Trip Highlights

There’s a lot more to Fiji than 90% of travellers see. Fiji is a tropical paradise blessed with natural beauty both on the land and under the water that challenges you to be adventurous. This itinerary is for the 10% of travellers who want to fully experience their travel destination and take home memories that extend well beyond the grounds of the resort where they’re staying.

Enjoy these highlights*:

• Discover more of Fiji than you ever thought possible
• Stay eight nights at a waterfront Fiji resort
• Enjoy a day of snorkelling and island relaxation at Savala Island
• Visit Suva, the capital of Fiji
• Embark on a sunset dinner cruise (with optional Lobster upgrade)
• Cultural centre tour, traditional dance show and special lunch
• Enjoy an evening buffet dinner at a nearby resort with entertainment

* Two packages are available. Silver star package highlights shown. Pricing is based on two adults and two children travelling. See Inclusions for full details. Package price varies according to season and departure city.

Package Pricing

FULL RETAIL VALUE $2,178pp SAVINGS APPLIED -$479 YOU PAY FROM* $1,699

SAVING OFF FULL RETAIL VALUE (UP TO): 22%

* All prices are per-person on a twin-share basis and bookings are subject to availability. The final price and deposit amount varies according to travel date. All prices are estimates only. A firm quote (travel plan) with payment terms will be submitted for consideration prior to agreement to proceed. Full booking terms and conditions are available HERE...

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Inclusions

We'll help you make the most of your island escape whether you're traveling as a family or as a couple. You’ll be surrounded by picturesque beaches while you relax and enjoy a range of island-time activities. Immerse yourself in the island life by relaxing by the pool or beach, going snorkeling, visiting traditional villages as well as Suva, the capital of Fiji. Enjoy an island cruise as well.

This is a first-class travel itinerary that's fully flexible. Want more or fewer days or you want to include a special destination or activity? No problem, we’ll customise a travel plan for you.

Package inclusions:

Bronze Star package:

• Return flights to/from Nadi
• 8 nights' Bronze standard accommodation on Fiji’s Coral Coast
• Daily buffet breakfasts
• Cruise to Savala Island with morning tea, afternoon tea and lunch
• 9 days car hire, Suzuki Jimny or similar

Silver Star package:

• Return flights to/from Nadi
• 8 nights' Silver standard accommodation on Fiji’s Coral Coast
• Daily buffet breakfast
• Cruise to Savala Island with morning tea, afternoon tea and lunch
• Half-day tour of Fiji Culture Village in Nacaqara with traditional “lovo”lunch
• Sunset dinner cruise (with discounted Lobster upgrade)
• 9 days car hire, Toyota Rav4 or similar
• 3-course dinner and Polynesian fire dance show

All packages include:

• Lonely Planet guide for Fiji
• No fees to alter the itinerary (you just pay for the adjusted itinerary)
• Extra nights at industry wholesale price (using GCash travel credits)
• Google Drive folder with soft copies of all travel documents
• Comprehensive, printed itinerary
• Personal travel consultant to help plan and customize your holiday
• Option for best-in-class travel insurance at member price

Carefully selected accommodation:

Read about our accommodation rating standards and the methods used to assess quality.

Fully customisable:

This itinerary is fully customisable to suit your requirements. Your personal travel consultant is available to discuss changes and additions that will enhance your travel experience.

Special value:

Lonely Planet is renowned for its first-hand approach, up-to-date maps and commitment to providing the best information for travelers. Lonely Planet authors are experienced, insightful travel experts. They personally research the places they write about - both in the first and in subsequent editions - and provide essential travel details along with a wealth of insider information and first-hand tips.

You will receive this guide to help you gain the most out of your holiday. Recommendation: Take the time to read suggestions for things to see and do before you leave home. Take your Lonely Planet guide with you in your luggage.

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* All prices are per-person on a twin-share basis and bookings are subject to availability. Price and deposit amount varies according to travel date. If flights are shown as included then a flight cost provision (allowance) applies and is based on travel from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane. Travel can be arranged from any other major centre and for any number of people. All prices shown are estimates only. A firm quote (travel plan) with payment terms will be submitted for consideration prior to agreement to proceed. Total price after member discount (using Getaway Cash travel credits and Australian Escapes Free Flights Vouchers if applicable) is generally payable as follows: Deposit on booking, balance 120 days prior to departure. Packages can be priced for families and groups on request. Standard price and full retail value comparisons are with similar packages offered elsewhere or what we estimate would be payable by a non-member for the same or similar package and may include a value we define for specialty travel agency services. Travel insurance if included is a provision only and may be declined on requestTravel insurance pricing if stated is based on comprehensive travel insurance for two travellers aged 69 years or less as at the date of departure from Australia. No recommendations or advice are given in regard to travel insurance suitability. Travel Directions Pty Ltd (t/as Australian Escapes Holiday & Travel Club) standard booking terms and conditions apply to all booking enquiries and bookings and are available here to view (or visit our website and go to either the "Booking Enquiry" or "About Us" menu item.)

