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Fiji is one of our all-time favorite travel destinations. We have gone many, many times and will always continue to go back. With perfect weather almost year-round, friendly locals, incredible experiences, and amazing food you’ll never be short of things to do. In fact, we loved it so much we got married and had our honeymoon here!
If this is going to be your first time visiting Fiji, Bula! You are in for an amazing time. If you’re looking for some of the best day activities it has to offer we’ve got you covered. Believe me when I say that not every day trip is created equal, so we want to help you avoid any unnecessary hassle during your visit.
From snorkeling with sharks to visiting the most beautiful tropical islands, keep reading and I’m positive you will find the perfect experience for your trip to Fiji!
Don’t have time to read the full article? It’s hard to know what day trips in Fiji are actually worth your time and money. We think everyone should explore the beautiful Fijian islands on this all-inclusive Cruisin Fiji day trip that visits the island Cast Away was filmed on! We also think it’s important to learn about the Fijian culture while visiting and this Navua River day trip combines visits to a majestic waterfall and a local village to take part in traditional ceremonies!
Day Trips in Fiji
1. Malamala Beach Club
What if I told you that only 25 short minutes away from Port Denarau by boat is the world’s first-ever beach club on its own island? That’s right, Malamala Beach Club is everything you would expect from a luxury private island experience with food, drinks, and activities to match.
This full-day experience is hassle-free from start to finish. With pick-up and drop-off from just about all Denarau, Nadi, Wailoala, and Coral Coast hotels you won’t have to worry about getting to Denarau Port yourself. It also offers complimentary ferry service to and from Malamala’s private island.
You’ll depart for Malamala island at 10 am and arrive shortly after. The island is pristine with absolutely perfect crystal clear blue waters surrounding it. You’ll have access to an assortment of non-motorized activities such as snorkeling, stand-up paddle boards, and kayaks. There is also an infinity pool where you can lounge and enjoy food and cocktails.
I particularly loved the 5-star service provided by the staff the entire time we were there. Sitting in lounge chairs by the ocean and taking in the views with some bubbles in hand was spectacular. Be sure to bring your bank card or enough cash to pay for any food and beverages you would like throughout the day!
We LOVE Malamala and have visited tons of times and it’s always just as fantastic as it was the time before. For only $84 USD per person, this is a must-do day trip when you visit Fiji.
Don’t miss out on this popular experience and book your tickets here in advance!
Related Read: Another great beach club is Tivua Island. It is smaller than Malamala, but offers more of a rustic vibe if that’s what you’re after!
This Navua River Day Trip is great for couples and families who want to experience the amazing Fijian culture as well as its stunning outdoors all in one convenient package. Take part in traditional ceremonies, swim in a Magic Waterfall, and more!
Depending on where you’re staying your hotel pick-up and drive time to Navua will vary. The air-conditioned ride is very comfortable, but can still be very long, up to 3 hours in some cases.
Once you arrive you will climb into a small boat and begin your way up the Navua River passing by small villages, spotting animals and birds in the jungle as you go. After about 45 minutes you will reach the Magic Waterfall and have a chance to swim in its cool refreshing waters.
But this isn’t just a nature trip, it’s a cultural trip too! After taking a dip in the river you’ll ride a traditional bamboo raft to a nearby village. You’ll spend the rest of your afternoon participating in ceremonies, learning Fiji’s history, and eating delicious food before making your way back.
There’s even more we did during this tour, but I want to leave some surprises for you! Trust me, you’ll love it. The cost starts at $87 USD and varies depending on where you’re staying in Fiji, but it includes everything – you’ll just need some spending money for any souvenirs!
With Viator, you can reserve your spot online in advance, and then you don’t have to pay a cent until 48 hours before you go!
3. South Sea Sailing Full-Day Cruise
This South Sea Sailing Cruise isn’t just good, it’s one of our favorite tours in Fiji. Nothing beats a day sailing around the gorgeous Mamanuca Islands. We’re sure you’ll love this 6-hour sailing experience as much as we did!
