4 days in Fiji

A few years ago, I visited Fiji with my mother. This was a mother and daughter bonding trip and I had such a lovely time with my mother. We were there for 4 days traveling around Fiji and taking different tours. The spectacular sunsets and the pristine beaches were some of our highlights from the trip. And we also got some insight into the history of cannibalism in Fiji.

Read 10 bucket list items for Fiji for all the things I want to do the next time I am in Fiji.

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Where is Fiji?

Fiji is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean. It is a collection of islands and there are more than 300 islands. The country is famous for its beaches, palm trees, history of cannibalism and coral reefs. The capital is Suva and the other major islands are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.

The best time to visit Fiji is between May and October. This is the period where it has less rainfall and is the dry season. It is also the best for water visibility.

How to get to Fiji?

There are two ways to get to the Fijian islands, one is by flight and two is by a cruise.

• Flights – The best and quickest way to reach Fiji is by flying. Virgin Australia and Fiji Airways have frequent flights between Sydney (Australia) and Fiji. The flight time is around 5 hours from Sydney.
• Cruise – The other way to get to the Fijian islands are by taking a cruise. The cruise in the Pacific Ocean stops at different island countries like Fiji, New Caledonia and Vanuatu.

Stay at Fiji – Review | Anchorage Beach Resort

The Anchorage Beach Resort is the boutique 3 star resort that my mother and I stayed at when we visited Fiji. It is on the main island of Fiji. I personally liked this resort as we had a beach view from the room that we had booked. The resort is right along the beach and is a beautiful place to stay at. The staff were friendly and the rooms were very clean.

The only problem that we faced was that it was far from the city and every time we had to go into the city, we had to take a taxi.

Property contact details:

• Anchorage Beach Resort
  Vuda Point, Viseisei, Nadi, Fiji.
• p. +679 6662099
• f. +679 6665571
• email: anchorage@connect.com.fj

Things to do in 4 days

Fiji is one island where you can spend as many weeks or months as you need and you would still have many things to do and learn about the islands. I was there in Fiji only for 4 days and I tried to get the best out of the islands and places I visited.

Visit Garden of the Sleeping Giant

The Garden of the Sleeping Giant is Fiji’s largest orchid collection and is one of the amazing things to do. It is said that the garden has more than 2000 varieties of orchids. The garden is at the base of the Sleeping Giant Mountain. It is on Wailoko Road in the Nausori Highlands. The garden was founded in 1977 by actor Raymond Burr.

Timings

The garden is open everyday. On Sundays, the garden is open only in the mornings. And it has an entrance fee (Unfortunately, I do not remember how much I paid).

I loved the orchids, they had every orchid that one can think of – bee orchids, dancing lady orchids and many more. They were spectacular.

Scuba diving & Snorkeling

Fiji is heaven for scuba diving and snorkeling. The resort I stayed in had a place where we could swim and snorkel. There are so many activities that one can do related to water and I definitely suggest exploring Fiji’s marine life while traveling in Fiji.

One of the coolest things one can do in Fiji is scuba diving with the Bull sharks and Manta Rays. Unfortunately, I did not get the opportunity to do this but it has been on my scuba diving bucket list for long.

Hear stories from the locals

The best gifts one can give to themselves while traveling are the stories of the locals, i.e. by hearing the stories of the place and history from them. And I did exactly that while traveling in Fiji. I spoke to the taxi drivers and the villagers and heard what they had to say about Fiji. Fiji is definitely a very mysterious and amazing place with so much history and one of the best stories I heard was about history of cannibalism and how it existed in Fiji.

I do hope to hear and learn more stories from native Fijians and Indians who had migrated many centuries ago. One of the things I want to do is to be able to stay on the island for about 2 to 3 months and spend time with the locals learning about their culture.

Sugarcane fields of Sabeto Valley

Driving past the sugarcane fields of Sabeto Valley is extremely rewarding. The cool breeze and the countryside is something to definitely die for. The views of the fields and the country side vibes are amazing and the raw nature of the island are truly something that every traveler needs to experience.

Vuda lookout

The Vuda lookout is an amazing place to see the panoramic views of Yasawa Islands. The green fields and the farms are very pretty and make amazing backdrops for the pictures. We were taken to the Vuda lookout as part of our day tour and I think it was one of the best views that we had in Fiji.

4 days itinerary

My mother and I were in Fiji only for 4 days and it was mostly a very relaxing holiday. Most times we lay beside the beach or got massages at the resort. Below is the itinerary that we followed while we were in Fiji.

• Day 1 – Reach Suva and refresh at the resort. In the evening, we got a nice relaxed massage with the view of the never ending ocean.
• Day 2 – One day tour to explore of Suva city and learn the history behind the place. The tour cost AUD 110 per person. As part of the tour we visited Thurston Botanical gardens, President’s house and Suva museum.
• Day 3 – One day tour to see the Vuda Lookout, Sabeto Valley and Garden of the Sleeping Giant Tour. The tour cost AUD 110 per person. We visited Garden of sleeping giant, Nadi bay and Vuda lookout.
• Day 4 – Half a day tour to see the second largest city Lautoka. The tour cost AUD 82 per person. We visited Viseisei (location where the first Fijian landed) and the sugar cane fields. I also had the opportunity to meet the taxi driver who told me the story of cannibalism in Fiji.

All the tours were guided tours and included the transportation and entrance fee for most of the places. They were all booked on the Viator website.

Safety for solo female travelers

Even though I traveled with my mother, I would still say that Fiji is relatively safe when compared to other country islands I have been to. However, I would not suggest venturing out alone at nights and knowing your surroundings when traveling on the island. The resorts are extremely safe and are protected and monitored. But while traveling among the local villages and at the countryside, be cautious.

Closing Notes

I have a bitter-sweet relationship with Fiji. I am bitter because my mother and I were conned for money and sweet because I spent some quality time with my mother exploring the raw side of the country. I would love to visit Fiji again and change my feelings to only happy moments.

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