Where are the Fiji Islands located? And what is there to experience? The Fiji Islands – a multi-coloured holiday paradise is written by Olivia Schomburg.
'Bula' – welcome to Fiji
Plant your feet in white sand, swim in sky-blue water and smell the flowers in every shade of the color palette. Take me to the south Pacific Ocean and let me give you a warm welcome to the holiday paradise of Fiji. In this article you will find answers to questions such as: Where are the Fiji Islands located? What is the culture like? And which places are recommended?
You'll hear the term 'bula' everywhere. It's the Fijian way of saying welcome, and the word's rich use is a good illustration of the openness you experience as soon as you land in Fiji.
Where are the Fiji Islands located?
All the way to the other side of the world, past Australia, in the middle of the magnificent ocean of Oceania – here lies Fiji.
The archipelago covers an area of 1,3 million km2 and consists of over 300 islands, two of which house the majority of the population: Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. Fiji is part of Melanesia, but is not far from its Polynesian and scenic neighbors. Samoa og Tonga.
On the southeast coast of the main island, Viti Levu, lies Fiji's capital, Suva. The city is the economic and political center of Fiji and is known for its urban and nightlife. The pace is fast and the energy energetic and unpredictable. In this way, life in Suva differs slightly from the life you find on many of the surrounding islands. The free paradisiacal holiday life.
Nadi and Lautoka – sugar and mud baths
Before you sail from the main island further out into the vast Pacific Ocean, there are two other large cities that are also worth a visit, namely Nadi and Lautoka.
Both cities are located on the west coast and not far from the airport. You fly to Nadi, where after being welcomed with dancing and singing by the locals you can head north to Lautoka. This is Fiji's second largest city and is also called 'Sugar City' as it is known for its sugar plantations, which play an important role in Fiji's history. This is also the explanation why three sugar canes have been given a place in the coat of arms on the Fijian national flag.
In Nadi the park is Garden of the Sleeping Giant Worth a visit. It is a botanical garden where you can see 2.000 different orchid species, go on beautiful hikes and enjoy the tranquility of the rainforest in the middle of the big city.
Not far from here is Sabeto Hot Spring and Mud Pool, which offers hot springs and mud baths that northern spa hotels struggle to match. You are guided through a kind of labyrinth of springs where your body can nourish itself with Fiji's natural beauty. It doesn't get more authentic and organic than this.
Food and music shape culture
The Fiji Islands have a way of life all their own. Dance and music play a special role and contribute to the colourful atmosphere that seems to attract people from all over the world. The Fijians are known for their hospitality and combine this with their passion for music.
Traditionally, music is used for ceremonies, among other things, and welcoming tourists is no exception. Since I myself island hopping Throughout Fiji, I didn't experience a single place where I wasn't greeted with the sound of pan flutes, rhythmic clapping of hands or singing from the locals. A welcome like no other and an openness we could learn a little from in Denmark.
I lived with a Fijian family in Lautoka and took the local bus to Nadi every morning to volunteer at an orphanage. It's not a bus ride like we know it from home.
On the local buses you sit – if not under the open sky – then at least surrounded by colors and dancing. It is completely impossible to maintain a musty Monday mood with the happy songs playing at full blast – and which make the whole city sing along.
Fiji's irresistible islands
Fiji has a lot to offer if you're dreaming of new nature experiences, wild water activities and sunny beach days. But with so many options, how do you know which islands to prioritize traveling to? Don't worry, I'm here to help you.
If you have traveled to Fiji to dive, you should visit the Yasawa Islands. It is an archipelago located northwest of the main island, and here there is ample opportunity to explore the beautiful coral reef that Fiji is famous for.
From the port in Nadi, Port Denarau, you can easily book a so-called 'Bula Pass', which is a type of travel card that allows you to hop on and off a boat that sails through the Yasawa Islands every day. In this way, this particular archipelago is particularly inviting for island hopping.
On several of Fiji's Yasawa Islands, there is only one place to stay. That's why you're forced to buy a package when booking the islands. Although the non-existent competition pushes the price up a bit, you get a very local and personal experience that is hard to match elsewhere.
I would especially recommend spending a few days on Kuata Island. It is the only place in the world where you can dive with bull sharks without certification. Even though I had never tried diving before, I took the plunge and was guided in safe hands through what is now an unforgettable and unique travel memory.
It's also where I've seen the most beautiful sunsets of my life. Imagine a perfect evening, lying on top of a mountain in the Fiji Islands in the middle of nowhere. Pacific Ocean without so much as a building to shade your view.
5 places you shouldn't miss when traveling to Fiji
- The capital Suva
- Nadi – the city's botanical garden and hot springs
- Sugar town Lautoka
- Yasawa Islands
- Kuata Island – here you can dive with bull sharks without ever having dived before
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