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Fiji

The 180th meridian runs straight through Taveuni, marked by a signpost in a field.

MelanesiaCapital: Suva

Family FriendlyDiving SnorkelingRomanceAll InclusiveSailing

Fiji is 333 islands, about a third of them inhabited, and the 180th meridian crosses one of them — Taveuni, where a signpost stands on the line. The International Date Line was bent east around the whole group so the country keeps a single date rather than splitting itself in half.

Most people live on Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, and most visitors land at Nadi on Viti Levu's dry western side before moving out to the Mamanuca or Yasawa chains. Arriving in a village still means sevusevu: you present a bundle of kava root to the chief and wait to be received. Cyclone season runs November to April.

Quick facts

Currency

FJD

Fijian dollar

Language

English

+ Fijian

Power

—

Driving

Left

UK-style

Airport

NAN

SUV

Emergency

—

Police · Fire

When to go

Monthly breakdown

Storm risk: High

Jan

Rain

Feb

Rain

Mar

Rain

Apr

Rain

May

Best

Jun

Best

Jul

Best

Aug

Best

Sep

Best

Oct

Best

Nov

Rain

Dec

Rain

Best monthsRainy season

Major events

Aug

Hibiscus Festival

A week in Suva with a float parade, a queen pageant and a funfair on Albert Park. The largest single event in the Fijian calendar.

Cultural

Oct

Fiji Day

10 October marks both cession to Britain in 1874 and independence in 1970, the same date at both ends of colonial rule.

Cultural

Oct

Diwali

A public holiday reflecting Fiji's large Indo-Fijian population, with houses lit and sweets shared across community lines.

Religious

Hidden gems

Village

Navala Village

The last village in Fiji built entirely of traditional thatched bure, laid out in rows along the Ba River valley. Visitors need permission from the chief, arranged at the village entrance.

Waterfall

Tavoro Waterfalls

Three falls stacked up the Bouma valley on Taveuni. The first is a ten-minute walk from the road; reaching the third takes a steep hour and most day-trippers never do.

Nature

Sabeto Hot Springs

Thermal mud pools in the hills behind Nadi where the routine is mud, bake dry, rinse, then soak. Locally run and about 25 minutes from the airport, which makes it a good last-day stop.

Local food

Kokoda

Raw walu or mahi mahi cured in lime juice then dressed in coconut cream with chilli and onion, served in a coconut shell.

Lovo

Meat, fish and root vegetables wrapped in banana leaf and buried on hot stones for hours; the Sunday and celebration meal.

Duruka

dietary_tags.vegan

The unopened flower of a wild cane, in season roughly April to June, cooked in coconut milk; called Fijian asparagus though it is neither.

Safety tips

Cultural-Etiquette

Entering a village means presenting sevusevu, a gift of kava, to the chief through a host. Hats and sunglasses come off inside the village and shoulders stay covered.

Nature

Cyclone season runs November to April and the strongest storms have hit in February. Domestic flights and boat transfers are the first things cancelled.

Water-Safety

Currents through the reef passes are strong and the drop-offs are close to shore on the Coral Coast. Snorkel inside the reef unless you are with a boat operator.