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Joni Stone   Meet Joni, one of our travel experts for the islands of Fiji.


Born in the Southwest, raised in the Northwest, I have called the South Pacific home for over 30 years. I founded J2 Travels in the late 1990s to share our knowledge with other like minded travelers – remembering always, that the joy is in the journey. I currently live on Maui, I'm endorsed by IATA, and am a member of the Fiji, Tahiti and New Zealand Tourism Boards.


Best Time of Year to Visit Fiji

Explore > Travel Planning Articles > Best Time of Year to Visit Fiji

Date published:
2023-03-11


The beach at Taunovo Bay at sunset
Sunset at Taunovo Bay, on Viti Levu.

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Fiji is a tropical paradise...with weather to match! This luscious country is blessed with natural beauty both on the land and under the water.

Fiji wholesalers--and many of the resorts themselves--are very active when it comes to special offers, discounts, extra inclusions, etc., and so these kinds of deals are changing all the time. Most websites aren't able to keep those specials up to date--there's just too many of them, and they're changing and expiring all the time. At Visual Itineraries, we track the offers from the major wholesalers daily, and our specialists have tools that show them all the available offers and discounts for a particular property instantly.

TRAVEL SPECIAL: First Landing Beach Resort


Hibiscus Package From $1,024 USD
First Landing Beach ResortOur first guests arrived 3,500 years ago and liked the place so much, they stayed.

According to local legend, the first Fijians arrived around 1500 BC, landing on the beach at First Landing.

Today, you too can discover and enjoy this intimate, authentic Fijian resort, ideally located only 25 minutes away from Nadi and 35 minutes from Denarau Island, for your Fiji holiday. The resort has easy access to the nearby Mamanuca Islands, by boat from the resort's new jetty or adjacent Vuda Yacht Marina.
Learn more about First Landing Beach Resort

We have a package to suit every occasion. And if we don't, we can build you a custom wedding package to make your day even more special.

Hibiscus Package Includes:
- Personal Wedding Co-ordinator
- Decorated Ceremony Venue
- Tropical Flower Arrangement
- Fijian Serenaders Minister or Marriage Celebrant
- Commemorative Wedding Certificate
- Bottle of Champagne for Celebration Toast
- Local Wedding License





See our complete list of travel specials for the islands of Fiji.


 

See & compare all resorts in the Fiji islands

If you're trying to decide where to stay in the Mamanucas, Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, the Yasawas, or any of the other islands, we can help! For the 80 resorts there, we've got over 1,000 high-resolution photos, 62 videos, and even some virtual tours to help you find your perfect Fijian bure. Click here to use our Visual Explorer to check out all of them.

You're going to fly into Nadi (pronounced "Nandi"), which is one of the two main cities in Fiji (the other being Suva). Both of these cities are on the main island of Viti Levu. The tourist areas on this island where the hotels are are the Coral Coast, and Denarau Island. Here, you'll mostly find traditional multi-room hotels, which are less expensive in general than the island resorts, and tend not to have separate bures.

The Mamanucas (pronounced "Mamanoothas") are the chain of islands that starts just off the west coast at Nadi, and curves around to the northwest. This is where you'll find many islands resorts with beach bures (including Liku Liku, which has overwater bures). Some of these islands have just one resort on the entire island; some have 2 or 3. These islands are easy (and inexpensive) to get to via a quick boat shuttle from Nadi, and tend to be moderately priced. Great snorkeling and scuba diving is very close by on the Malolo Barrier Reef.

Just north of the Mamanucas is the Yasawa island chain. These islands have just a few resorts, very high-end, with lots of privacy, stunning beaches, and very small numbers of guests per resort. One of my favorites there is Yasawa Island Resort.

Fiji's second largest island is Vanua Levu, which sits to the northeast of Viti Levu. It's far enough away that you'll need to take an island hopper flight out to your resort. It's very popular with scuba divers, and in fact Jacques Cousteau's son Jean-Michel Cousteau has a fantastic resort there, called Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort. The Somosomo Strait, which separates Vanua Levu and the smaller island Taveuni, has many world-class dive sites. Namale and Koro Sun are two of the other more notable resorts on Vanua Levu.

