Destination: Fiji

LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION

Itinerary: Well trodden, well deserved

TWO WEEKS / WESTERN ISLANDS & THE CORAL COAST

Fabulous beaches and a dose of the mainland dominate this classic route. Enjoying parties in the Mamanucas, seclusion in the Yasawas and urban culture on the mainland will take around a fortnight but you could easily stretch it to three weeks. All up you’ll cover around 550km of land and sea.



Begin your Fijian fling in Nadi, taking a day to acclimatise. Then get off the mainland and onto a boat heading to the Mamanucas and what you really came for – sea and sun. Revel in romance at Tokoriki or Matamanoa, party at Beachcomber Island or Mana, or entertain the family troop at Treasure Island or Castaway Island. But don’t stop here: board the Yasawa Flyer for some island-hopping through the Yasawas to get into or away from it as much as you like. Bliss out on a postcard-perfect beach on Waya, Nacula or Nanuya Lailai, where you can paddle in the Blue Lagoon. Once you’ve had your South Seas fix, head back to the mainland to see what else Fiji has to offer.

From Nadi, hire a car or jump on a bus and take a trip along the Coral Coast. Picnic on Natadola Beach and chug into the verdant interior on the Coral Coast Scenic Railway. Don the sneakers and trek the Sigatoka Sand Dunes or marvel at the wildlife in the Kula Eco Park. Rest up at a resort at Korolevu and spend a couple of days inside, outside, poolside and barside. Amble into Pacific Harbour and spend a day diving Beqa Lagoon or rafting the mighty Navua River.

Finish your trip with a day or two in Suva.