18 days in Fiji (#13) From Denarau Island to Nadi International Airport

Bula! Welcome!  We've been in Fiji now for 18 days. And sadly it is almost time to say good bye to this beautiful tropical isle with its fabulous people.

Bula! It's a cava ceremony (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

I hope you've enjoyed hanging out with me and picked up a few tips and tricks as well as saved yourself some bucks for a smoother holiday.

Deep fried crispy fish (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

Today I'm going to be talking about the journey from our resort to Nadi (pronounced Nandee) International Airport.

From Denarau Island to Nadi International Airport 

Our flight with Qantas Airways was scheduled for a 18:50 departure. We planned to be there at least 2.5 hours before departure and the taxi ride from the resort was estimated to take about 30 minutes. We allowed ourselves even extra time in case of possible delays and as it turned out, that was quite unnecessary.

The taxi that the hotel ordered for us turned up promptly at 3.30 pm and it was a smooth ride all the way to the airport. The four of us with our luggage fit comfortably in the air conditioned sedan which was well cared for.

Taxi ride to the airport 
(Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

It was with mixed emotions as we said goodbye in our hearts to Fiji. The first part of the trip took us through familiar roads. I admired the bright orangey blooms of the Fijian Christmas tree as we drove along.

The driver then veered off onto a main highway which was as well formed and well made as any you'd find in an Australian city. It was quite pleasing to see how clean the roads were too. Traffic flowed in an orderly fashion and no one seemed rushed in any way.

Forests punctuated with large bill boards along the road side soon gave way to double storeyed concrete buildings housing various businesses and accommodation places.

We noticed that Burger King had made it over here!

It's Burger King! (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

Soon we saw the sign that announced that we were at our destination. We paid FJ$45 for the trip. No tips are necessary but cash is the preferred option.

Nadi International Airport (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

The check in area was clean, well organised and spacious. I was pleasantly surprised at the number of open counters and lack of queues. Baggage check in was completely uneventful and hassle free.

Spacious well organised check-in area (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

Next, security check point. We had all our liquids and gels in their appropriate zip lock bags and they presented no problem. A couple in front of me had not thought to pack any of their items into zip lock bags and got held up until someone (namely I) gave them a couple of spares. In fact, it was a helpful staff who 'negotiated' this transfer of handy zip lock bags. Lesson here - always pack spare zip lock bags.

In fact, my zip lock bags had already come in rather handy earlier at the duty free shop before security check. The shop wanted to charge me FJ$1 for the pleasure of supplying me a small zip lock bag for some dilo oil I had purchased.

Duty-free shopping (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

With all that time to spare, I wondered how we were going to occupy ourselves. Built almost around the departure lounge was more duty free shopping - souvenirs, gifts, personal care, shoes, jewellery, books, toys and more awaited us. Dining options includes a pizza outlet, Burger King and the familiar Gloria Jeans. For more information on the airport, check out Fiji airport's website.

Pick up a bargain? (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

Regarding shopping, as was common among most retail outlets in Fiji, credit cards incurred a surcharge. I also found that the retailers at the airport were happy to accept Australian currency and to my surprise, I found that some were even open to negotiating the right price when they saw that I was out of Fijian currency but still had Australian notes to work with.

Money changers in the departure lounge (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

Departure Lounge (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

There is a drinking fountain near the very well maintained modern toilet facilities in this waiting lounge. It is quite useless to fill up your water bottle here though because there is another check of your carry on luggage just before you board the plane after the boarding ticket process. This was something I found rather unusual.

It was also here, after this last check of our carry on luggage, that we were able to collect our duty free shopping from one of the waiting staff lined up along the boarding tunnel.

Except another surprise awaited us. We had to walk down the boarding tunnel down to the tarmac. Just as well it was a clear day.

Once the plane got moving, we were just five hours and fifty minutes away from our destination. Incidentally, Fiji Airways and Qantas use a code sharing service and rather well used planes. I would recommend that you bring your own entertainment. While food was included in the flight, I think I would have found Burger King more palatable.

Touch down went as scheduled and our car was still where we had left it in long-term parking 18 days ago. We were pleased that we did not even need the photos we had taken of the car's location and its nearest shuttle bus stop to guide us.

Oh, and Fiji is two hours ahead of Australian EST. But even at that hour, we were able to find a drive through twenty four hour burger joint on the way home.

Vinaka! And thank you so much for joining me on my Fijian holiday. Hope to see you when I next travel to South Australia.

Fresh coconut 

(Photo copyright Maria Ngo)

18 days in Fiji (# 3) The resort lifestyle

Bula! Hello! We've just spent 18 days in Fiji. And what a time that was!

Before we went though I had so many questions! Well, now that we're home and I've found the answers to some of those questions, I thought I might share my discoveries. After all, sharing is caring.

Also, I thought that by sharing my discoveries, I might help you save time, money and perhaps add to your safety and comfort!

So, over a series of posts, I hope to tackle some topics that might be of interest to you to help you in your preparation for a holiday in Fiji.

Under a clear blue sky 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo)

So here's the third question I'm going to tackle today - what's it like at a resort? 

The Resort Lifestyle 

I had a particular image of what a resort lifestyle was like before I arrived in Fiji. Here on Denarau Island, I found my expectations were more than met - in fact, they were exceeded. 

