Fiji
Australia & South Pacific Destinations:
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Fiji is like Mother Nature’s gift to newlyweds. Over 300 islands—most of them uninhabited—are sprinkled with deserted beaches, lush horticulture, and unexplored coral reefs.
- Bures: The traditional thatched-roof hut (pronounced "boo-ray") is the dwelling of choice for many resorts’ private honeymoon accommodations. Perfect for pretending you’re castaways.
- Friendly Fijians: Expect to be greeted with the traditional "Bula!" wherever you go.
- Underwater paradise: Fiji’s coral reefs are unspoiled, healthy, and colorful. Once you get a look at what’s in the water (including Fiji’s famous bright-blue starfish), you won’t want to get out.
- Must Buys: Sulus, the colorful lengths of fabric that both men and women wear wrapped in various creative ways; pure Fiji coconut lotions are creamy and very fragrant; tanoa bowls, from which the regional beverage, kava, is served; woven mats and fabrics from local villages.
WHEN TO GO
Fiji’s dry season runs from May to October, which coincides nicely with most wedding dates. Temperatures tend to be a bit cooler during these months, too. Fiji has no off-season, however, so don’t wait for rates to drop.
Dining in Fiji is a bit different than it is in other honeymoon spots, because you’ll most likely be taking most of your meals at your resort. Luckily, the resort restaurants are among the country’s best. Since almost every traveler to Fiji passes through Suva and Nadi, we’ve included some good restaurants in those cities, too.
TIKO’S FLOATING RESTAURANT
Stinson Parade at Sukuna Park, Suva
Tel: 679-331-3626
Some travelers might dismiss Tiko’s as being too touristy, but we think it’s a great deal of fun. The restaurant is actually situated inside of a small ship retired by the Blue Lagoon Cruise line. Atmosphere is what it’s all about here, although the seafood dishes are tasty, too. (Note: Diners prone to seasickness should come prepared for a rocky evening—the boat bobs up and down as other ships pass.)
OLD MILL COTTAGE
47-49 Carnavon St., Suva
Tel: 679-331-2134
This is a great place to grab a lunch of homemade Indian, Fijian, and European dishes in a simple, comfy setting. It’s a favorite of diplomats and civil servants from the nearby U.S. embassy and Fijian government buildings who fill up on curry dishes and local specialties like young octopus in coconutmilk dressing during the weekdays.
THE WAKAYA CLUB
Tel: 679-3448-128
wakaya.com
The Wakaya Club is one of Fiji’s finest resorts—which is saying quite a lot, as this country is home to a disproportionate number of the world’s best resorts. The restaurant mirrors Wakaya’s general excellence, with fresh fish caught off the island, and fruits and vegetables plucked from the resort’s gardens. A visiting-chef program lures a steady stream of gourmet luminaries like Charlie Trotter and Nobu Matsuhisa to Wakaya’s kitchen.
TURTLE ISLAND
Tel: 800-255-4347
turtlefiji.com
Yet another glamorous resort with another renowned kitchen, Turtle Island cultivates a four-acre organic vegetable garden, bakes fresh bread daily, and carefully selects wines for their extensive 3,000-bottle cellar. Menus may feature an exotic Mongolian barbecue one day, and a more familiar roast-pork entrée the next.
CHEFS THE RESTAURANT
Tel: 679-670-3131
jacksfiji.com
Sangayam Road, Nadi
Chefs is arguably Fiji’s best stand-alone restaurant. The elegant tropical decor, the top-notch service, and the ambitious menu are all more of what you might expect to find in a bustling Australian city, as opposed to small, touristy Nadi. Dishes range from the familiar (you can get a good hamburger here) to the much-better regional choices like freshwater clam in wild-banana cream-and-coconut sauce.
JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAU FIJI ISLANDS RESORT
Savusavu, Vanua Levu
Tel: 800-246-3454
fijiresort.com
As you might expect from the son of the celebrated underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau, Jean-Michel’s resort offers plenty of top-notch diving and snorkeling opportunities. The resort is also very eco-friendly, and works with the locals on a number of preservation projects. Just don’t confuse social responsibility with asceticism. Jean Michael’s offers plenty of pampering and creature comforts: Honeymooners will love the spa treatments, romantic dinners at the end of the pier, and a private island that can be all yours for the day. We suggest you shack up in the Honeymoon Point Reef Bure—it has an outdoor spa tub and is completely isolated.
