Fiji for Families: A Guide to Paradise at Every Age

Mention Fiji, and the average adult’s thoughts will turn to idyllic evenings and isolated islands in the South Pacific. Kids, however, need more stimulation on vacation.

Luckily, there’s fun to be found in Fiji for every young one, whether your kid is a naturalist in the making, an adrenaline junkie, a water lover or a teen aiming to inspire envy on Instagram.

You might not get to all 333 islands, since most of Fiji’s kid-focused fun is found on the big islands of Viti Levu (where the airport is) and Vanua Levu. Just teach your kids to say “Bula!” which means “life” and “hello.” The word goes a long way in creating smiles. Read on to discover the best things to do in Fiji with kids.

Go Upriver or Off the Rails

Viti Levu

If your kids are adventure seekers, opt for a jet boat tour up the Sigatoka River, into the rainforest valleys on Viti Levu’s south coast. Things start slow, so you can wave to Fijians on the riverbanks.

After a stop at a remote village for lunch, you’ll share a cup of kava, a traditional welcome drink, with local residents. On the way back, the captains show off their piloting skills with plenty of high-speed twists and splash-filled turns.

You’ll need less adrenaline to take the kids bicycling to see a different side of Fiji. Set on a former sugar plantation, Ecotrax, located one hour from the Sheraton Denarau Villas, offers heritage tours on velocipedes, i.e., electric bikes modified to ride the rails as you pedal through rainforests and across rivers before reaching a quiet beach that’s perfect for snorkeling.

Dive into the Deep

Mamanuca Islands

Adults love islands like Tokoriki, one of 13 isolated islets in Fiji’s Mamanuca Islands, and savoring the quintessential South Seas resort experience of sun, sand and scuba diving at the Sheraton Resort & Spa, Tokoriki Island, Fiji.

But your young ones need not become castaways while you dive. Kids 10 and up can get their PADI Junior Open Water Diver certifications at Subsurface Fiji, while swimmers eight and above can try an in-pool “Bubblemaker” scuba orientation class, complete with kid-sized tanks and gear.

Viti Levu

If the open ocean isn’t to your tot’s taste, venture to Big Bula Waterpark, near Denarau on Viti Levu, for huge inflatable water slides, climbable palm trees and aquatic obstacle courses.

These Dancers Are on Fire … Literally

Viti Levu

While almost every resort offers an easy thrill for kids with traditional fire dancers, locals say to visit Beqa Island, off of Viti Levu, to see Fiji’s most authentic dancers walk barefoot over hot coals.

Equally entertaining are the world-class shows staged by the VOU dance troupe (multiple locations) that mix top-notch traditional costumes with Broadway-level moves.

Energetic performers — all local — train at Fiji’s dance conservatory and blend genres vigorously. You’ll see local legends of shape-sifting iguanas set to contemporary choreography, along with hip-hop, percussion, chants and even a few numbers from “Grease.”

Oompa Loompa Foodie Escapades

Viti Levu

Kids with adventurous palates (or in search of flamboyant selfies) will love touring a traditional market to search out Fiji’s fresh colorful papayas, passion fruit and pineapples. Flavours of Fiji Cooking School in Nadi back on Viti Levu will guide children as young as eight through mounds of mangoes in the market before returning to a classroom kitchen where they’ll learn how to make photoworthy Fijian dishes.

Vanua Levu

Get ready for a treat if your kid has a serious sweet tooth. A visit to Vanua Levu takes you to the hidden gem of Savusavu, home of KokoMana Cocoa and Chocolate Tours.

It’s an agro-forest showcasing indigenous birds, butterflies and, of course, thousands of cacao trees, laden with pods used to make chocolate. Would-be Willie Wonkas can learn how cacao is transmogrified into chocolate — or at least eat a few locally made bars.

Island Horseplay

Viti Levu

On land, take your kids on a horse ride through the Sabeto Valley rainforest at Aviva Farms. The family-run ecotourism plantation, set on 54 acres near Nadi on Viti Levu near the Sheraton Fiji Resort, is home to thousands of papaya trees, all raised organically. Also on offer are sustainable farming tours — and quarterly horse races that aren’t to be missed.