Taveuni is popular with divers for the same reason Vanua Levu is--proximity to the fantastic soft coral gardens and walls in the Somosomo Strait. Here, be sure to check out Laucala, Matangi, and Qamea.

Beqa (pronounced "Benga") Lagoon is well known for shark diving--but, you don't have to be a diver to enjoy this area, as the islands nearby (including Beqa Island itself) are home to some fantastic 5-star resorts, such as Lalati and Royal Davui.

Namale Resort & Spa has this cool list of interesting facts about Fiji.

TRAVEL SPECIAL: Koro Sun Resort


Simple Wedding From $756 USD
Koro Sun ResortRevitalize, refresh, renew. A native experience awaits you at Koro Sun Resort. Born of a nature lover's dream, the resort springs forth from a magnificent coconut plantation, encircled by lavish rainforests, at the edge of a stunning private lagoon. The 150 acres offers guests a welcome respite from the busy world.

Bula! During your time in Fiji, it’s a word you’ll hear often. It’s simple meaning is “Hello,” but as you’ll discover upon your arrival at the Koro Sun Resort, it epitomizes the idyllic values of the islands friendliness, personal connections and life at its most content.
Learn more about Koro Sun Resort

Package Includes:
- Flowers for the bride and groom – traditional
- Flower leis and floral tiara (garland)
- Fijian Serenades (3 people)
- Ceremony by minister





Typical airfares from LAX to Nadi, Fiji




Airfares vary by season, but also day of week, and are definitely affected by holidays. The chart above shows the typical minimum and maximum fares for a economy class ticket from Los Angeles (LAX) to Nadi International Airport, by month. We gathered this data in June 2016 from FareCompare.com.


 
TRAVEL SPECIAL: DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Fiji - Sonaisali Island


DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Fiji - Sonaisali Island 5 nights with air from 3,323 per person
DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Fiji - Sonaisali IslandDoubleTree Resort by Hilton Fiji – Sonaisali Island is surrounded by the warm waters of the South Pacific Ocean, just a three-minute boat ride from the main island of Viti Levu, and a short 25-minute drive from Nadi International Airport. The resort offers a wealth of amenities, beautiful accommodation and an authentic, warm Fijian welcome.

Guests staying at our hotel can choose from an array of activities, including paintballing, horseback riding and pampering spa treatments. Those looking to enjoy the natural beauty of the area while adopting the relaxed island pace of Fiji can swim in the freeform pool on the edge of the beach, or explore the beautiful coral reefs of the nearby Mamanuca Islands.
Learn more about DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Fiji - Sonaisali Island

Prices include: Items selected, government taxes and fees and Pleasant Holidays' service fees. Unless specified otherwise, rates are quoted in USD.






Best time of year to go to Fiji

If you're coming from North America, you should try to set out between late April to early June, or late July through August, due to decreased fares on Air Pacific and Air New Zealand. June to October are the coldest and driest months in Fiji. Cyclone season runs from November to April. Hotels and resorts offer low prices in February and March as most are vacant.





Average temperatures in Fiji

From May through November, Fiji's winter, temperatures are warm during the day--around 80 degrees Fahrenheit--and cooler at night and in the early mornings. During the summer rainy season from November through April, temperatures can reach 95 degrees Fahrenheit with late afternoon showers. Fiji offers a tropical climate with higher humidity and rain during the summer and lower temperatures with dry air in the winter. However, the winds cause climate variances from island to island. Speak with your travel specialist about weather around your resorts.





Beachfront bures at Tokoriki Island Resort
Beachfront bures at Tokoriki Island Resort.

TRAVEL SPECIAL: Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort


Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort 5 nights from 1,600 per person
Outrigger Fiji Beach ResortThis Fiji hotel's signature Talai service, traditional butler service with a South Pacific twist, is available to guest staying in Deluxe Ocean View rooms, suites and bures. Talai service includes complimentary arrival drinks, and champagne with canapés delivered to your room every afternoon. Talai butlers are available to unpack and press your clothing, recommend tours and activities, and schedule restaurant reservations.