TOKORIKI ISLAND RESORT
Tel: 679-672-5926
tokoriki.com
Start your Fijian honeymoon holding hands in a helicopter high above the islands. Tokoriki Island is a 15-minute flight from Nadi, and it’s as stunning from above as it is on the ground. Thirty-four guest bures and villas are spread out over 160 acres, so privacy is easy to come by at Tokoriki. The bures are newly renovated, and each one comes with its own outdoor shower. Swim in the infinity-edge pool, get a coconut rub from the spa, or take one of the resort’s sailboats for a fling.
YASAWA ISLAND RESORT
Tel: 679-672-2266
yasawa.com
Arguably Fiji’s poshest resort, Yasawa is situated on its own private island. Of the 18 bures scattered along the beach, we think that the Lomalagi Bure, which the resort describes as "supreme," is perfect for honeymooners, as it is set farthest apart from the others. Each bure comes with a beach hut and a hammock—could a couple ask for anything more? If you’re feeling active and you can leave the hammock behind, the resort offers tennis courts, a variety of water sports, and a launch to visit the Blue Lagoon caves.
SHERATON FIJI RESORT
Tel: 679-675-0777
sheraton.com
Hey, bures are not for everyone, and if you prefer a traditional resort, the Sheraton is a good option. The resort is located on Denaru Island, which is connected to Nadi by a causeway—making this a convenient spot en route to and from the airport. The Westin Denaru Island Resort and Sheraton Denaru Villas share the island, and guests at the Sheraton can use all of the facilities at all threeresorts. This means a selection of 17 restaurants and bars (a bonus in Fiji, where most visitors take all their meals at one or two restaurants), and the Westin’s full menu of spa services, all of which are yours for the taking. Golfers will find Fiji’s best course here, too.
MATAMANOA ISLAND RESORT
Tel: 679-672-3620
matamanoa.com
Matamanoa Island Resort offers all of the standard Fijian attractions —a beautiful beach, pristine coral reefs, deep green foliage. But it is also distinguished by one policy that makes it particularly attractive for honeymooning couples: It does not allow children under 12. The resort features a long list of activities to choose from, including a visit to the island where Tom Hanks was marooned in Castaway. Other pastimes include cruising in a glass-bottomed boat, sulu-tying demonstrations, and coconut-tree climbing lessons. Both traditional hotel-style rooms and bures are available.
HIDEAWAY RESORT
Tel: 679-650-0177
hideawayfiji.com
Some couples can’t stand to do nothing, and Hideaway is just the place for them. Action adventurers take heart: This is the kind of resort where you’re more likely to find lanes than a swim-up bar at the pool. Hideaway also offers a diving school, a wood-carving center, trips to explore caves, white-water rafting, speedboat rides, waterfall tours, Jet Skisafaris, skydiving, and shark-feeding dives. Whew! When you choose to sleep, you can do so in beachfront villas or bures.
In Fiji, most activities and excursions are arranged through your resort. It's tempting to lie on the beach for your entire vacation, but there are some great experiences outside the resorts that are not to be missed. We have picked some of our favorites.
GET CULTURAL
The Fiji Museum (Tel: 679-331-5944, fijimuseum.org) in Suva on Viti Levu provides a fascinating look at the country's diverse cultural history. Exhibits on ancient ways of life in Fiji, Fijian art, and cool archeological finds (including a cannibal fork) make a trip here worth the visit. Also on Viti Levu, in Nadi, is the Sri Siva Subramaniya temple-the largest Hindu temple in the southern hemisphere. Builders were sent from India to construct the temple in the Dravidian style rarely seen outside of India.
TAKE A BOAT
Whether you want to try your luck at fishing (Fiji's waters provide plenty of game), take a day to sail to other islands, or cruise the rivers for a look at inland villages, plan to spend some time on the water. Virtually all the resorts can arrange any kind of boating excursion for you.
VISIT A VILLAGE
Don't leave Fiji without getting insight into the traditional way of life. On Viti Levu, Fiji's largest island, the Nausori Highlands are home to several remote villages. It is not uncommon for visitors to be invited to join a traditional yaqona (kava-drinking) ceremony. Don't refuse the kava if offered, and don't be alarmed if it makes your mouth numb for a few minutes!
EXPLORE
The islands are full of great places of natural beauty to explore. Colo-i-Suva Forest Park is a rainforest with hidden rope swings and natural swimming holes. For a distinctly non-Fijian-looking landscape, check out the Sigatoka Sand Dunes, a Sahara-like expanse where ancient archeological remains were discovered. In the northern Yasawa Islands, you can swim through the Sawa-i-Lau Caves, where The Blue Lagoon was filmed.
