Fiji is home to resorts full of wide Fijian smiles, year round warm weather and a culture that dotes on children. For young families seeking to escape everyday routine in a tropical paradise, it is perfection.
We’ve had four Fiji holidays with kids and each has been a wonderful break from reality. We don’t come home more exhausted than when we left! In Fiji we relax and enjoy spending time with each other.
The kids were almost 3 and almost 1 on our first family holiday to Fiji. The divine Outrigger Fiji Mei Mei nannies cared for our babies like their own and David and I felt our responsibilities melt away for a few hours. Bliss!
Our most recent visit was to the Radisson Blu Fiji when the kids were 7 and 5. At this age they spent half the day swooshing down the waterslide, while David and I supervised from the water or a sun lounge nearby.
Contents
- 1 Fiji holidays with kids planning guide
- 1.1 Where is Fiji?
- 1.2 Which airlines fly to Fiji from Australia?
- 1.3 The best time to go to Fiji
- 1.4 Where to stay in Fiji with kids
- 1.5 The best Fiji family accommodation
- 1.6 The best things to do in Fiji with kids
- 1.7 What to take on family holidays Fiji
- 1.8 What can go wrong on a Fiji family holiday?
- 1.9 The best Fiji souvenirs
- 1.10 What to pack for Fiji
Fiji holidays with kids planning guide
Where is Fiji?
Fiji is in the South Pacific at about the same latitude as Cairns in Queensland. Nadi (pronounced Nan-dee) is the main international airport for the tourist areas and is about a 4 hour direct flight from Sydney.
Fiji is in the South Pacific to the east of Australia
Which airlines fly to Fiji from Australia?
- Fiji Airways offers direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
- Qantas offers direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane using Fiji Airways planes.
- Virgin offers direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
- Jetstar offers direct flights from Sydney.
The best time to go to Fiji
Blessed with a tropical climate similar to Cairns, the temperature stays fairly constant at 26-31°c throughout the year. The key variation is rainfall. The dry season, from April to October, is the best time to visit, with cyclones a significant risk during the wet season from November to March.
Perfect for a mid-year escape from winter!
Pricing is generally based on Australia and New Zealand school holidays, so if you can possibly avoid them then you will save yourselves A LOT of money! But read this post first if you’re considering taking your kids out of school to travel.
Fiji is perfect for holidays with kids
Where to stay in Fiji with kids
The most popular areas to stay in Fiji with kids are –
- Denarau
- Coral Coast
- Mamanuca Islands
Denarau
Denarau is the most convenient area to stay for Fiji family holidays. It is very close to Nadi airport – about 20 min drive – and is home to a number of 4-5 star hotels.
Port Denarau is also located here, where you will find restaurants, shops and a supermarket. Plus it is where water transport to the islands and day cruises leave from. The Bula Bus does a continual circuit of the area, which makes it easy and fun to get around.
Radisson Blu Resort Fiji
Coral Coast
The Coral Coast is on the south coast, about 1.25 hr drive from Nadi airport and Port Denarau. The resorts here are large with plenty of activities on offer, which works well since distance means it is easiest to spend most of your stay at your resort and nearby attractions. The resorts are great value and often have fantastic deals on offer for family holidays Fiji.
The view from your sun lounge at Outrigger Fiji
Mamanuca Islands
For that real tropical island feel, you’ll need to head offshore. The Mamanuca Islands are a 1.25 hr boat trip from Port Denarau. This is where you will find popular resorts such as Castaway Island, Plantation Island and Malolo Island resorts.
Be careful choosing your flights to allow plenty of time to travel to an island resort. Otherwise you may need to spend a night in Nadi or Denarau first.
The best Fiji family accommodation
These are the top 10 Fiji resorts according to TripAdvisor.
All four of our stays have been at either the Outrigger or the Radisson, so I highly recommend being guided by this list. Read my full Outrigger Fiji review here and my Radisson Fiji review here.
| Rank | Resort | Location | Star rating | Approx cost for week (AUD) | Click to check latest prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Radisson Blu Resort Fiji | Denarau | 5 stars | 3,900 |  |
| 2 | Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort | Coral Coast | 4.5 stars | 2,285 | |
| 3 | Wyndham Resort | Denarau | 4 stars | N/A | |
| 4 | Malolo Island Resort | Mamanuca Islands | 4 stars | 3,958 | |
| 5 | Castaway Island Fiji | Mamanuca Islands | 4 stars | 5,272 | |
| 6 | Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort | Vanua Levu Island | 5 stars | 11,683 | |
| 7 | Sheraton Denarau Villas | Denarau | 5 stars | 7,183 | |
| 8 | Shangri-La's Fijian Resort & Spa | Coral Coast | 5 stars | 2,542 | |
| 9 | Plantation Island Resort | Mamanuca Islands | 3 stars | 2,404 | |
| 10 | The Terraces Apartments Denarau | Denarau | 3.5 stars | 2,414 | |
Please note that these prices are only meant as a very rough guide, because accommodation styles vary so much from one resort to the next. For example, the Jean-Michel Cousteau resort is very expensive, but you get your very own full-time nanny included in that price. Sheraton Villas are apartment style with multiple bedrooms and kitchen facilities. While Outrigger has a range of accommodation styles, but the price quoted is based on a hotel room with two double beds.