Your day will start at Port Denarau Marina at 9:45 am, or earlier if you take advantage of their complimentary hotel pick-up and drop-off service. The boat you take is the Sabre, a wonderful catamaran equipped with a built-in water slide! You’re in for a day of activities so eat a big breakfast that will get you through until the crew cooks up a delicious buffet lunch for you.
As you set sail you’ll get to sip on a complimentary mimosa as you enjoy the ocean views. Your captain will stop off at sand cays surrounded by magnificent coral reefs full of colorful aquatic life. If you don’t have snorkel gear don’t worry, they provide it for you. After snorkeling, you’ll get 2 hours of unlimited wine and beer for free! The rest of the time you will have to purchase cocktails, so bring some extra money or a credit card with you.
This excursion is great for any traveler except for children under 8. The crew is incredibly accommodating and everyone we met on board was super friendly. Considering it’s only $120 USD including transfers, 2 hours of all-inclusive beer and wine, water/soft drinks, and lunch, we think it’s a steal of a deal.
You can book this day trip ahead of time here!
4. Snorkel with Sharks Day Trip
If swimming with sharks is on your bucket list there is no better place to do it than Fiji on this Snorkel with Sharks Full-Day Trip. Not only do you get to encounter the ocean’s most infamous residents in a safe and fun way, but you also get to hang out on a beautiful island resort afterward.
The boat leaves at 8:45 am and as long as you don’t find swimming with sharks anxiety-inducing you’ll enjoy a stress-free day. Pick-up and drop-off are offered from most hotels in the Nadi area and your ferry fee is covered.
You’ll take a boat ride to Kuata Island where you will get a safety briefing and your snorkel gear. After you get suited up you’ll be off to the reef. I said it before, but I’ll say it again, this is completely safe and perfect for all skill levels! You will be swimming with reef sharks, a docile species of shark that won’t bother you at all.
Of course, swimming with sharks was super cool and an experience I recommend everyone has. All-in-all we were in the water with them for about 45 minutes before we took our boat back to the Barefoot Kuta Island Resort. There we got a complimentary lunch and spent the afternoon relaxing on this gorgeous island. The resort is equipped with a pool, bar, and lots of other activities for you to enjoy for a couple of hours before heading back.
This day trip costs $176 USD a person and a shark sighting is guaranteed! If for some reason you don’t see one, you’ll get to do the experience again for free within 3 days. You can book your spot online here!
5. Best of Nadi Highlights
If you’re traveling to Fiji you have probably heard of Nadi. If you haven’t, it should be on a short list of places to visit during your stay! This Best of Nadi Tour takes everything we love about the area and combines it into one convenient package.
There are two start times for this tour, one at 7 am and another at 12 pm. We recommend taking the morning tour during the week if you can because there is a bonus stop at one of the first established villages in the country.
You will make lots of great stops during the day like the Sri Siva Subramaniya Hindu Temple, Nadi Produce market, Garden of the Sleeping Giant, and the Fiji Mud Pool and Hot Springs. If you get hungry during the day you can snag a takeaway lunch (at your own cost) at the market to take with you.
The two highlights for me were the mud pool and hot springs, and the village of Viseisei. A mud bath is such a fun and unique experience to have and the village of Viseisei is supposedly the first in Fiji! If you want to see the village be sure to take the morning tour on a weekday.
This tour starts at around $80 USD for transport to/from Nadi hotels, a guide, and all of the activity entrance fees – so it’s a great deal and is perfect for anyone visiting Fiji on a budget!
This tour runs every day except Sunday, so make sure to plan in advance and book your tickets online here!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, read our complete Viator review to learn more about what we think about Viator.