Your Itinerary

Say “Bula” to Fiji! You arrive in Nadi (pronounced “Nandi”), gateway to the Fiji islands. You’ll then immerse yourself daily in everything from total relaxation to island day tours including Nadi and Suva, snorkelling, glass bottom boat rides and traditional cultural experiences. In the process you’ll not only learn to relax on island-time, you’ll also learn about the rich culture and history that has made this vibrant country what it is today.

Unlike the majority of travellers, you will have a car to get you to the many places that are not as touristy. This is a real advantage, giving you complete freedom to get out and about as much as you please. You can even include “resort-hopping” into your itinerary. This is where you simply drive around and check-out the various resorts, have lunch or enjoy a cool drink.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain

DAY 1: NADI - CORAL COAST

After arriving into Nadi you will collect your hire car and start your island adventure with a scenic drive to your resort. Once you have checked in, the rest of the afternoon is free for you to enjoy the resort facilities. Try out the restaurant tonight for a delicious meal of local produce. If you haven’t already done so, now’s the time to study your Lonely Planet guide and review your plan for each day of your stay in Fiji.

DAY 2: FIJIAN CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

Experience the culture of Fiji. Enjoy a Jungle Bush Walk or just laze on the beach, catch some sun and look at the magnificent island scenery. Watch as the staff climb the coconut tree to retrieve coconuts, and then take part in the juice-tasting demonstration fresh from the coconuts.

Guests then meander over to the Lovo pit where Fijian traditions and cooking Lovo style is explained. When the food is taken out of the Lovo the Fijian warriors walk the hot stones and coals then it's on to a fresh healthy lunch consisting of garden salad, chicken, ham and fish all served buffet style.

Tour highlights:

• Fire walking and South Pacific Island dance show
• Engaging activities like snorkeling and crab racing
• Coconut tree climbing, coconut tasting and demonstration

• Indulge in a lavish island feast with a buffet-style Lovo meal
• Sea kayaks and a jungle bush walk led by a crazy medicine man
• Explore an island archaeological site that unveils pottery from 3,500 years ago

DAY 3: SAVALA ISLAND

Today will be your chance to see one of the most beautiful little islands in the Fiji Islands group, just perfect for snorkelling. Savala Island, just off the coast of Fiji, feels like a holiday within in holiday. Relax on the beach, kayak, stand-up paddleboard, and enjoy unlimited rides on a glass-bottom boat whilst absorbing the local flavour.

As you sail towards Savala Island, indulge in home-made banana cake and a tea or coffee while learning about the local scenery. After mooring along the sandy cay's vibrant shores the world of Savala Island is your oyster: Relax on the beach or go snorkelling. During your visit you can feed the fish and immerse yourself in the “Tale of the Coconut,” which explains the coconut's many practical applications.

You will be picked up from your hotel to travel to Savala Island for your island day cruise. Includes morning and afternoon tea and lunch and refreshments.

Cruise and tour highlights:

• Stunning reefs teeming with vivid sea life & colourful coral
• Engaging activities for individuals, children & families
• Chance to learn about island life, feed fish and go snorkeling
• Glass-bottom boat peacefully glides across the water
• Educational songs, culture & food of the Fijian people

DAY 4: RELAX OR MORE ADVENTURE

Today is a free day to rest or continue adventuring. You might want to spend the day relaxing at the resort or soaking up the sun on the beach.

If you’re traveling with children, take a drive to Kula Eco Park, Fiji's biggest Family Fun Park at Sigatoka on the Coral Coast. It is a 28-acre property set in 3 valleys. Huge walk-through enclosures put you inside the habitats of its resident parrots, doves, water birds and reptiles. Marine displays of ocean turtles, soft and hard coral and tropical fish provide a glimpse of the spectacular marine world that surrounds the 300+ Islands of Fiji. With almost a kilometer of wooden walkways, bridges and rest areas, the park provides visitors with the opportunity to experience the ‘wild side’ of Fiji in comfortable and safe surroundings.

