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Stephanie Holmes finds ten reasons to love Fiji’s outer islands.
1. Island Hopping
There are 40 islands in the Yasawa and Mamanuca Islands, so don’t limit yourself to visiting just one. The Yasawa Flyer is a high-speed catamaran operated by Fiji AdventuresDaily departures from Port Denarau to the top of Yasawa Mountain, the northernmost resort. Blue Lagoonand back again, picking up passengers from 27 resorts twice a day. Book your trip in advance or purchase a Bula Pass (5, 7, 10, 12 and 15 day passes available) so you can decide your itinerary at any time.
Head to the far north first and then back again; the initial ferry trip will take a few hours, but after that you’ll have flights of up to an hour between the island and the resort, so you can get around without spending too much time on the ground.
Please note that while the scenery is beautiful, the journey can be quite bumpy, so consider taking anti-seasickness medicine before your trip.
2. Snorkeling
The warm tropical waters, high visibility and rich coral reef systems make this one of the best snorkeling spots in the world. At many resorts, you’ll be surrounded by colorful tropical fish the moment you step off the beach or even put on your fins. Barefoot Manta and Mantaray Island The snorkeling experience at the resort was an eye-opener for me. It felt like being in a giant tropical aquarium, the vibrancy of the fish and corals was amazing. Not to be missed.
3. Learn to dive
Most resorts in the Yasawa Islands have dive schools where you can take courses from the most basic introductory dives to fully certified courses with highly qualified and experienced instructors.
I always wondered what the point of diving was when you could see amazing things just by snorkeling. But after two introductory dives at Barefoot Manta and Mantaray, I was hooked. It is a peaceful and amazing experience.
4. Swim with manta rays
Visit the archipelago between May and October and you’ll have the chance to swim or dive with manta rays. During this season, these graceful giants pass through the channel between Nanuya Balavu and Drawaqa Islands every day, often becoming fascinated by swimmers, giving you the chance to watch them up close as they tumble and feed on plankton beneath you.
You can take a day trip from Denarau Island, or you can stay at Barefoot Manta Island and Manta Ray Island to stay as close to their route as possible.
5. Face to face with a shark
Once you’ve found Dory and Nemo, you can start a more adventurous snorkeling trip. Black and white tip reef sharks can be found around Mua Reef near Kuata and Vaialele Islands, and it’s completely safe to get in the water with them.
30 minutes by boat Barefoot Quarta I spent about 40 minutes at the resort.
The water above the outer reef was full of tropical fish and colorful corals, and before long a few sharks were swimming around below us. I was hesitant at first, but after a while I found myself swimming towards the sharks… As a child of the 80s, I was terrified by sharks. jaw, I never thought I would say something like this.
For the truly brave, Barefoot Kuata offers introductory scuba diving where you’ll likely get up close and personal with a 3-meter bull shark.
Apparently she’s friendly…
6. Mountaineering
The volcano-filled Yasawa Islands also offer great opportunities for hiking – climb to the top for sunrise or sunset to enjoy stunning panoramic views of the surrounding islands and the South Pacific.
Some resorts offer guided hikes, but at Barefoot Kuata I went out on my own before breakfast, and while the walk was tough, with steep uphill climbs and rough terrain, it was a rewarding start. It also allowed me to spend the rest of the day lying in a hammock doing nothing. Which brings me to my next point…
7. Relax
See, even the most active travelers need time to relax. These islands are perfect for rocking gently in a hammock under the shade of a tree, alternating between reading a good book and napping; read, rock, nap, it never ends. Remember to wear sunscreen; even on cloudy days, the sun can be strong, and you don’t want to be like the European tourists who wear a sunburn as a badge of honor.
8. Get-together
After relaxing, how about a late night party? Is it fun? beachcomber i. is your next stop. Located in the Mamanuca Islands, about an hour’s drive from Denarau, it’s a backpacker legend. With huge dormitories, a huge bar and regular events, visitors are encouraged to have a good time at all times. There are four different happy hours throughout the day – the first at noon – and the bar stays open until 2am. After that, guests can bring their own duty-free alcohol to the bar area and have fun for as long as they like.
9. Massage
While $34 for an hour-long full-body massage sounds too good to be true, it’s not — that’s the blackboard price at Beachcomber Island. Other resorts offer similarly great beachfront massages, and the sound of the waves and breeze through the palm trees adds to the experience.
10. Sunset
On my second to last night in Fiji, I sat on a rock at Barefoot Kuata, sipping a Pina Colada and watching the colors of the sky as the sun set. The light changed by the minute, and I took countless photos. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing; it was the most beautiful sunset I had ever seen. What could be more beautiful? The next night—the last night of my trip—I walked out of my room at Beachcomber Island, Fiji Gold in hand, to be stunned by an even more magical sunset. It seems that in Fiji, every day is better than the day before.
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reach there
Travel Home Fiji holidays with Air New Zealand are on sale now. Book flights to Sheraton Resort & Spa, Tokoriki Island, Mamanuca Islands, 7 nights accommodation and transfers from $2435 per person in a double room, or flights to Yasawa Island Resort & Spa, 7 nights accommodation and transfers with three meals per day from $5729 per person.
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