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March 2010

South Pacific Sojourn

Don’t just daydream about tropical beaches, now they’re within everyone’s reach and budget

WORDS SHERIDAN RHODES

Fiji’s islands are a dream escape: a place where you can snooze in a hammock under coconut trees or snorkel to your heart’s content. Before you know it, you’ll have slowed down a notch or two, started hollering “Bula” back at friendly passers-by, and be moving on “Fiji time”.

The islands are made up of a thousand miles of unspoiled white sand beaches, coral gardens and azure lagoons. In total, there are more than 330 islands, many uninhabited. Think soothing guitar melodies, romantic dinners by lantern light, incredible snorkelling and diving, and massages in outdoor bures (huts). So take your watch off, tuck a frangipani behind your ear (right side if you’re married, left if you’re unattached), and submit to the lure of the Pacific.

A good starting point for your Fiji holiday is Denarau Island, connected to Viti Levu (Big Viti) by a causeway. The largest integrated resort in the South Pacific, it offers a range of five-star accommodation, a championship golf course, and an abundance of holiday activities involving the marina and the surrounding tropical waters.

Denarau is home to three Starwood resorts, the slick new Fiji Beach Resort by Hilton and the Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa, all with swaying palm trees, fun clubs for the nippers and fantastic lagoon pools to laze by.

Port Denarau Marina, minutes away from all of Denarau’s resorts, is where you can take an island-hopping day trip, a longer cruise or transfer out to the Mamanuca Islands. As the sun slips into the ocean, many of Denarau’s resorts hold torch-lighting ceremonies where a Fijian warrior ignites traditional torches to the beat of drums. Make sure you book in for the Sofitel’s renowned lovo nights where you can experience traditional dancing and indulge in a Fijian banquet.

The Coral Coast, a two-hour drive from Nadi Airport, wraps around the south-western corner of Viti Levu’s coastline, and is one of the largest fringing coral reefs in the world. It has 80km of beaches, bays, rocky outcrops, mangrove forests and traditional villages. It’s also home to many beachside resorts, ranging from the luxurious Shangri-La Fijian Resort and Spa to the affordable Crusoe’s Retreat with all-bure accommodation.

The Shangri-La Fijian offers a sandy beach on one side and blue lagoon on the other. Set on a private 109-acre island, it’s one of the most popular family resorts in Fiji for Australians, with facilities including the renowned Little Chief’s Club and a Stay and Eat Free Program which allows up to two children per room, aged 12 years and under, to eat free. There are loads of activities such as golf, scuba diving, snorkelling and non-motorised water sports while mum can experience a traditional Fijian Bobo massage in the swish Chi Spa.

The remote Crusoe’s bills itself as “Fiji’s best-kept secret”. It’s a little like staying at a Fijian village (Namaqumaqua Village, where many of the staff live, is next door) but with all the luxuries throw in, including seaside bures, pool, water sports, restaurant and bars all facing the palm-fringed beach.

“Guests love the fact that their children can play with the local children while the adults can walk around the village, take Fijian cooking classes and generally see how everyday life revolves for these friendly Fijians,” Paul Rec, Crusoe’s marketing manager, says.

Venture beyond the resorts to see the remains of a fortified village at the Tavuni Hill Fort at Sigatoka. Sitting atop a 100m ridge, it features remnants of ancient house foundations, a sacrificial stone and even human remains. Cross the road to the Kula Eco Park to see Fijian iguanas, native birds and turtles, or go sand boarding at the Sigatoka Sand Dunes. Alternatively, sign up for the half-day Sigatoka River Safari and travel aboard a custom-built safari jet to visit authentic Fijian villages, take part in a kava ceremony and feast on a traditional Fijian lunch. For FJ$210 (AU$120) per adult and FJ$99 (AU$56) per child (4–15 years).

The Mamanuca Islands west of Nadi boast a string of tropical resorts, local villages and deserted islands. The first to be developed for tourism, the islands are special for many Australian travellers who return year after year. If you’re not staying on the outer islands, be sure to book an island-hopping cruise where you can swim and snorkel in tropical fish-filled waters, visit an island village and experience a different side to Fiji. You can visit the uninhabited Modriki Island on a South Sea Cruises’ day trip for snorkelling and picnics.

Castaway Island is an excellent resort for families and couples alike, and its award-winning dive centre offers escorted dives to world-famous dive sites aboard the resort’s purpose-built dive boat, Sokia. It’s here that Tom Hanks filmed Castaway. The Sundowner Bar meanwhile is arguably the best place in Fiji to enjoy gourmet wood-fired pizzas washed down with an ice-cold beer or pina colada.

Treasure Island is an intimate white coral, sand-fringed atoll with bures no more than a barefoot stroll from the water. Plantation Island Resort is family friendly with cute bures on the sand and affordable hotel-style rooms; while Tokoriki Island Resort is a honeymooners’ favourite.

Musket Cove has something for everyone with ocean-front bures, self-contained villas and private holiday homes, plus Dick’s Place Bar & Bistro where, under a frangipani tree, you can try the kokoda — fish marinated in lemon juice and coconut milk — while being serenaded by the resort’s island string band.

But first, enjoy a drink at the sand-between-the-toes Ratu Nemani Island Bar, known by yachties around the world, where all drinks are priced at FJ$4 (AU$2.30). We’ll drink to that.

Jetstar flies to Fiji from Sydney, with connecting flights from across Australia; JetSaver Light fares from AU$229. Book now at Jetstar.com

FIND IT

For the guaranteed lowest price for your entire holiday, book through our Jetstar Holidays Team at Jetstar.com/holidays

Fiji Beach Resort and Spa Managed by Hilton
Denarau Island, tel: +679 675 6800

Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa Denarau Island, tel: 1300 65 65 65

Port Denarau Marina
Denarau Island, tel: +679 6750 600

Shangri-La Fijian Resort and Spa
Coral Coast, tel: +679 652 0155

Crusoe’s Retreat
Coral Coast, tel: +679 6500 185

Tavuni Hill Fort
Naroro Sigatoka, Coral Coast, tel: +679 6520 818

Kula Eco Park
Coral Coast, tel: +679 6500 505

Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park
Queens Road, Cuvu, Coral Coast

Sigatoka River Safari
Coral Coast, tel: 0800 6501 721

South Sea Cruises
Mamanuca Islands, tel: +679 675 0500

Castaway Island Fiji
Mamanuca Islands, tel: +679 666 1233

Treasure Island
Mamanuca Islands, tel: +679 672 7002

Plantation Island Resort
Mamanuca Islands, tel: +679 6669 333

Tokoriki Island Resort
Mamanuca Islands, tel: +679 6725 926

Musket Cove Island Resort
Malolo Lai Lai Island, Mamanuca Islands, tel: +679 666 2215

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