Read How to choose your Fiji resort for more information.
The divine Kini, our Mei Mei nanny at Outrigger Fiji
The best things to do in Fiji with kids
Most people heading to Fiji are keen to unwind and relax in the sun, but there’s plenty of excursions suitable for small children if you’d like to get out and about.
- Relax at your resort – My favourite thing to do in Fiji! Most kids will happily play in the pools or at the beach endlessly, so join in or supervise with a cocktail in hand.
- Visit Kula Eco Park – This is an easy little outing if you’re staying on the Coral Coast. Pet a lizard or wander through the rainforest.
- Donate supplies to a local school – Local schools are desperate for stationery. Pack some notebooks and pencils to help them out. Your resort should be able to help you visit a school in need.
Fijian kids playing rugby at the school we visited
- Be entertained by traditional evening entertainment – Whether it’s fire-walking, traditional dancing, heavenly singing or frog racing, your resort is sure to have plenty on offer for you to enjoy.
- Take a day cruise to an island – If you don’t fancy staying on an island, then you can do a day trip to one instead. Go snorkelling, lay under a palm tree or fill your tummy with a buffet lunch. We had the BEST time on this Savala Island cruise.
Having a go at steering the boat to Savala Island
- Visit a local village – Get a glimpse of how Fijians live by visiting a local village. Your resort should be able to arrange this.
- Indulge at a luxury day spa – Try the one at your resort or, if you’re staying in Denarau, visit a neighbouring resort. There’s nothing like relaxing with a massage when you’re on holiday.
- Drop the kids off at the kids club – Take the opportunity for a little one-on-one time!
- Visit Garden of the Sleeping Giant – This beautiful orchid garden is an easy outing if you’re staying in Denarau.
- Try some water sports – With all that ocean and warm weather, a Fiji family holiday is a perfect opportunity to try stand-up paddleboarding, teach the kids to snorkel or go sailing.
Giving kayaking a go in Fiji
What to take on family holidays Fiji
Find some room in your suitcase amongst the sundresses and sandals for these handy items –
- A rashie or two – You’re sure to spend a lot of time supervising water-loving kids.
- Blow up and sand toys – They’re light and don’t take up much room and the kids will love them!
- Insect repellant – Take a tropical strength one, but make sure it’s safe for the kids’ sensitive skin.
- Reef shoes – These are handy if you visit an island. Many have a lot of coral and shells mixed in with the sand. They can be picked up cheaply at Big W or K-Mart.
- Warm clothes – Yes it is likely to be warm most of the time, but if a storm comes through and the temperature drops, you will be grateful for your jeans and jumper.
- Hand sanitiser, Imodium and Hydrolyte – Hand sanitiser to prevent illness and the others just in case you pick up a tummy bug.
What can go wrong on a Fiji family holiday?
Assuming you don’t go in cyclone season, then the most likely thing that could go wrong is you pick up a tummy bug. Either from something you eat or if you forget to wash your hands before eating.
Your resort will be able to arrange a doctor if you need one. Otherwise make good use of the Imodium (only for adults) and Hydrolyte mentioned above and take it easy.
The best prevention is washing your hands or using hand sanitiser before meals.
The best Fiji souvenirs
You will have plenty of opportunity to buy souvenirs in Fiji. Resorts and attractions will have shops selling the usual magnets, keyrings and toys.
But I think it’s more fun to buy direct from the artisans. During a village tour on the Coral Coast there were ladies with their handmade jewellery laid out for purchase. At the Outrigger Fiji you could watch the ladies making the grass skirts that you could buy.
Our favourite souvenirs have been a beautifully carved wooden vase, little necklaces for the kids to give to their friends and a Fijian-style grass skirt and top dress-up. And both boys and girls LOVE having their hair braided (and showing it off when they get back to school!).
Just remember how strict Australian customs is. Anything made from wood, shells or plants will need to be declared.
The kids at Radisson Blu Fiji
What to pack for Fiji
I’ve got a What to pack for Fiji post on its way, but meanwhile What to pack for a cruise will get you sorted for a week in the sun. Enjoy!
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