Unforgettable Fiji
Where happiness comes naturally
Why Kiwis are saying Bula to incredible experiences again.
It’s been almost one year since Fiji’s locals welcomed back Kiwis to their shores with their world-renowned hospitality. This year, Kiwis are once again gearing up for their tropical island escapes - not only for some sun and sea, but for that infectious Fijian happiness we all crave.
Fiji is synonymous with being one of the happiest places on earth, with 333 islands, year-round tropical warmth and just a short 3 – 4-hour flight from Aotearoa, it really is the perfect destination to rejuvenate not only your body but your mind and soul too.
Making Connections
One of the most soul-enriching aspects of being in Fiji is the people. Smiles that light up the whole room, laughter over anything and everything, and a welcoming spirit that permeates everything they do.
There are so many ways to immerse yourself in the local culture in Fiji - go to the markets, eat in local restaurants, shop where the locals do or find a tourist attraction run by locals.
A great activity if you want to see life as it really is, is the Sigatoka River Safari. It’s a jetboat tour through Viti Levu’s longest river - the Sigatoka including a visit to one of the 15 villages the business works with. A portion of the ticket price goes directly back to the local villages to help them with developments like water projects, electrification, telecommunications, installing concrete footpaths, education and health initiatives. Everyone wins.
Discovering Nature
We all know connecting with nature anywhere is one of the best ways to find that deep joy that soothes all the stresses of modern life. But not everyone realises the wild variance in Fiji’s natural charms - it’s not just gorgeous beaches and turquoise waters!
There’s plenty of green to be found - like the lush jungle surrounding the three Tavoro Waterfalls in Bouma National Park on Taveuni Island. A threehour return hike will take you past them all and invigorate your soul while energising your body.
If you’re looking for something a little different, Ecotrax will take you on rail-mounted tandem bikes, called velocipedes, along disused sugar cane railway tracks to a final destination of a white sandy beach, where a picnic awaits. Even better, this picnic is made from fresh produce gathered from local village farms along the way. There are endless ways to enjoy the natural beauty of these gorgeous islands.
Adventure Abounds
Some people imagine the only type of happiness to be found in Fiji is on the beach or by a pool with a cocktail in hand, but there’s plenty for those looking for adventure rather than relaxation. Raise your adrenaline levels by surfing Thunder Reef, with one of the most challenging waves in the world; tackle the life-affirming rapids, deep gorges and crashing waterfalls of the Upper Navua River on a whitewater rafting adventure with Rivers Fiji (or opt for river tubing if you’re looking for something a little gentler).
Whoosh through mountainous terrain and tropical forests on a zipline with Zip Fiji - limestone cave exploration and spectacular 360 degree ocean views come as part of the package, or if you’re wanting undersea fun, you can snorkel with sharks or swim with Manta rays. If your happiness is found in doing things which raise your heartbeat a little, you’ll be spoiled for choice.
Relaxing and Recharging
If all of that sounds far too energetic and all you want is to disconnect, switch off and do as little as possible, far from the dinging of emails and messages, Fiji has you well and truly covered.
On a tiny island rising from the Beqa Lagoon, you can stay at Royal Davui Island Resort an adults-only, barefoot-in-the sand luxurious retreat with only 16 private luxury villas (all with their own plunge pool). Likuliku Lagoon Resort is Fiji’s first overwater villa resort, on Malolo Island - a tranquil adultsonly sanctuary on a sweeping beach bookended by forest-clad headlands, and Yasawa Island Resort and Spa (in the far north of this idyllic island group) has not one, but ten private white-sand, coconut palmdraped beaches.
All have excellent spas as does Kokomo Private Island Resort - their signature treatment being the Kokomo Seashell Massage which utilises the
warmth of silky seashells scented with aromatherapy oils. Nanuku Resort Fiji is a highly awarded tropical oasis on a private 500-acre coastal Fiji estate on Viti Levu – and Six Senses Fiji is the perfect place to stay if you want to forget what the word ‘stress’ even means. People love their personalised wellness programme, which is curated to your specific health and relaxation needs.
Delicious Fare
And if you find your joy through food, happiness will be easy to come by in Fiji - not just from eating but learning to cook too. At Six Senses Fiji you can learn from world-renowned chefs with classes ranging from souffles and macarons, to health-based options.
At Nanuku Resort Fiji you can take a
Fijian Food Safari starting with a trek through mangrove forests to forage and catch crabs, followed by a visit to a market and a farm and finishing up with a lovo feast. At Yasawa Island Resort & Spa you can learn South Pacific cuisine from master chefs, learning traditional cooking methods and using fresh local ingredients.
And if you’re feeling less hands-on there are plenty of options for a private chef to do it all for you - at Vomo Island Resort an executive chef can cook a five-course dinner in your private residence, at Nanuku Resort Fiji a private chef is available at the Grand Residence to create a personalised dinner party in-house for your guests and Fiji’s Private Chef-Cooked Dinners are service who will cook dinner you a traditional Fijian feast wherever you’re staying.
When you create holidays that are far from the everyday, you need a culture that lives and breathes happiness every day.
Whether you’re relaxing under the hands of an expert traditional massage therapist, chatting with locals in a village, lying on a private beach with your book in hand, having adventures with creatures of the deep or exploring nature, you’ll soon discover how happiness comes naturally to you too.