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FIND HOTELS IN FIJI
GENERAL INFO
After New Zealand the Melanesian island republic of Fiji is the the largest country in the South Pacific, both by area and population.
Fiji consists of five hundred small islets and three hundred and twenty two volcanic islands, one hundred and six of which are inhabited, and all of which are surrounded by soft coral reefs. The Fijian islands cover a land area of 18,300 square kilometers which cover an overall area of 194,000 square kilometers. Ths island group has two main islands, Viti Levu at 10,388 square kilometers, which is where the island group's capital city Suva is located, and Vanua Levu at 5,587 square kilometersm, where the island group's second largest city of Labasa is located.
Fiji is divided into fourteen provinces, eight of which are located on the island of Viti Levu and three of which are located on the island of Vanua Levu.
Fiji is renowned for it's miles of sandy beaches, soft coral reefs, mountain ranges, tropical forests, rivers, good infrastructure, reliable public transport system and an abundance of modern resort hotels, all of which make the island group an ideal tourist location.
The official languages of Fiji are Fijian and English.
The currency of Fiji is the Fijian Dollar.
The predominant religion of Fiji is Christian Methodist.
Fiji is located on time zone UTC +12.
LOCAL TRAVEL
Fiji is served by a very good infrastructure and transport network. The islands are served by no less than twenty five airports, the two main ones being Nadi International Airport, located on the island of Viti Levu, which receives flights from ten South Pacific destinations, ten Fijian destinations and seven international destinations and Fiji's main domestic airport Nausori Airport, also located on the island of Viti Levu, which serves seven Fijian island destinations and four South Pacific destinations.
There are six sea ports located in Fiji located at Suva, Labasa, Savusavu, Lautoka, Levuka and Nabouwalu.
Fiji operates an extensive, regular and cheap bus service on it's main islands and several inter - island ferry services, which include RoRo ferries. The smaller islands of Fiji can all be accessed by small boat services.
Taxis are also plentiful in Fiji all of which charge tariffs by distance.
Fiji has several rivers and it’s vast river network is served by two hundred kilometers of navigable waterways.
There is a railway on Fiji but it is purely commercial and not for passenger use.
Fiji is served by 5,100 kilometers of paved roads and car hire is plentiful but expensive. In order to be able to rent a car tourists must be in receipt of an International Driving Permit and be at least twenty five years old. In Fiji vehicles drive on the left hand side of the road.
SUVA
Fiji’s capital city is Suva and is built upon a hilly peninsula which is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. The city has an urban sprawl of 2,048 square kilometers and a population of 180,000 people making it Fiji’s major political, industrial and commercial hub.
Suva is surrounded by vast industrial areas of factories, warehouses and ship yards, the Nabua Military Base and King’s Wharf, home of the country’s main cargo, ferry and cruise terminals.
Suva is also served by a large modern business district which houses the headquarters of several banks and major South Pacific business concerns.
Suva’s commercial district is centered around the areas of Cumming Street and Victoria Parade where it boasts four massive shopping malls and several bars and restaurants along with several large cinema and sports complexes.
Suva consists of a myriad of old colonial and modern structures which include the Suva Minicipal Market, the Suva Campus of the University of the South Pacific, the Museum of Fiji, the Carnegie Library, several parliament buildings and Government House which is the official residence of the President of Fiji.
Suva is also home to several green spaces which include seventy eight parks and a multitude of public gardens.
Natural attractions around Suva include the Colo I Suva Forest Park, the Wailoku Falls and the Navua River where it’s high gorges and spectacular waterfalls make it a popular location for river rafting.
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
Fiji is a major tourist destination for Australians, New Zealanders and Americans, where it’s many islands and coral reefs make the country one of the South Pacific’s main tourist destinations for scuba diving, where the sea around the islands have a myriad of dive sites and shipwrecks.
Fiji has over fifty large resort hotels situated within it’s island group, some of which are located on some of Fiji's smaller and remote islands, all of which can be accessed from either a small airport or ferry port.
The interiors of Fiji's larger islands are renowned for their tropical forests, rugged mountains, highland villages and abundance of rivers and waterfalls.
Fiji’s main tourist locations are situated on the Mananuca Archipelago, the Yasawa Islands and Denarau Island, which is home to Fiji’s only Las Vegas style hotel and casino complex.
Fiji is also home to fifteen golf courses and golf resorts.
VITI LEVU is Fiji’s largest island with a population of 600,000 people. The island consists of Fiji’s vibrant and cosmopolitan capital city Suva, the towns of Nausori, Lautoka, Rakiraki, Sigatora and Nadi and the purpose built resort of Pacific Harbor.
Pacific Harbour is Fiji's adventure playground situated along the island’s lush west coast. It has a myriad of dive sites and is a popular area for fishing, kayaking and white water rafting. The area around Pacific Harbor is dotted with several hotels, private residences, the Beqa Lagoon, the Shark Reef Marine Reserve, the Qara In Qio River, an Arts Village complete with a cultural centre which provides traditional dancing and fire walking and an eighteen hole golf course.
The interior and eastern side of the island is a mountainous area with many fast flowing rivers and several highland villages.
Fiji’s highest point is Mount Tomanivi which is 1,324 meters high which is also situated on Viti Levu.
