One-Flight Fiji Holidays That Families Will Love
Fiji’s main island Viti Levu is home to some of its most family-focused resorts – and easy airport access makes a holiday here a one-stop, flop-and-drop dream. Here are four retreats the whole family will get excited about.
Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort
Not only is this newly renovated resort just a 20-minute drive from Nadi airport on the bridged “island” of Denarau, it also gets bonus points for being a few resorts rolled into one. You get full use of the Sheraton’s pools – including one just for kids and another for only adults – plus the 18-hole golf course, tennis court and watersport toys, as well as use of the pool at next door’s Sheraton Denarau Villas, and the spa at the nearby Westin. The food is also a huge drawcard, particularly the generous breakfast buffet that includes fresh smoothies, bakery items and 12 stations serving up fresh omelettes, eggs Benedict, hot soups and more – so there’s something to please even the pickiest eater.
Nanuku Resort Fiji
Although this tranquil property is part of Viti Levu, it has the look and feel of a private island, set on two hectares of tucked-away land dotted with coconut palms. Accommodation includes villas, suites and luxury family-friendly residences (with up to six bedrooms) that feature private pools, ocean views or spas. And if you think kids’ clubs are just colouring in and videos, think again. Here your little ones will be fully immersed in the breezy rhythms of island life, with rock climbing, mangrove planting, dancing and moonlight cinema nights. Not that the under-18s have a monopoly on fun: the property is located on the island’s Pacific Harbour, also known as Fiji’s ‘Adventure Capital’, and activities on offer include jet ski tours, private island camping, game fishing and cliffside private dining.
Shangri-La Yanuca Island
When is a private island not exactly an island? When it’s joined to the mainland by a driveable causeway but still feels like you’re tucked away in your own completely secluded paradise. Originally built in the 1960s, this Fijian favourite has recently undergone a major renovation, with a focus on dining. Seventy-five per cent of the resort’s meat, seafood and other fresh produce is now sourced locally and served in one of five restaurants and bars including waterfront Takali Asian Kitchen and the relaxed poolside Beach Bar & Grill. The 443 bures, rooms and suites all have unobstructed water views – either of the lagoon towards Viti Levu’s Coral Coast or out towards the jewel-blue Pacific – and the kids will beg to spend every sunlight hour at the inflatable water park in the calm lagoon.
Villa Mokusiga
For families looking for more privacy, a serviced villa gives you all the perks of a resort without having to jostle for a lounger by the pool. The absolute-beachfront, five-bedroom Villa Mokusiga on the Coral Coast sleeps a maximum of 14 and can be hired either self catered, partially catered or with full meals and housekeeping services provided. An activities coordinator is on hand to arrange anything from fishing to a Fijian lovo ‘earth oven’ feast complete with a bonfire and guitarist. Snorkelling gear and paddleboards are provided, and a sparkling reef that’s bursting with wildlife is just footsteps from your bed.
