Which fiji island is best for kids

A meal plan is optional. The Outrigger Fiji Beach offers a fabulous kids club for children as well as Meimei nannies for wee ones. A packed day schedule of kid and teen activities keep children of all ages entertained, many at no additional charge. Your kids might enjoy kayaking, snorkeling, pool games, cultural adventures, hiking and even visits to a local village school. Plus parents seeking some quiet time may enjoy the onsite adult-only pool.

An Outrigger Resorts property, Castaway is an idyllic little private island in the Mamanuca Island group, off the main island of Viti Levu. Welcome to Castaway! Castaway is just acres in size. The ocean waters are varying mesmerizing shades of blue, due to the depth of the surrounding coral reefs. There are only 60 cabins on the island, accommodating families of many sizes. Nearly all bures have been remodeled, with thatched roofs, high vaulted ceilings and air conditioning.

This is the place to let the kids roam free or meet new friends at the kids club and pool. Guests can spend all day at the beach, snorkeling in the calm water, kayaking, sailing, or paddle boarding.

Many of the water activities are complimentary with a resort stay. You can also book a scuba diving certification course before heading out for dives in deeper waters. Bonus: Kids under 3 eat free. Located in the protected marine sanctuary near Savusavu Bay on the island of Vanua Levu, the five star luxury and ultra accommodating Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort will wow your family.

The resort pairs authentic Fijian hospitality with the environmentally sustainable mandate of its Cousteau family heritage. Add the award-winning Bula Club for kids into the mix and you have an incredible holiday where all family members can get exactly what they wish.

Here every child under the age of 5 gets a dedicated nanny, and those aged get grouped with a Fijian buddy. The resort is all-inclusive, which encompasses all kids, teens, and most adult activities but excludes alcohol. Each family gets its own large, traditional bure, serviced by excellent and attentive staff.

Many staff have been with the Cousteau Resort for decades. A dip in the hidden waterfall is worth the hike Photo credit: Claudia Laroye. The open-air dining area has separated seating for families and couples. Everyone shares the same gorgeous views of the pool area and Savusavu Bay. Food service includes delicious Fijian-inspired dishes served table side. There are many opportunities to appreciate Fijian nature and culture as a guest of Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort. Sign up for a day trip to the local market, attend a seminars about medicinal plants, or visit hidden waterfalls in the lush jungle.

Scuba diving though the Cousteau Dive Centre is booked separately. The world-famous Namena Marine Reserve is nearby. The national airline carrier, Fiji Airways , offers direct daily service between Los Angeles and Nadi, and seasonal service from San Franscisco to Nadi in high season. From Australia or New Zealand, Fiji is just three hours away, a perfect flying time for traveling with younger children. The comfortable, wide-bodied Airbus A plane was staffed with a friendly flight crew.

Fiji Airways prides itself on its bula service spirit. In addition to Business and Economy, the airline offers an Economy Quiet Zone for customers aged 18 years and over.

Zip lining will see you tear through the heights of lush rainforest to beaches below. Zip Fiji has 5km of spectacular zip lines that will take you through caves, canyons and mountaintops — just enough to get your adrenaline pumping. It reminds you of an ancient culture that is bright as it is likeable. Watch the batons light up the night sky, twisting and turning in unison as crowds clap and cheer.

Picture: Tourism Fiji. Paddle across the reef, pulling up to the deserted islands for a family picnic, bushwalk and play on the sand. Just pick the right time for wind and tides, and enjoy the solitude. Say hello to the kids at school — bring them books or supplies if you can — and get a taste of what life is like on the island. Your children will see how different life can be, and giving is a great way for them to learn to give back.

Win win. Swim in the rock pools, enjoy the soothing water, and connect with the stunning environment around you. Singing is at the heart of Fijian culture and their harmony of voices is simply heavenly. Singing is the way you are greeted, and the way you are farewelled. It is a beautiful way of being shown you are part of the Fijian family.

Try iconic Cloudbreak for seasoned surfers, south of Namotu Island in the Mamanucas. Namotu Left is known as the longboard wave, and Natadola on the Coral Coast is great for beginners. Show how much damage storms can wreak, and give them the legacy of helping plant the next reef on the island. Teach the kids early and watch them develop the passion before your very eyes.

Sitting silently in a boat, or on a jetty, watching the world go by, in a place where only Fiji time matters. Catch marlin, tuna, giant trevally — and take it back to your resort for the chef to cook up for dinner. Bright blue water all around you, so clear you can see all the way to the bottom — sailing is a lovely way to experience fun on the ocean as a family. Be on the look out for turtles and jumping stingrays — and enjoy the wind in your hair and the sun on your shoulders.

SUP Stand up paddle boarding is a beautiful way to enjoy the ocean — and surprisingly easy for children to master — they just need a good sense of balance and a bit of confidence. Check with your resort for minimum ages — many allow kids to tandem ride with an adult. Denarau Island, off the main Island of Viti Levu , is the largest integrated resort in the South Pacific and ideal for families with younger children. The vast majority of resorts offer free Kids Clubs.

Many also offer Fijian babysitters and or nanny services for kids under four at bargain rates, and children really respond to the warm Fijian people. This option for younger children means mum and dad can take advantage of the great range of activities on offer in and around the resort. The nearby town of Nadi with its colourful sari and jewellery shops, fresh food markets and intricate Hindu temple is especially worth exploring, with or without the kids.

This region is a great holiday base for young families. The Coral Coast has plenty of fantastic family resorts. Outside the resorts, families can explore enormous limestone caves. Grab a snorkel and head to the kid-safe lagoon or any one of the spectacular coral reefs. Or try sand surfing on the incredible dunes at Sigatoka. Immerse yourself in the real Fiji at the many villages in the area and observe local customs and rituals or just play with the resident kids. The Yasawa Islands are renowned for their white sand beaches, rugged landscape and pretty underwater coral gardens.

Expect to find tiny islets that can be traversed in a couple of minutes and vast islands that would take days to circumnavigate. As well as snorkelling and kayaking, the Yasawas are a great destination for island hopping by chartered sailboat.

But one of the best, and most fun, ways to explore the islands is from aboard one of the small family-friendly cruise ships. Catering extremely well for families, cruises take in a different island every day. Shore excursions include visits to remote villages and schools as well as swimming, fishing and campfire barbeques.

The limestone caves of Sawa-i-lau in the northern part of the group also make for a very popular day trip for families. The volcanic archipelago of 20 glorious, white sand, palm-fringed islands are surrounded by a massive lagoon. The resort islands boast brilliant pools, snorkelling equipment and kayaks to keep young ones occupied. The lagoon is filled with crystal clear water, loads of marine life and easily accessible coral reefs.

From parasailing, windsurfing, jet skiing, underwater scooters, dolphin-watching, world-class dive sites and just about any other activity you can imagine doing on or under the water, the Mamanuca Islands are a fantastic holiday alternative for families with active, easily bored teens. Fiji is blessed with warm temperatures year round.

But the best time to visit is during the dry season, from early May to October. At this time rainfall at its lowest. Temperatures are milder and the humidity not as stifling. The wet season also brings with it an increased risk of tropical cyclones and outbreaks of dengue fever. But, depending on what kind of holiday you are after, there are other factors, including pricing and crowds, to take into consideration before deciding the best time for your family.

July to August is the busiest period, along with late December and January due to the Australian and New Zealand school holidays. Prices will be higher and resorts busier during these times. Getting around Fiji is relatively easy and cheap.

Island transfers are generally included in resort bookings.