If you head north from New Zealand in the South Pacific
Ocean, about 1,000 miles later you’ll come across the popular
Fiji Islands. The country of just under a million people
consists of over 300 islands with just over 100 of them being
inhabited. Most of the residents live on the two main islands of
Vanua Levu and Viti Levu. The capital city of Fiji is Suva,
which is located on Viti Levu, and the country’s closest
neighbour is the nation of Tonga.
It’s believed the islands were first inhabited about 3500 BC
by settlers and traders from the west. A unique Fijian culture
grew over the years and Europeans permanently settled there
starting in the 19th century. Fiji became a colony of the United
Kingdom in 1874 and was granted independence in 1970, so there’s
quite a bit of British influence on the islands.
The islands are mountainous and blanketed with dense tropical
forests, but there are some large towns, such as Nadi, where the
international airport is located, and the town of Lautoka, which
is home to a seaport and large sugar mill. The major towns on
Vanua Levu include Savusavu and Labasa.
A trip to Fiji is recommended anytime of the year as the
weather’s quite warm all year round, especially between November
and April. Things cool off a little between May and October, but
the average temperature is still about 74 degrees Fahrenheit.
The country has plenty of resources when it comes to sugar,
minerals, forests, and fish and is quite developed. However, the
tourism industry is also starting to grow each year and the
country is somewhat dependent on it. Most visitors head to the
Denarau and Nadi islands as they like to scuba dive among the
soft coral reefs as well as enjoy whitewater rafting. The
islands are also building remote resorts to suit all budgets,
which are attracting more visitors.
There’s an international airport close to central Nadi and
another near Suva. You can also get to Fiji by boat from
Australia. When you’ve reached the city you can easily get
around by the extensive bus service as well as taxis. You can
get from island to island by ferry and you might want to take
your bicycle with you to explore the land.
Visitors to the islands can take in a mixture of cultures
that include native, Chinese, European, and Indian traditions.
These can be witnessed in the food, language, dress, religion,
architecture, craft, arts, dance, sports, and music. The
official languages are English, Bau Fijian, and Hindi, but
you’ll hear English in most of the tourist areas. The native
culture is quite strong and its traditions can be seen in
everyday life and its national holidays such as Mawlid, National
Youth Day, Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna Day, Fiji Day, and Diwali.
There are small restaurants and cafes in all towns. Seafood,
Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Indian dishes are popular along
with lamb and pork dishes. Local food includes fresh tropical
fruit and nuts. A lot of the dishes are cooked in coconut milk.
The natives love to stay active and rugby’s their favourite
sport, with the national team being one of the best in the
world.
If you’re looking for an ocean paradise that features warm,
clear tropical waters mixed with volcanic mountains and coral
reefs with a few remote villages and spectacular scenery
sprinkled in, then Fiji is the place to be.