What I had imagined: beautiful views, relaxed atmosphere, friendly cheerful staff, good food, lounging by the pool side, manicured gardens, clean and well maintained facilities and safety. They were tick, tick, tick and more ticks. 

Let's take a quick tour around one of these resorts. 

Wyndham Resort (Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) 

If you were to take a look on Google Maps to get your bearing, you'll notice that the resorts are on the western side of the largest island (Viti Levu) of Fiji. 

This means that you are well positioned for beautiful sunset views from the beach at these resorts.

There is a narrow strip of a beach linking these resorts - provided you can find your way down there - at high tide, this might not always be possible at all the resorts.

Out on the pontoon(Photo taken by and copyright) 

This strip of beach along here is not the nicest beach to swim in. In fact, I'd recommend you stick to the pool. You can check out the various sizes of the pools at each of these resorts quite easily on Google Maps in Satellite Imagery mode. But if water sports is your thing, you're in luck because the resorts offer a mixture of free and paid equipment e.g. kayaking, paddle boards, jet skis and even tandem parasailing. Not all resorts offer the same activities though. 

The pool all to ourselves 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo)

Ball game for all ages 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo)

What would lounging by the pool-side be without a suitably decorated drink right? I found that the mocktails hit just the right spot for me. There were quite a few to choose from and we were there for more than a week. Need I say more?

I'll have one of those please 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo)

There was a good selection of cold and hot foods to choose from for lunch. The prices were in the FJ$30 mark. Dinners were slightly more. And oh, mocktails, were around the FJ$15 mark. 

A refreshing salad for lunch(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo)

So many choices, what shall I order? 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo)

Pulled pork burger 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo)

Where we stayed, the rooms were beautifully presented and generous in size. We had an apartment with a balcony.

Master bedroom 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo)

The second bedroom 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo)

Included toiletries 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo)

Balcony and view 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo)

There were several clusters of ripe berries growing on a palm outside my bedroom window and I was able to watch the local birds up close while they carried on rather animatedly with one another as they fed on the berries.

Someone is having fresh berries for lunch
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo)

Can you spot the frog in this picture? (Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) 

I saw quite a number of frogs one night as we walked back to our apartment after dinner one evening. They were larger than golf balls but smaller than tennis balls.

I wished my garden looked like that 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo)

Summer is the rainy season in Fiji. This is from November through to April. On a number of days that we were there, it poured quite heavily at around 4 pm but cleared up just before dinner time. December is reported to have the most daily sunshine hours. March gets the most rain while January is the hottest month in Suva with an average temperature of  26°C (79°F). 

An overcast day by the pool
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo)

The resort has organised activities for adults and children throughout our stay. Most of these are free activities.

Activities board
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo)

There were Fijian language classes, coconut demonstrations, tie-dying, body board races, pool side bingo, medicine walks and more. A medicine walk is a guided walk which incorporates various commonly available plants right at the resort and their various medicinal properties and uses.

This resort has child minding and there is plenty to keep the little tykes occupied. 

Coconut demonstration - all the wonderful things you can do with the coconut palm 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo)

Removing the coconut from its nut 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) 

You can make hats from the coconut fronds 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) 

With my Fijian language instructor 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) 

A medicine walk
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) 

A noni fruit 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) 

A well equipped playground will keep the little ones occupied.

Playground 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) 

Singing is a big part of the Fijian culture. When we arrived at the resort, we were welcomed with singing and an icy cold fruit punch. On several nights in the week, a group of singers would serenade hotel guests as they make their way around the resort. 

The serenaders 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) 

A serenade in the garden
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) 

Down by the boardwalk
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) 

If you fancy a spa or massage, you don't have to look far. 

A complimentary foot massage? Yes, please.
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo)

The resort has two restaurants. Mamacita and the Beach Shack Bar & Grill.

The Mamacita - exterior view 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) 

(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) 

Mamacita menu 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) 

Inside the Mamacita
 (Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) 

Another mocktail 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) 

History adorns the walls 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) 

Fancy a pizza for dinner? 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) 

Pasta 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) 

Vietnamese inspired dish
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) 

Twice weekly entertainment at the Mamacita 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) 

The outdoor tables are the more popular ones. It pays to book ahead especially on performance nights.  

I was too busy enjoying my food at the Beach Shack Bar & Grill and forgot to take more photos (!). We were fortunate to get an ocean view table on our first night. It was the perfect finish to a perfect day.

At the Beach Shack Bar & Grill 
(Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

Beautiful fresh seafood 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) 

If you prefer a restaurant at one of the other resorts but don't fancy walking, you can buy a ticket for a hop on and off inter resort island bus. 

Denarau Island Inter Resort Bus 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo)

There is an ATM on site. Cash withdrawals attract a transaction fee of FJ$15 per transaction.

ATM at Wyndham 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) 

A basic grocery store serves the guests. If you prefer, there is a larger one at the Sheraton resort a short distance away. These supermarkets are much dearer than Australian ones but the one at the Sheraton offers slightly better prices. If you have the time, I suggest stocking up at a supermarket in Nadi town (see my other post on how to get there). As you can imagine, the resort lifestyle has its associated costs. 

Grocery at Wyndham 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) 

Sunset on Wyndham 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo) 

Hope you've enjoyed your tour of one of the resorts on Denarau Island.

Vinaka vaka levu! Thank you very much for visiting with me. Hope you'll join me for my next post. 

Can you picture yourself there? 
(Photo taken by and copyright Maria Ngo)