Kirralee Baker
This is a guest post by Kirralee Baker who write Escape with Kids. Today she is sharing her top things to do in Fiji with kids.
Kirralee is a Sydney-based mum of two squeezing her love of travel in between making lunch boxes and picking up Lego. She dreams of holidays where everyone has fun, nothing goes wrong and her suitcase is filled with fabulous outfits and tacky souvenirs.
See if reality measures up at Escape With Kids or follow her on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest.
Fiji is my favourite holiday destination with little kids, and to show our dedication we’ve been 4 times!
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Firstly, the weather is awesome. Being around the same latitude as Cairns means lovely warm tropical days. The temperature ranges from 26 to 31°c year round, with the wet season in summer and the dry season in winter. Anytime from around April to October is ideal, but I recommend giving November to March a miss due to the occasional cyclone.
A big part of the attractiveness of Fiji is having an international experience with a short flight time – only around 4 hours from the east coast.
It is a quiet, relaxing place, with very little nightlife outside the resorts, specialising in romantic and family holidays. Many resorts clearly market themselves as either one or the other, so there’s no surprises. There are adults-only resorts, which would be perfect for a honeymoon or babymoon, and then there are the resorts that we’ve been to. These are filled with pools, waterslides, family-friendly restaurants, kids clubs, nannies, playgrounds and rooms that will accommodate a family.
The Fijian people are what make the country truly unique. This is an incredibly family-focussed culture. Children are doted upon here. They are relaxed, happy people who seem to find such joy in life. It is a pleasure to be around them. Visitors are very welcome and they are proud to share their country and culture with you.
The most popular areas to stay are Denarau Island (a 20 min drive from the airport and only separated from the mainland by a short bridge), the Coral Coast (south coast of mainland, about 1.25 hour drive from the airport) and the Mamanuca Islands (about a 1.25 hour boat ride from Port Denarau).
My top things to do in Fiji with kids
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Have a resort day
Fiji does resort-style holidays better than any other location I know, and, as a result, most people spend a large portion of their holiday at their resort. There are some great day trips or half day trips to do. And if you stay on Denarau, then you might take a walk to a neighbouring resort or catch the Bula Bus to the shops and restaurants of Port Denarau. But the main attraction of Fiji is the relaxing resort holiday.
Inside your resort your kids are superstars. Everywhere you go staff will greet them and be more interested in talking to them than to you. Fijians just looooove kids. They are a never-ending source of smiles and cuddles to any and every child. They will give a tantruming child an indulgent smile, try to convince your pre-schooler to eat more of their dinner and cuddle your toddler while they nap in kids club.
Outrigger on the Lagoon pool
A love of water seems to be universal to all children, so while you might find a day by the pool or beach a bit boring and culturally-lacking, it will likely be your child’s favourite part of the holiday. Look at it from their point of view. It’s warm and sunny and they can splash in the water with the people they love most in the world. What’s not to love?
The resort kids clubs are universally great, so we found spending the morning with the kids in the pool or at the beach, then putting them in the kids club for the afternoon worked well. This way the kids got the best of both worlds. They spent quality time with us plus met lots of new playmates at kids club. And hubster and I got some alone time.
Outrigger on the Lagoon
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Visit Kula Eco Park
The Coral Coast is home to several large, affordable and very family-friendly resorts, like Outrigger on the Lagoon and Shangri-La. If you’re based down this way, then Kula Eco Park is an easy outing for kids of all ages. This is a wildlife park which specialises in birds and reptiles. It may not have the excitement of lions and tigers, but it is a very peaceful, lush environment, which the kids will love. While the attractive boardwalks through the forest have some stairs, if you stay around the animal enclosures the paths are quite pram-friendly.
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Tour a local school
Many resorts sponsor at least one local school and guests are encouraged to bring stationary or books from home to donate in person. This is greatly appreciated and the school is likely to have an assembly for the donations to be presented in front of all the students and teachers. When you see the basic facilities you will know that you’ve done something really worthwhile.
Not everyone has shoes and they play netball and rugby with balls made from screwed up newspaper, but the students are joyful and excited to have you visit. You will feel so welcome and they will love to talk to you. Not such a bad thing for our privileged kids to be exposed to.
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Get out to an island
While you may go for the convenience of Denarau for your accommodation, the islands are very beautiful and well worth exploring on a day trip. I highly recommend the Savala Island Day Cruise and will rave about it endlessly if you let me. We waited until our most recent trip to try it because our youngest had dropped his day sleep, but there is no minimum age and you can take your pram onto the boat and the island. The incredibly helpful staff will make it easy for you.
There are heaps of activities you can do while on the island, like snorkelling, feeding baby sharks in the shallows and kayaking, but equally you can find yourself a shady spot and relax.
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See how the locals live
Resort staff generally live nearby and there will often be tours available of their village. This is a fabulous opportunity to get an insight into their culture and history. You can support them by shopping at their jewellery stalls, appreciate their customs and rituals by taking part in a kava ceremony or just have a chat to a local and let the kids play together.
Have you been to Fiji?
What’s your favourite thing to do there?
If you would like to write a guest post for Toddlers on Tour sharing your experiences, photos and tips for travel with kids in your favourite destination please send me an email to toddlersontour@gmail.com or go to my Contact Page.
Linking up with:
- Reflections Enroute #WkendTravelInspiration
- My Travel Monkey #MondayEscapes
We are going to Fiji in Oct. So excited!