6. Seventh Heaven Floating Platform
Located in the waters of the Mamanuca Islands the Seventh Heaven Floating Restaurant and Bar is more than just a place to eat and drink. It’s probably the most beautiful floating platform in the world! It even includes a diving board, kayaks, and snorkel gear for you to use throughout the day making it one of the best day trips from Denarau!
After a short 45-minute boat ride from Port Denarau, you will arrive at a slice of paradise floating in the middle of the ocean. Seventh Heaven is a laid-back place to enjoy a drink, have some delicious food, lounge, and take in the incredible views. You even get a free cocktail on arrival!
You would think a place like this would be incredibly expensive, but it’s quite affordable! You can check out the menu here – just remember the prices are in FJD not USD! This is also a great place to jump into the water and swim with all kinds of colorful fish. Just be sure to pack a towel and swimsuit.
You’ll find that this is an ideal place to hang out for anyone. We have been many times and have seen young and old, families, couples, and solo travelers. With friendly staff and plenty to do, your day aboard will be a highlight of your trip.
You can choose to leave at 9 am which gives you about 5 hours on the platform, or you can leave at 11 am and get around 4 hours there. Tickets cost $73 USD which includes the round-trip ferry service and pick-up from select Denarau hotels only.
Don’t miss out on one of the coolest places in Fiji and snag your tickets now!
7. Cruisin Fiji – Authentic Fijian Day Cruise
This Authentic Cruisin Fiji Tour is one of our favorite island tours and a great way to explore the Mamanuca Islands. It stops at so many beautiful places and includes everything you need for an amazing stress-free day. You even get to visit the island where they filmed Cast Away!
You will set sail for the Mamanuca Islands at 9 am and will return 8 hours later. Over the course of the day, you will visit three distinct islands, Mana, Monu, and Monuriki. Mana Island is great for snorkeling with the local aquatic life while Monu has stunning rock formations and a deep sea cove for you to explore. This is a great opportunity to bust out your underwater camera and get some great shots!
After exploring the first two islands you will enjoy an authentic Fijian lunch on the third and final island, Monuriki. The food is cooked in a “Lovo” (aka traditional underground oven) and is fantastic, they know how to cook the meat and veggies just right. If you’re a fan of seafood there might even be some fresh caught fish!
Remember how I said you’ll get to see where they filmed Cast Away? Monuriki Island is the place! If you haven’t seen the movie I think it’s worth your time to watch it before taking the tour. Then you will understand why everyone else is yelling “Wilson!” at the top of their lungs.
And the best part? This tour is all-inclusive, meaning you get complimentary beer, wine, soft drinks, water, lunch, and activities for only $149 USD per person. You may have to budget a bit more for hotel pick-up though depending on where you’re staying.
By securing your spot online here, you will be able to cancel up to 24 hours before the tour in case your plans change!
8. Treetops Zipline, Cave and Mud Spa Combo Tour
If you love to get out in nature and get your adrenaline pumping this full-day Zipline and Mud Spa Tour is a fantastic way to spend a day experiencing two of Fiji’s most popular attractions. Get out a good pair of walking shoes because you’re headed for the jungle!
Start times and costs for the day depend on where you need to be picked up and dropped off, but regardless it’s still an early morning with the latest start beginning at 8 am. After you get picked up you will make your way to ZIP Fiji to begin the 16-line course. Please note that there are some challenging treks between the ziplines – so this tour is only suitable for those in good physical condition.
This is the largest zipline course in Fiji and goes for over 3 miles (5 km) so you’re in for a treat! You will spend the next 4 hours zooming through the treetops and yelling like a crazy person, but I promise you’re going to love it! You can even try it upside down if you’re feeling brave.
After an exhilarating morning of ziplining, you’ll be treated to a delicious included lunch and then taken to a local mudbath spa. First, you lather yourself in mud, and then after you jump in a hot spring to wash it all off. The result? You’ll leave relaxed and with silky smooth skin!
This tour takes care of all entrance fees and transportation for you and costs $178 USD per person if you are staying on the Coral Coast and $164 USD if you’re located in Denarau/Nadi. Don’t miss out and book your tickets here.
