Fabulous Fiji: Get Your Ticket to Paradise

June 9, 2023 Vanessa Dewson

Since Fiji Airways began two direct flights a week from Vancouver in November 2022, visiting paradise has become much easier for Canadians. In 2023, they will be adding an A350 to their fleet which allows for an additional 60 seats and are hoping to add another weekly flight by the end of the year. 

Whenever I heard the name Fiji, images of a tropical paradise popped into my head. A dream destination I finally got a chance to visit firsthand to attend the Fijian Tourism Expo in May 2023. When I stepped up to the Fiji Airways check-in agent at the Vancouver Airport, she greeted me with “Bula!”, the Fijian word for “Hello”. I would hear it again as I boarded the plane and everywhere I went after I landed – always accompanied with a smile and sometimes even a song when arriving at a resort. It quickly became part of my lexicon as I hopped around this island nation and discovered why they say this is the place where happiness comes naturally.

A Happy Place

While many think that living in a tropical paradise is reason enough to be happy, having the chance to visit a small village on the northern island of Taveuni on a day when the children happened to be on a school break, I could tell that a strong sense of community and family are at the core of the warmth and welcoming spirit that lives in every Fijian. Taveuni is also home to beautiful waterfalls, a natural waterslide, incredible coral reefs and a site that marks where the date line crosses the island. If you ever wanted to jump back and forth in time, this is the place to do it! 

Where to Stay

Fiji has no shortage of beautiful and unique places to stay. Whether you are on a honeymoon,  travelling as a family or looking for a quick stopover on your way to Australia or New Zealand, there is something for every taste and budget. On the main island of Viti Levu, you’ll find many big name hotels. For golfers, the Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort in Denarau Port is across from one of only three courses in the country. Want something on a secluded island only an hour away by catamaran? Try Musket Cove where the water is so warm and calm you’ll feel the stress of life slip right off as you swim or paddle board around the cove when the tide is high. When it’s low, staff can take guests by boat to a sandbar for some snorkelling. If you want to really go off the beaten path, take a small plane to Taveuni or Savusavu on Vanua Levu. On the island of Taveuni, a great place to stay is Tides Reach Resort, minutes from the small island airport and with beautifully appointed oceanfront villas. There are only four, two one-bedroom suites and two with additional bedrooms. There are only four, one bedroom suites and two with additional bedrooms, perfect for couples or a family wanting something a little more intimate and personal. On Vanua Levu, try Savasi Island Resort where you can stay in some very unique accommodations from a cliff top villa with infinity pools overlooking the ocean or an old sailing ship, now up on dry land with several rooms. Perfect for a multi-generational family trip with zero worry about seasickness. 

Things to Do on Vanua Levu

From the lodge, you can go paddle boarding or kayaking, dine in a cave next to a waterfall or sign up for an excursion to paddle down a tidal river that takes you to a salt lake. The rising tide means you don’t have to break a sweat. We were the only ones on the river and on the lake. Vanua Levu is also home to the largest bay in the South Pacific and going on a snorkel trip there with Ocean Ventures Fiji to see their coral restoration program was a definite highlight of my time in Fiji. The water was like glass on the surface and crystal clear below where colourful coral and fish made me wonder if they were even real. Only one other boat made an appearance just as we were heading back but they were at such a distance, it really felt like we were on our own surrounded by pristine nature. Committed to sustainable tourism and conservation, Ocean Ventures is the perfect partner to work with local communities surrounding the Bay to ensure it continues to stay unspoiled. 

When to go

Fiji has tropical weather year round but they have a wet season from November to April. High season is typically from June to August when the Aussies and Kiwis have their colder months. Shoulder season is a great time to go if you want less crowds and less chance of rain.

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