VANUA LEVU is Fiji’s second largest island with a population of 130,000 people.The island consists of Fiji’s second largest city Labasa and the town of Suvasuva.
Vanua Levu is surrounded by coral reefs and it’s interior is divided into north and south by a large rugged mountain range which contains several highland villages.
The south of the island is a predominantly hilly region with several rivers and vast areas of tropical rain forests. The town of Suvasuva is located on the island’s south coast, a town which is popular for it’s hot springs,the Copra Shed Marina and a cosmopolitan yacht club. Suvasuva also has a ferry terminal, a hospital and a few hotels and shops.
The north of the island is a mainly agricultural area which is renowned for it’s sugar cane plantations. The north of the island is where the city of Labasa is situated. The city was built on the delta of three rivers, all of which are connected by a large canal system. Labasa has a few hotels, several dive sites, a yachting marina, a large market and several shops, restaurants and bars.
Labasa is also served by a hospital, a ferry port and a small regional airport.
WEATHER / NATURAL PHENOMENA
Fiji has a tropical marine climate which receives daytime temperatures of between 22c and 32c and night time temperatures of between 15c and 18c.
Fiji’s climate has two distinct wet and dry seasons. The wet season occurs between November and April, where the highest rainfall is localised in the mountainous regions. The dry season occurs during the months of May to October.
Fiji is served by trade winds which blow in an east to west direction across the island group, keeping humidity low and winds light to moderate.
Fiji experiences a cyclone season between November and April, with the worst months generally January and February.
Fiji has also been known to experience small scale earthquakes.
CRIME
The threat of terrorist attacks in Fiji are non existent.
Burglary, pick pockets, common assault and sexual assault, especially in Suva, are commonplace, especially against westerners and especially at night. Therefore visitors are asked to exercise normal caution when in built up areas especially at night.
Only use bone fide taxi companies when in Fiji, as there has been reports of undesirables posing as taxi drivers in order to rob tourists.
Visitors are asked not to indulge in political rallies. Military forces have overthrown the previous democratically elected government leading to the military now ruling the islands with an iron fist and curtailing all freedom of speech. This is a problematic time for locals although this has not been a problem for tourists.
Anyone in the possession of drugs of any sort will incur a mandatory three month prison sentence.
As is the case everywhere else in the world drink driving is illegal, as is public nudity and topless bathing.
Homosexuality has been decriminalised in Fiji but it would still be wise for same sex couples not to show affection in public places.
The Fijian police have been known to be a little heavy handed with locals, although this does not appear to be the case with tourists.
The emergency telephone number for the police in Fiji is 911.
HEALTH
Visitors to Fiji are asked to undergo a full vaccination program for typhoid, dengue fever and yellow fever, especially if visiting during the wet season.
It is also advised to take out a full medical / travel insurance before visiting Fiji.
Most of the hospitals in Fiji are equipped to deal with basic medical / surgical cases but more serious conditions are evacuated to Australia, New Zealand or Hawaii.
Divers are informed that there is a hyperbaric unit at the Colonial War memorial Hospital in Suva. If divers need this service and are staying on other islands within the group medical evacuation will be necessary at their own expense.
Ambulances are available throughout Fiji but they are not reliable, therefore try and make your own way to the nearest hospital if at all possible.
The telephone numbers for Fiji's various hospitals are;
Colonial War Memorial Hospital, Suva, Viti Levu – (679) 331 3441.
Tamavua Hospital, Suva, Viti Levu – (679) 321 066.
Ba Hospital, Viti Levu – (679) 674 022.
Lautoka Hospital, Viti Levu – (679) 666 0399.
Nadi Hospital, Viti Levu – (679) 701 109.
Rakiraki Hospital, Viti Levu – (679) 694 368.
Labasa Hospital, Vanua Levu – (679) 811 444.
Savusavu Hospital, Vanua Levu – (679) 885 0444.
Taveuni Island Hospital – (679) 880 444.
St John’s Ambulance services, Suva – (679) 330 1439.
For a list of Dental Surgeons in Fiji please visit - www.yellowpages.com.fj/Dentists
FOREIGN CONSULATES
There are several foreign embassies and consulates situated in the capital Suva.
To find the address, telephone number or opening times for any one of them please visit this link - www.fiji.gov.fj/ind
VISA INFO
Visas for tourists are not required for visits of up to four months but passports should be valid for six months or more from the date of arrival.
When entering Fiji please be aware that there are heavy penalties for carrying drugs or child pornography into the country.
Pets are not allowed entry into Fiji, as are perishable food stuffs or cash to the value of more than five thousand Fijian Dollars.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
January 1 – New Year’s Day.
January 28 – Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday.
Good Friday
Easter Monday
October 10 – Fiji Day.
November 4 – Diwali.
December 25 – Christmas Day.
December 26 – Boxing Day.
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
For Fiji's tourismwebsite please visit - www.fijime.com / www.exquisitefiji.com
Fiji's flag carrier airline's website, please visit - www.fijiairways.com
Fiji's governmental website, please visit - www.fiji.gov.fj
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Image - Bure Navala, Nausori Highlands, Viti Levu - Courtesy of Merbabu, wikipedia commons
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