9. Fiji Culture Day Tour
While many tours in Fiji include some sort of cultural element to them, few take a whole day to immerse you in its incredible culture. I love this Fiji Culture Tour because you get to spend 6 hours learning about and participating in various traditions, ways of life, activities, and more.
Your day begins with a 30-minute boat ride to Robinson Crusoe Island (one of the best beaches in Fiji). Once you arrive you will notice a board with the start times of various activities for the day. There are so many fun things to do! A few that I really enjoyed were the nature walk, coconut tree climbing, basket weaving, and the fire walking demonstration. Although I think the highlight was easily the traditional Lovo lunch while watching a Fijian culture and fire dance show!
However, if there is an activity you would like to skip, you can spend your time doing something else. I didn’t try it, but we heard from another guest that you can get an amazing massage (not included) on the island. We spent some free time snorkeling which was great! Food and beverages (including alcoholic!) are provided for the day so perhaps you just want to enjoy a drink and soak up the sun.
If one thing’s for sure, it’s that by the end of the day, you will come back having a deeper appreciation of Fiji’s culture. This whole-day trip is only $100 USD per person and includes everything – even round-trip transportation to Denarau, Nadi, and the Coral Coast!
We think this tour is perfect for families. It is only offered Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday so be sure to plan ahead and book your tickets here in advance.
Related Read: To learn about the unique Fijian history and enjoy a cultural show right in Nadi, check out the Fiji Culture Village!
10. Robinson Crusoe Sunset Cruise Including Dinner, Cultural Show
If you’re anything like me, you’re a sucker for sunsets and a good dinner. Throw in some of the best fire-dancing you’ll ever see and what you get is this Sunset Dinner and Culture Show. This 5-hour experience is jam-packed full of delicious food and demonstrations that anyone is sure to enjoy.
You will set off for Robinson Crusoe Island at 5 pm and after a 30-minute boat ride be welcomed with a traditional kava (a type of drink) ceremony. Before the performances start, you will have some time to walk around the island and enjoy its various hammocks and scenic locations. If you are interested in purchasing any additional beverages be sure to bring some extra cash or a bank card to pay with.
A delicious traditional Lovo dinner is cooked in the ground and then served at your table while you watch a cultural show full of knife dances, fire walking, and traditional music. For me, the highlight of the evening was the fire dancing. We have seen lots of fire dances in Fiji, but I think this is one of the best! They do it when it’s completely dark and down by the ocean, it’s quite the show.
This tour costs $121 USD and is only offered on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday so be sure to book your tickets here to secure your spot.
Where to Stay in Fiji
There are so many great areas to stay around Fiji. You can choose to stay on the main island of Viti Levu or venture out to the smaller surrounding islands. With so many choices, it can be hard to narrow it down. To help, these are my top picks for each area in Fiji that fit a range of budgets.
Nadi – The Ramada
Located right on Wailoaloa Beach, the Ramada Suites by Wyndham is the most luxurious hotel in this area. It features an exclusive pool and restaurant for guest use only. It is the tallest building in the area offering incredible views of the coastline and sunsets!
Because of its close proximity to the airport (only a 15-minute drive), many people stay here for a night before or after their flight. It’s a good place to spend some time before catching a ferry out to an island. A King Studio Room with a sea view goes for around $200 USD. Check availability and book a stay at the Ramada here!
Port Denarau – Radisson Blu Fiji Resort
The Radisson Blu Resort is just stunning, and for what you get, the price is very reasonable too. This resort is huge offering tons of activities for both families as well as couples. There is an adults-only pool as well as an area specifically for kids. It is beachfront and offers spa services as well.
Rooms here start from around $400 USD per night and range from standard hotel-style rooms with king beds or two queens, up to two-bedroom suites. Some rooms feature courtyard views while others have a view of the lagoon. All rooms have a balcony and minibar. Check availability and prices at the Radisson Blue Resort here!
