Outdoors · Fiji
8 best outdoor things to do in Fiji
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: User:Matthias Süßen, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Mamanuca island day cruise, Blue Lagoon and Monuriki. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 22–30 hours across 5 areas; 1 is free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 1
- Time to see them all
- 22–30 hours
- Areas
- Mamanuca Islands, Yasawa Islands and Sabeto Valley
Outdoors in Fiji
Island · Mamanuca Islands
1.Mamanuca island day cruise
Choose a trip with a long stop at one island rather than several short ones, and pack reef-safe sunscreen and a rash vest.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Waterfront · Yasawa Islands
2.Blue Lagoon
Stay a night or two on Nanuya Lailai or a nearby island rather than visiting on a short stop from the catamaran.
- Time needed
- Half a day to a full day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Couples
- Nature
- Photo spot
Island · Mamanuca Islands
3.Monuriki
Combine it with snorkelling on the reef in the lagoon; landing depends on sea conditions.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- Nature
Nature · Yasawa Islands
4.Sawa-i-Lau Caves
Only swim into the second chamber if you are comfortable holding your breath briefly underwater; the first chamber is worth it alone.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Active
- Off the beaten path
Garden · Sabeto Valley
5.Garden of the Sleeping Giant
Combine it with the Sabeto mud pools in the same valley for a half-day outing from Nadi or Denarau.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Couples
- Kids
Experience · Sabeto Valley
6.Sabeto mud pools and hot springs
Wear an old swimsuit; the mud can stain light fabric.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
Nature · Coral Coast
7.Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park
Walk in the early morning; the exposed dunes are very hot by midday.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- History
- Outdoors
- Active
Experience · Pacific Harbour
8.Beqa Lagoon shark dive
It is a dive for certified divers only; check the operator's experience requirements before booking.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Active
- Nature
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Mamanuca Islands | Mamanuca island day cruise and Monuriki | Full day + Half a day |
| Yasawa Islands | Blue Lagoon and Sawa-i-Lau Caves | Half a day to a full day + Half a day |
| Sabeto Valley | Garden of the Sleeping Giant and Sabeto mud pools and hot springs | 1–1.5 hours + 1–2 hours |
| Coral Coast | Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park | 1.5–2 hours |
| Pacific Harbour | Beqa Lagoon shark dive | Half a day |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 1 free, 4 low cost, 3 expensive. Book ahead for Beqa Lagoon shark dive. The longest visit is Mamanuca island day cruise; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Beqa Lagoon shark dive: Dives run on set days and fill up in peak season; book in advance with a dive operator.
How to fit them into 6 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Mamanuca Islands): Mamanuca island day cruise, at least 6 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Mamanuca Islands): Monuriki, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Yasawa Islands): Blue Lagoon, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Yasawa Islands): Sawa-i-Lau Caves, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Sabeto Valley and Coral Coast): Garden of the Sleeping Giant → Sabeto mud pools and hot springs → Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 6 (Pacific Harbour): Beqa Lagoon shark dive, at least 3 hours.
The best months to be outside
- June: highs of 28°C (82°F), about 4 rainy days, busy crowds. Dry, sunny and comfortable; manta rays are often seen in the Yasawas from around May to October.
- July: highs of 28°C (82°F), about 4 rainy days, very busy crowds. Peak season with Australian and New Zealand school holidays; book resorts and ferries well ahead.
- August: highs of 28°C (82°F), about 4 rainy days, busy crowds. Dry and breezy with the clearest water for diving; cool evenings on the water.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Denarau Island — Large international resorts, a golf course and the main marina, 20 minutes from Nadi airport
- Mamanuca Islands — Small coral islands and resorts 30–90 minutes by catamaran from Port Denarau
- Yasawa Islands — Remote volcanic islands, the Blue Lagoon and backpacker-to-boutique resorts
- Coral Coast — Resorts and villages along Viti Levu's southern road, with reef-sheltered lagoons
- Pacific Harbour — Self-styled adventure capital for shark dives, river rafting and the Beqa firewalkers
More of Fiji
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Fiji?
Mamanuca island day cruise. Catamarans and smaller boats leave Port Denarau each morning for day trips to Mamanuca islands, with snorkelling over coral reefs, lunch on the beach and swimming in clear lagoons.
+Which of these are free in Fiji?
Blue Lagoon.