©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd F i j i Why Go? Viti Levu ..........................64 With alabaster beaches, cloudless skies and kaleidoscopic Nadi .................................64 reefs, Fiji is the embodiment of the South Pacifi c dream. Suva ................................88 Most who head here want little more than to fall into a Mamanuca Group ...........99 sun-induced coma under a shady palm, and with over 300 islands to choose from, the decision on where to unfurl your Yasawa Group ............... 105 beach towel isn’t easy. While some may fi nd that anythin g Ovalau & the more than two snorkelling excursions a day and half an hour Lomaiviti Islands ............111 on the volleyball court is not in keeping with Fiji’s famously Vanua Levu .....................115 languid sense of time, there is more to these isles than can Taveuni ...........................124 ever be seen from a deckchair or swim-up bar. Kadavu ...........................132 In a (coco)nut shell, Fiji is arguably the easiest place in Lau Group ......................135 the South Pacifi c to travel around. The population adopts Rotuma ..........................135 you on your arrival, and there are two robust cultures, a Understand Fiji ............. 136 surprisingly diverse landscape and accommodation to suit Survival Guide............... 140 most budgets. Best Places to Stay » Likuliku Lagoon (p 103 ) W h e n t o G o » Wayalailai Eco Haven Suva Resort (p 105 ) °C/°F Te m p Rainfall inches/mm » Caqalai Island Resort 40/104 20/500 (p 114 ) 16/400 30/86 » Castaway Island Resort 12/300 (p 103 ) 8/200 20/68 Best Places to Eat 4/100 10/50 0 » Blue Bure (p 71 ) J FDNOSAJJMAM » Guava (p 92 ) Jun–Sep High May & Oct Nov–Apr » Daikoku (p 71 and p 92 ) season, with Shoulder season Expect wet » Navutu Stars (p 110 ) costs peaking in and the beginning and humid June and July. and end of the weather. » Mantaray Island Resort dry season. (p 107 ) 61 Connections AT A GLANCE The Mamanuca Group and Yasawa Group are reached by Currency Fijian ferry or high-speed catamaran from Nadi. Ovalau has boat dollar (F$) and bus transfers via Suva but these take several hours. Language Fijian, Ovalau and further-fl ung islands like Vanua Levu, Taveuni Fijian Hindi, English and Kadavu are most quickly reached by plane, although interisland services are cancelled at the hint of bad weather. Mobile phones Cargo ships are another option and the new Lomaiviti Prepaid SIM cards Princess has made this a cleaner and more reliable option. Money ATMs on main islands only FIJI FIJI Visas Free ITINERARIES One Week From Nadi follow the Coral Coast Hwy south to the Fast Facts Momi Guns, and Natadola Beach for horse riding. » Capital Suva (Viti Levu) Chug into the verdant interior on the Coral Coast » Country code %679 Scenic Railway or trek to the top of the Sigatoka Sand Dunes. Make your way to Pacifi c Harbour for diving » Emergency %911 with sharks in Beqa Lagoon. Don’t miss the chance to » Land area 18,274 sq km raft the c anyons of the Navua River before heading to » Population 849,000 Suva. Complete your loop via the Kings Rd, wind surfi ng at Nananu-i-Ra or scuba diving at Rakiraki. Head back to sugar country and visit Lautoka, the second-largest Exchange Rates city and a great base for exploring the Nausori High- lands. If you have an extra night, spend it at the tradi- Australia A$1 F$1.85 tional village of Navala before heading back to Nadi. Canada C$1 F$1.80 Two Weeks Europe €1 F$2.30 Thanks to a high-speed catamaran that weaves daily Japan ¥100 F$2.30 from Port Denarau through the Yasawas and back, this New NZ$1 F$1.45 chain is readily explored. The boat passes a few of the Zealand Mamanucas on the way, so these islands are a good UK UK£1 F$2.85 place to start. Spend the next few days on the sliver of USA US$1 F$1.85 sand that connects Wayasewa to Waya before drifting north to Naviti to snorkel with manta rays. Dash up to For current exchange rates Nacula, or Nanuya Lailai, where you can paddle in the see www.xe.com. Blue Lagoon. From here, leapfrog back down the chain, stopping at Matacawalevu and Naviti once more. Set Your Budget » Local restaurant main Essential Food & Drink course F$15–20 » Half-day snorkelling » Yaqona Also called kava or grog, this mildly narcotic drink F$15–20 is a muddy tea made from a root. » Bunch of bananas F$2 » Lovo Traditional Fijian oven where food is cooked in a pit » Yasawa Flyer (seven- on hot stones. day pass) F$321 » Kokoda A raw-fish salad marinated in lime juice, mixed » Car hire from F$125 with vegetables and topped with coconut cream. per day » Palusami Corned beef or onions with coconut cream, all wrapped and baked in young taro leaves. » Thali Set Indian meals with several curries. » Roti Literally this is an Indian flatbread, but the term often refers to the bread stuffed with a dry curry dish – a great quick meal..