Fiji Travel Guide

Other Things to See and Do

1. Explore Bouma National Heritage Park

This national park, located on the north of Taveuni Island, is among the top attractions in the country. The park is covered in waterfalls plunging into deep pools perfect for swimming, and coastal forest trails ideal for hiking. The picturesque Tavoro Waterfalls are near the visitor center but if you want to do more strenuous trekking, do the Vidawa Rainforest Trail. It’s a half-day guided hike (you must take a tour) that ends at the waterfalls. It’s led by shamans who give you a natural history of the park. It’s around 130 FJD for the tour, but if you just want to visit the park, there’s a 15 FJD entrance fee.

2. Visit Koroyanitu National Heritage Park

This is another ideal place for hiking. You can climb up Castle Rock for a bird’s eye view over the Mamanucas and Yasawa Islands (it’s a challenging four-hour hike one-way). There’s also a two-hour hike that takes you past a giant waterfall and to the Navuratu village. There are six eco-friendly villages inside the park and the locals maintain the trails and the landscape (you can visit the villages). Admission to the park is 25 FJD.

3. Go whitewater rafting

For an adrenaline-packed day, go white-water rafting on the Upper Navua River. It winds through the highlands of Viti Levu, offering waterfalls and all grades of rapids that are perfect for beginners and seasoned pros. Many people combine whitewater rafting with kayaking along the rivers and mangroves. This trip is expensive at around 480 FJD per person, but it makes for a fun day trip.

4. Visit the old capital of Levuka

Fiji’s original capital, Levuka (founded in 1820), is on the island of Ovalau. The small town, home to just 1,100 people, has largely escaped the influx of tourism and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its preservation as a late colonial Pacific port town. There’s a small community museum, but other than that, there’s not much to do other than enjoy the quiet atmosphere, the architecture, and the surrounding scenic mountains.

5. Go surfing

Fiji offers some of the world’s best surfing with countless famous sites like Cloudbreak and Lighthouse Rights. The breaks here aren’t ideal for beginners, but there are calmer waters at Sigatoka. Head to the Mamanuca islands to try out windsurfing and kitesurfing as a bonus. Expect to pay about 200 FJD for a full day of surf lessons.

6. Visit the Garden of the Sleeping Giant

Originally the garden of actor Raymond Burr (he starred in the Tv shows Perry Mason and Ironside in the 1950s-70s), the Sleeping Giant covers over 50 acres of land and is filled with native orchids, exotic plants, and tropical flowers. A jungle walk takes you past a huge lily pond and through native forest. Admission is 18 FJD.

7. Try kava

Kava, which is made from a root with the same name, is the drink of choice in Fiji. It causes a numbing sensation on the lips and mouth and relaxes you. Make sure you go “high tide” and get the big cup! One of the best ways to experience kava is to participate in a village ceremony (it involves sitting on the floor and following some rituals as you drink). Some tours include this, but they’re usually full-day village tours starting from about 370 FJD. If you’re on a budget, it’s best to just find some locals and drink with them!

8. Hike Colo-i-Suva Forest Park

This rainforest park is brimming with exotic birds and tropical plants. There are about 7 kilometers (4 miles) of hiking trails leading to several natural pools on Waisila Creek that make refreshing swimming holes. It’s a small park, but it makes for a quiet retreat from Suva. Admission is 10 FJD per person.

9. Visit Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple

This is the largest Hindu temple in the Pacific and can be found at the base of Main Street in Nadi. You’ll see traditional Dravidian architecture here, with wooden carvings of deities from India as well as incredibly colorful ceiling paintings. Be sure to cover your knees and shoulders and leave your shoes at the door.

Fiji Travel Costs

Hostel prices – A bed in a 4-6-bed dorm costs around 35-55 FJD per night. For a room with eight beds or more (some dorms have 20-30 beds), expect to pay 15-20 FJD. A private room costs 85-125 FJD per night. Free Wi-Fi is common but not offered everywhere. Only some hostels have self-catering facilities.

Wild camping is frowned upon, though if you’re traveling with a tent some hostels offer space to pitch a tent at a discount.

Budget hotel prices – Budget hotels start at 135 FJD per night. Expect basic amenities like free Wi-Fi and TV.

There are lots of Airbnb options around Fiji. A private room is about 48-85 FJD per night while a full apartment averages 170-290 FJD per night.

Food – Fijian cuisine offers a healthy mix of seasonal produce, seafood, and rice. Roti and curry are popular dishes, and tubers (yams, cassava) and coconuts form the basis of many traditional dishes. Breakfast has strong Western influences, composed of cereal, tea/coffee, and eggs. Soups are common for lunch while heartier stews are a go-to dinner choice. Be sure to try fish suruwa (fish curry) and kokoda (marinated raw fish marinated with tomatoes and chilies).

There are lots of roadside food stands on the main roads and in the more populated areas. These feature local Fijian curries and stews for under 5 FJD. In just about any town, you’ll be able to get big plates of dhal, roti, and chutney for less than 10 FJD.

Eating out at a mid-range restaurant costs about 40-55 FJD, including a drink. On most islands, your accommodation includes three meals per day, so you won’t get much choice, especially on islands that only have a resort on them.

Buffets are also popular options and cost about 65-85 FJD for dinner (less for breakfast). Domestic beer at the bar costs around 6.50 FJD.

Since Fiji is a popular vacation spot, there are lots of high-end dining options (usually in resorts or hotels). Four-course meals cost about 200 FJD, or 300 FJD with wine. Individual plates cost about 65-80 FJD for seafood like lobster or crab.

If you plan on cooking your own meals, a week’s worth of groceries costs between 65-110 FJD. Just keep in mind that many markets won’t let you buy items like tomatoes or onions separately, you’ll have to purchase them in a bundle. It’s only worth buying groceries on the larger islands where food isn’t included in your accommodation.

Activities – Most museums and attractions cost 10-20 FJD. Diving trips cost 295 FJD while white-water rafting is around 480 FJD for a day trip. Surf lessons cost around 200 FJD. Village tours (including kava ceremonies) cost around 370 FJD.

Backpacking Fiji Suggested Budgets

If you’re backpacking Fiji, expect to spend about 105 FJD per day. This budget covers a hostel dorm, using public transportation to get around, cooking your meals and eating some street food, limiting your drinking, and doing mostly free and cheap activities like hiking and swimming.

A mid-range budget of about 220 FJD per day covers staying in a private Airbnb room, eating out for most of your meals, enjoying a few drinks, taking the occasional taxi to get around, and doing some paid activities like diving and visiting museums.

On a “luxury” budget of about 470 FJD or more per day, you can stay in a hotel, eat out for all your meals, drink more, island-hop, rent a car, and do whatever tours and activities you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You should expect about a 10-20% price increase on hotel accommodations during peak season (December/January and July). If you’re traveling away from the main islands, like into the Yasawa Islands, you can expect to pay nearly double these prices.

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages – some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in FJD.