How wonderful Karilyn! It is the most wonderful place to take time out from life and relax. Enjoy!
I’m so envious Karilyn, have a great time.
I love the resort day and visiting the village days too. Fiji would be an excellent destination with kids. I’ve heard that the Fijians also love kids and the kids clubs are good.
The free kids clubs and very affordable nannies/babysitters are a big reason it is such an attractive destination for young families.
When you travel with kids Jan, it’s great to find a place that makes a fuss of the kids because if they are happy then you are happy.
We spent part of a Pacific Island hopping trip in Fiji last year and loved it. I agree it is so family friendly and there really are many wonderful and unique things to do with kids. We stayed at the Hilton in Denarau, had a village visit and spent a day at an island too. The Fijians are some of the friendliest people we’ve ever met. We can’t wait to go back and lucky you it’s only a 4 hour flight away. We live in Southern California so it’s quite a long flight but totally worth it.
Great to hear it is definitely worth the trip Mary.
A Pacific Island hopping trip sounds incredible! I’m so glad you enjoyed Fiji, but I’m going to have to have a potter around your blog to read your Pacific adventures!
I’ve never been to Fiji as it’s quite a distance away from the USA. That lagoon pool looks wonderful, though. I imagine that my kids would really enjoy themselves in it. I really like the idea of donating to a school and interacting with the locals.
Me to Michele, one thing I love about travel is seeing how another country lives.
It is a fabulous place for kids Michele.
I love Fiji and can’t wait to take the kids back there. Hopefully that will be next year.
Mmm I’d love to have a trip to Fiji on the horizon. I hope you get there next year Karin 🙂
From the sounds of all the comments Karin you will have a wonderful time when you get back to Fiji.
We did the village, school and island, and plenty of resort time. Next time I’d take some school supplies (though I don’t know if I’m ok with visiting schools – there’s this odd feeling of turning kids into tourists attractions). I also wanted to go to Raymond Burrs’ garden, but that didn’t happen. it’s meant to be lovely tho.
I would love to get to that garden on a future trip Lydia. It does sound lovely. I agree it is a little bit odd visiting a school, but I think because the kids were all out playing while we got to have a look around a couple of classrooms, it didn’t feel that the kids were the animals in cages to be looked at.
It’s a tricky one Lydia. Not wanting to turn the children into a tourist attraction – but how do you educate people how much these children need.
Someone asked me the other day where I thought the best place to take kids was and I said Fiji. I completely agree with you. It’s the people and the warm welcoming atmosphere that I really like. We have never stayed on the main island, always heading straight out to one of the smaller islands, but the resort kids clubs are exactly as you describe.
We’ve always stayed on the main island Rhonda – I have a bit of a phobia about being “trapped” on an island – but I really think we should try it for a different experience.
LOL – Kirralee – I live on an island 🙂
Half your luck Rhonda 🙂
It sounds like Fijians are just the best people when it comes to a family friendly holiday Rhonda.
I went to Fiji around 10 years ago and it was just so beautiful and welcoming – I only wish we were a four-hour flight away as I’d love to go back with my daughter. #MondayEscapes
Yes long distance travel with kids isn’t all fun, save until they get a bit older Cathy.
We are lucky to have it so close by Cathy.
Four times? That sounds great. I like all the tips you are giving here related to interacting with the locals. I am sure Fiji is a beautiful place but the culture is interesting / unique.
For me Ruth part of the fun of travel is interacting with the locals and their culture, without judging.
I think it is the cultural differences which make the Fijian people and therefore Fiji itself so special.
I would love to visit Fiji one day! Definitely one for the bucket list #mondayescapes
It’s on my bucket list too Nicola
I hope you get there Nicola. It really is special.
I’ve never had the pleasure to go to Fiji – I wish it were only 4 hours from the UK! But alas, for now I have to look at wonderful post such as this… There is so much to see and do, I love the idea of visiting a school for the day and Eco Park. To be honest though… a resort day would do me too! Thanks for sharing on #MondayEscapes
For me what’s great about travel blogs Ting is travelling with the writer, which is why I am enjoying blog link ups like your – I have now seen so many more places.
I could really go a resort day today Ting!
My hubby just emailed me yesterday with a holiday deal for Fiji … so tempting …!
If hubby is on board Malinda just go for it!
Definitely worth looking at Malinda. I’d love to have a Fiji getaway to look forward to!
Those sound like pretty good things for everyone to do, on Fiji or wherever! Thanks for sharing. #MondayEscapes
Totally agree Rob, Fiji looks like it caters well for all ages.
I remember we went to a local village to do a mud bath outdoors. Real fun day and fun.
Sounds lovely Joanna
How did you pick a village/ school to visit? Or even an island for day tour? Is that something the hotel can arrange?
Hi Sadia, Typically the resorts have associations with local villages and schools, so you can arrange it when you get there through your resort. They will also be able to arrange day trips to islands, but there are some great Facebook groups where you can get recommendations like “Holidaying in Fiji” – https://www.facebook.com/groups/352838611440471/
Thanks for the tip on the Facebook group Kirralee.
Looks like you had a lot of fun in Fiji! We are planning our second trip there and I will make sure to include a visit to a local school in our itinerary. My kids had a lot of fun too last time, but now that they’ve grown up a little, I am thinking that this experience can do them a lot of good. Thank you!
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