This Fiji accommodation is well suited for a family vacation with an impressive tropical swimming pool, supervised children's activities, Meimei nanny service, and kids-eat-free program.
Learn more about Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort

This resort boasts a wonderful large lagoon pool, water activities, fitness center, two floodlit tennis courts, an international standard golf training facility, four restaurants and five bars. Kids’ Club offers a comprehensive activities program whilst you relax at the spectacular Bebe Spa. Guests staying in a bure, suite or deluxe ocean view room will experience the 'Talai' (butler) VIP service which includes welcome drinks, personalized service, and complimentary champagne and canapés daily.





What's a Bure?

A bure is technically the Fijian word for a wood and straw hut. In traditional Fijian culture, there was a vale, which was the "family house", and then separate bures for the men to meet, eat and sleep.

Today, you'll find any kind of detached bungalow referred to as a bure. With the exception of the main island of Viti Levu, you'll find that nearly all resort accommodations in Fiji are bures (the main island has a number of more traditional multi-room hotels).

Bures come in a number of "flavors": beachfront, garden, and even overwater bures (at Likuliku). And Matangi has a romantic Treehouse Bure, as does Koro Sun Resort.


Rainstorm at Taunovo Bay, Fiji

TRAVEL SPECIAL: Koro Sun Resort


UNDERWATER WEDDING FROM $1,743 USD
Koro Sun ResortRevitalize, refresh, renew. A native experience awaits you at Koro Sun Resort. Born of a nature lover's dream, the resort springs forth from a magnificent coconut plantation, encircled by lavish rainforests, at the edge of a stunning private lagoon. The 150 acres offers guests a welcome respite from the busy world.

Bula! During your time in Fiji, it’s a word you’ll hear often. It’s simple meaning is “Hello,” but as you’ll discover upon your arrival at the Koro Sun Resort, it epitomizes the idyllic values of the islands friendliness, personal connections and life at its most content.
Learn more about Koro Sun Resort

Package Includes:
- Charter of Dive boat and staff
- Ceremony by minister
- Single tier wedding cake
- Fresh flower bridal bouquet and groom salusalu
- Marriage License





Storms in Fiji

During the winter rainy season, afternoon showers occur with frequency. In the case of a tropical storm or cyclone, residents and travelers are relocated to safe areas. Tropical storms during the rainy season are not uncommon: the last major cyclones to hit Fiji occurred in December of 2012, March of 2010, December of 2009, December of 2007 and December of 2003.

If it rains while you're there--then it's a perfect time to sit down with the locals and try kava, a traditional drink made from the kava root. It's got a mild calming effect, and there's a little ceremony that goes with each sip you take--the locals will be sure to teach you. It tastes a bit like dirty water, with a bit of a sparkling edge to it...but it's an experience you really should try while you're there.

A little inclement weather might encourage you to forgo a snorkel trip and experience a Lovo: it's a traditional Fijian feast, a bit like the Hawaiian luau, complete with a pig roasted in an underground oven, wrapped in banana leaves. Often this will be combined with the Meke, which is a traditional story-telling dance performance, with an orchestra performing on percussion instruments.


 

 

Water temperature, SCUBA diving in Fiji

Fiji has warm water temperatures year-round although thin wetsuits are recommended for deeper dives. In the northern islands of Vanua Levu and Taveuni, the rainy season (November through April) has a much greater effect and if you really want to dive that area, you'd be advised to stick to the dry season. In the Mamanucas, Beqa, and on Viti Levu it's not nearly as much of a concern, and diving and weather in general is pretty nice all year round.