Yasawa Islands – Barefoot Manta Island Resort
Barefoot Manta Island Resort is perfect for those wanting a real island getaway experience without paying huge amounts of money. Surrounded by a vibrant protected coral reef, this is the best place to go for ocean lovers. You can even swim with manta rays just off the shore from May-October!
You can easily get to Barefoot Manta Island Resort on the Yasawa Flyer ferry that departs Port Denarau regularly. The ride should take about 3 hours.
They offer dorm beds for only $29 USD a night. There are also private beachfront bungalows available starting at around $200 USD per night. Check prices and availability for Barefoot Manta Island Resort here!
Mamanuca Islands – Beachcomber Island Resort
Beachcomber Island Resort is one of the most popular island resorts to stay in Fiji. Its affordable pricing mixed with its close proximity to Viti Levu make it one of the best places to stay in Fiji. You can reach the Beachcomber Resort from Port Denarau by riding the Yasawa Flyer ferry. The ride should take about 2 hours.
There are many different rooms and bungalows to choose from – something for every budget! Remember all these prices also include ALL your meals. Dorm beds go for as little as $60 USD per night, whereas you can get a standard twin room for $225 USD. Check prices and availability at Beachcomber Island Resort here!
Coral Coast – Maui Palms
Mixing beach life and luxury, the Maui Palms is perfect for those wanting a bit of pampering on their holiday. There are lots of on-site activities and the snorkeling right in front of the resort is great. Expect an infinity pool, games room, bar, restaurant, and beautiful ocean-view villas with private balconies!
The location on the Coral Coast means you don’t need a boat to get there but can still experience some of the tranquility and beautiful beaches you might find on the smaller islands. There are also a few restaurants nearby, so you won’t be confined to the hotel. Rooms and villas here start at around $250 USD and up. Check prices and availability for the Maui Palms here!
If you’re looking for more info about where to stay in Fiji, be sure to read our blog. It includes detailed info on each area, the best things to do nearby, prices, getting to hotels, and so much more.
Don’t get Caught without Travel Insurance!
We never travel without travel insurance! We’ve had a few instances during our travels when one of us has ended up in the hospital, and travel insurance has saved us thousands of dollars over the years!
SafetyWing is our go-to insurance, we both have policies with them whenever we travel.
They offer travel medical insurance that’s super affordable (only $45 USD per 4 weeks!)The only thing to note is that the insurance must be purchased once you’ve left your home country – we typically buy it as soon as we land at the airport.
We’ve personally used SafetyWing for many different trips, and we’ve been reimbursed for countless expenses when we’ve fallen ill. SafetyWing even covered our flights back to Canada in full when the pandemic first happened (when last-minute flights before the borders closed were super expensive!) While most travel insurance companies left people stranded, SafetyWing fully reimbursed us for our last-minute, pricey flights!
Also, because it is so affordable, there really is no excuse not to take out a policy. Check prices and get a quote online here with SafetyWing (you can even take out a policy if you’re already traveling!)
Thanks for reading!
There you have it, a low-down on the best day trips in all of Fiji! I hope you found the perfect tour for you, and if you’re struggling to choose, don’t worry because you can’t go wrong – they’re all so much fun!
If you found this guide helpful, then take a peek at our other Fiji blogs, including some favorites below:
13 BEST Things to do in Suva – A Guide to Exploring Fiji’s Capital City
5 SAFEST Places to Escape the Cold this Winter
Is Viator Legit? Our Viator Review based on Experience
Source: destinationlesstravel.com
George Barham, an accomplished journalist and avid gambling enthusiast, serves as the esteemed Editor-in-Chief at fly-to-australia.com, Australia’s leading source for comprehensive gambling news and insights. With an unwavering passion for both the written word and the ever-evolving world of betting and gaming, George brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the helm of our editorial team.