Visit Navala Village, about two scenic hours’ drive from Nadi. Nestled in rugged, grassy mountains, Navala is by far Fiji’s most picturesque village. Navala’s chief enforces strict town-planning rules: the dozens of traditional thatched bure are laid out neatly in avenues, with a central promenade sloping down the banks of the Ba River. All the houses here are built with local materials; the only concrete block and corrugated iron in sight is for the school, Catholic church and radio shed (which houses the village’s emergency radio telephone).

DAY 5: SUVA

Suva (soo-va) is the heart of Fiji, home to half of the country’s urban population and the largest city in the South Pacific. It's a lush green city on a hilly peninsula, that gets more than its fair share of rain, and has a vibrant cultural scene.

Downtown is as diverse architecturally as the populace is culturally. A jigsaw of colonial buildings, modern shopping plazas, abundant eateries and a breezy esplanade all form the compact central business district. Small passages are lined with curry houses, sari shops and bric-a-brac traders.

On the last Saturday of each month there is a changing of the guards at the presidential residence. If your timing is right this event is well worth seeing.

Include Thurston Gardens as part of your visit. The park is located at the heart of Suva City and displays horticultural species, several greenhouses, and walking tracks. It is open for sightseeing every day of the year and admission is free. You can walk along the park’s trails, picnic on manicured lawns and see the natural beauty of the island’s native flora, including tropical trees, palms, ferns, colourful gingers and water lilies.

DAY 6: ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE!

If you pictured yourself spending your days by the pool or the beach, then this is a perfect day to do just that. Alternatively, you can explore more of the endless natural wonders of Fiji. Check out Natadola Beach, considered one of Fiji's best beaches. Natadola features pure white sand, many shade trees and crystal clear waters.

If you enjoyed the cultural experience in Nadi, then take a drive to Kalevu Cultural Centre, hidden away within the four and a half acre grounds of Gecko’s Resort. The centre provides a glimpse into the local way of life in a traditional Fijian village which has been created to be as authentic as possible. It is open for visitors from 9am to 3pm daily.

Afterwards you might like to have lunch at the resort and spend the rest of the day at the beach. Or you can take advantage of some of the activities on offer at the host resort and return to your own resort in the afternoon.

Silver star package: Buffet dinner and Polynesian fire dance show.

Once evening sets in we have you booked in for a sumptuous 3-course dinner followed by a traditional Polynesian fire dance show (Sunday nights only) at another resort a short drive away.

DAY 7: NADI & SUNSET CRUISE

If you haven’t already looked around Nadi, this would be a good day to do it. There’s the Garden of the Sleeping Giant, craft markets, and the towering and colourful Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple to visit. You’ll find all the information you need about Nadi in your Lonely Planet Guide.

Highly recommended is taking a traditional mud bath at Sabeto or Tifajek, only 30 minutes from Nadi, on the same road as the Garden of the Sleeping Giant. Both are right next door to each other and owned by a brother and sister. Both have changing rooms with showers. To take full advantage of the therapeutic value of the mud pools you first coat yourself in mud then bake in the sun until it drys. Wash off in the first hot spring pool then walk over to the next clear water pool for another cleansing. Wonderful and fun experience.

Silver star package: Sunset dinner cruise.

As the sky streaks yellows, oranges and pinks, head for the open seas on an enchanting and romantic dinner cruise along Fiji’s peaceful waters. Dine on a succulent barbecued meal, take in a live Fijian cultural performance and soak up the spectacular sight of the sun setting over the Pacific.

Board your vessel at Denarau Marina (a short drive from Nadi), sip on a refreshing welcome drink and ponder the marvellous views from the open deck. Long, white beaches meet easy ocean waves, crafting the perfect island scene. Find a seat while you pull away from shore and prepare for dinner to begin. (Optional lobster meal upgrade available for $25 per person, normally $50.)

DAY 8: MAKING THE MOST OF IT

We’re sure by this stage you’ll have settled into island life and never want to leave. Now is the time to see and do anything you’ve not yet done.

Denarau Island is well worth a visit to find an oceanfront restaurant at one of the resorts such as Radisson Blu or Sofitel to enjoy a delicious lunch. If there is anything else you have missed or might want to go back to, now is the time to do it! You might prefer to spend your last day relaxing by the resort pool or on the beach as there really is nothing like it.

DAY 9: MOCE NI SA MOCE

Unfortunately, even the best holidays must come to an end. Today you head back to Nadi to fly home after an incredible island experience that will leave you feeling revitalised and rejuvenated, like every holiday should. Drop your hire car off at the airport for a smooth departure and say goodbye to Fiji until next time.