Popular dive areas:

  • the Black Forest--ancient black coral trees, diverse assortment of fish and marine life, near Wananavu Beach Resort
  • near Taveuni you'll find The Ledge, The Great White Wall, Jerry's Jelly, and Annie's Bommie; nearby resorts include Qamea, Laucala, Matangi, Taveuni Palms, Paradise Taveuni, Maravu, and Taveuni Island Resort
  • the Great Astrolabe Reef is near Kadavu Island, and this is considered to be the largest living organism in Fiji, with tons of varieties of hard and soft corals and diverse marine life; it's about 40 miles from the major resorts at Beqa Lagoon
  • Naiqoro Passage has both a wide variety of coral plus schools of sharks and barracuda
  • Beqa Lagoon, near Beqa Lagoon Resort, Lalati, Royal Davui, and Shangri La, is known for shark encounters as well as brightly colored coral, and is considered one of the best lagoons for diving in the South Pacific
  • in the Mamanucas, you'll find gorgeous corals, some sharks, and plenty of colorful fish and marine life, especially around the Malolo Barrier Reef; popular sites include Supermarket, Salamander shipwreck, Plantation Pinnacles, and Magic Island; there are many resorts in the Mamanucas to choose from
Wherever you dive in Fiji, I'll bet you'll be impressed with the diversity and density of undersea life. While the Somosomo Strait gets a lot of attention for the soft corals and wall dives, and Beqa Lagoon gets a lot of attention for its sharks, there's tons to see on the Malolo Barrier Reef, next to the Mamanuca islands--and it's mostly at shallow depths...great for newer scuba divers and snorkelers.

TRAVEL SPECIAL: Musket Cove Resort


"Island Dreams" Wedding Package from $1,734 USD
Musket Cove ResortMusket Cove reflects the rustic style and relaxed spirit of Fiji, with spacious, open-plan design. Arriving guests find a secluded and uncrowded island hideaway that captures the essence of Fiji. Tucked among coconut palms and tropical gardens or along our lagoon and beachfront, all accommodation offers a rich sense of privacy and tranquility.

Upon arrival, guests are enveloped into the islands spacious surroundings, with 400 acres of tropical gardens, secluded walking trails and palm fringed beaches to explore.
Learn more about Musket Cove Resort

$1,734 USD ~ 20 to 55 guests | $2,178 USD ~ 55 to 100 guests. Select a catering package or design your own.

Celebrate your love for each other with this complete package. Designed with everything you’ll require for your perfect Fiji Island dream wedding.

Package Includes:
- Guided visit to mainland registry office
- Your personal wedding concierge
- Bottle of premium sparkling wine & exotic tropical fruit platter on arrival
- Upgraded WIFI access for Bride & Groom
- Romantic turndown in bure on wedding night
- Island Dreams wedding arch – includes either Island Dreams, Fiji & Forever
- Tropical bridal bouquet
- Boutonniere for the groom
- Ceremony by minister or celebrant
- Traditional Fijian warrior escort for the bride
- Ceremonial table for signing the certificate decorated in palm leaves & tropical flowers
- Choice of venue for ceremony – chapel, beach, island
- Set with café chairs & tropical flowers
- Island serenaders or choir to serenade before and after ceremony
- Handmade Tapa design marriage certificate
- Sea & Sand theme table settings (Ask about different themes (extra cost))
- Pampering couples’ massage at Makare Wellness Spa
- Romantic turndown in bure on wedding night





Flower in lily pond, Taunovo Bay, Fiji



How we work with you to plan the perfect trip:

  • We'll talk with you to find out what you're looking for, what you like/don't like, etc.
  • We'll use our first-hand knowledge of the destination to pick out a handful of resorts we think you'd like
  • We'll create a custom mini website for you, with photos, videos, maps, etc. of the resorts we are recommending
  • We'll follow up with you to help you make your decision
  • We'll go to work with our suppliers to get you the best deal available on what you've decided on.


 

Map of all Resorts in Fiji

 
Michael  

About the author, Michael Cottam



Founder of Visual Itineraries, Michael lives in Bend, Oregon. He's an avid traveler, scuba diver, photographer, and a private pilot, and also the founder of Bright Yonder. He's been a Rotarian for 20 years, currently on the board of the Greater Bend Rotary Club. Follow Michael on LinkedIn, Pinterest and Twitter.

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