands, of which only 1/3 are inhabited. The islands are full of rugged interiors and sandy coastlines, with coral reefs surrounding them. The Fijian islands are a perfect place for family adventures. In fact, the reality TV show Survivor has been filmed in Fiji several times over the last decade, so you know it’s ripe for adventure.
How to get there
Fiji is not as complicated to get to as you might think. Fiji Airways (code sharing with Air New Zealand and American Airlines) has a daily 11 hour flight from Los Angeles to Nadi Interational Airport on the main Fijian island of Viti Levu on Fiji Airways. Hopefully, as travels picks back up, there will be more flights. From Nadi airport, you can grab a smaller airplane or take a private ferry ride to the other islands.
When to go
The best time to go to Fiji is…whenever you can! Fiji’s temperatures are remarkedly consistent throughout the year, with average highs in the mid-80s and average lows 65-70. However, December – March tends to be the rainy season, so April – November are better months for visiting Fiji. We were there in April and had gorgeous weather.
Where to stay
Six Senses Fiji
There are so many beautiful resorts to consider. I am partial to the Six Senses Fiji, on Malolo Island, because it’s where my family stayed when we visited Fiji. The resort was built to look like a Fijian village, with thatched roof villas and sandy paths throughout the property. We all felt quite at home. In fact, my children took their shoes off at the beginning of the week and didn’t put them back on until we went home! The resort features 24 spacious pool villas plus an inventory of residences with two to five bedrooms. It also has a beautiful spa, three restaurants, a deli and an ice cream shop. The kids kept busy with a variety of adventures through the kids club, such as wood carving and basket weaving. The resort also features world class surfing, snorkeling and diving, along with the most stunning sunsets you’ll ever encounter.
Each evening, we were treated to spectacular sunsets
Other Resorts
Two other properties of interest are just as fabulous. Check out the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Fiji, an award-winning, eco-sensitive boutique resort on the south coast of Vanua Levu Island. Guests in one of the 25 luxurious bures are able to enjoy many recreational, cultural and nature-inspired activities. The resort has two resident marine biologists available to teach your family about the amazing life below the sea.
Kokomo Private Island Fiji is another paradise retreat to explore. Situated on Yaukuve Levu Island, this resort offers one of the best dive and snorkeling locations in the world, along with unspoiled landscape and unscripted luxury.
Christina’s Top Things to do in Fiji
Relax
Sit back, relax and enjoy the Fijian hospitality. Seriously, from the first Bula! (hello!) to the last, you will feel a warm welcome. Fijians pride themselves on spectacular service, and you will see it everywhere.
Snorkeling or diving
Fiji, known as the “soft coral capitol of the world”, has lots of healthy reefs with a huge diversity of fish, sea turtles, manta rays and reef sharks. We were able to swim out to reef directly from the Six Senses beach to see red coral, blue star fish, giant clams and colorful fish.
Deep sea fishing
While not for those prone to motion sickness (🙋🏻♀️), there are wonderful locations to fish not far away from the islands. We fished one day and caught huge Spanish mackerel. The chef at the Six Senses quickly turned our fish into a dinner of sashimi and kokoda, a delish Fijian dish of fish marinated in lime juice and coconut milk.
Island hopping
With over 300 islands, there is no shortage of places to explore via private boat. Sand Island was our favorite stop. Our boat dropped us off for a picnic that the Six Senses staff had set up for us. It was so fun eating all alone in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Definitely a day we won’t forget!
Visit a local village
Many of Fiji’s resorts share an island with local villages, which often welcome visitors with open arms. We visited one on Malolo Island. Here the village elders offered us a drink of fresh kava (a powder made from the dried kava plant, mixed with water). We then toured a local school. My children were amazed to find out they were learning the same things in school as children from Fiji.
Spanish mackerel! 
Delicious Kokoda 
Island hopping 
Eating on Sand Island 
Playing on Sand Island 
Drinking kava 
Meeting school kids from the Malolo Island school
If you have any interest in your own family adventures in Fiji – or anywhere else in the world – reach out to me. I love to talk travel anytime, and would be honored to help you craft a trip you won’t soon forget.
