Viti Levu Island: Nadi, Suva, Coral Coast, Pacific Coast
Nadi town Man. If you like action, hustling and bustling, jam-packed streets, hot, hot climate and heaps of people, then Nadi is the place for you.
Nadi (pronounced Nandi) is on the western side of the main island of Viti Levu with a population of around 43,000 at the last census in 2007. Fiji doesn’t have too many of these so we’ll be guessing numbers from now on for a while.
Nadi is multiracial with a capital “M”. A mixture of Fijians and Indo-Fijians with an added zest of life imbued by the thousands of tourists who land in Nadi as the setting-off point for their unforgettable Fiji experience.
Set in the middle of the cane field belt, which together with tourism is the basic source of sustenance for the locals, Nadi is constantly on the go and never seems to sleep.
The Main Street in Nadi is the commercial centre of the town and is brimming with shops of various persuasions all hell-bent on enticing you inside to buy something. The competition is fierce hence the prevalence of street touts offering you all sorts of ‘stuff’ at cut rate bargain prices. These efforts go hand-in-hand with loudspeakers at shop entrances belting out the latest Hindi or Fijian music. All in all it tends to be a cacophony of sound, sight and colour.
Denarau Island is the largest integrated resort in the South Pacific offering a variety of accommodation, activities and investment options. These range from premier resorts, a championship golf course and an abundance of holiday activities.
There is a variety of investment opportunities particularly in respect of the ongoing residential development being carried out on the island. All of this set within 600 acres of landscaped tropical garden.
Denarau Island in Fiji is one of the best resort destinations in the country. With some of the most popular and well know resorts located here it has become a very popular holiday destination. Many top brands are found here including Sheraton, Hilton, Radisson, Sofitel, and Westin. Accommodation ranges from standard hotel rooms to luxury villas and suites. Each property offers a range of indoor and outdoor restaurants from cafes to full silver service and specialty cuisines.
One of the longest established hotels on Denarau is the Sheraton Fiji Resort, which expanded in subsequent years to include the popular Sheraton Villas. Guests at the villas may use the facilities of the neighbouring hotel. One of the other longer-running hotels on the island is the Westin Denarau (formerly the Royal Denarau Resort). Newer hotels include the Sofitel, the Fiji Beach Resort and Spa (by Hilton), and The Radisson Resort.
Traditionally known and promoted as the most densely populated tourist area in Fiji, the Coral Coast is around 80km of beaches, bays, rocky outcrops and lush vegetation along the southwest of Viti Levu.
The Coral Coast could be said to start from around a small resort called Crusoe’s Retreat and continues through to Shangri-la’s Fijian Resort, a few kilometers past Sigatoka.
The Coral Coast is heavily dotted with hotels, resorts and backpacker retreats like no other region in Fiji and is a haven for the adventurous or for those who simply want a bit of sun, sand and fun.
The name is apt as the coast is wrapped by one of the largest fringing reef systems in the world and while its beaches are not quite the standard of the outer islands, it has the benefit of being conveniently located halfway between Nadi and Suva.
This section probably has more villages in a stretch than anywhere else in Fiji. Entry to the villages is fine but ask permission first and make sure you follow Fijian protocol in removing your hat and sunglasses and ladies cover up knees and shoulders. Some of the villages operate home stays and it is an experience of a lifetime to stay in a village and experience communal living at its best.
Situated along a gorgeous stretch of beach coastline south of the Coral Coast, lush and beautiful Pacific Coast is regarded as the “Adventure Capital of Fiji.’’
Pacific Coast was originally developed as a canal residential subdivision offering an alternative lifestyle to urban dwellers. Residents of Pacific Coast have an idealic lifestyle with some dwellings located on the manmade canal, on the river or overlooking the beach. Some residents are retirees while others commute daily to Suva to work.
Pacific Coast has a combination of locals and tourist dwellers which makes for an interesting combination of personalities and characters.
About 40 minutes drive from Fiji’s capital Suva, it is located opposite Beqa and Yanuca Islands, marine protected areas that have become renowned for coral and shark watching and feeding sites.
In fact Beqa Lagoon, named by famed oceanographer Jacque Cousteau as "The Soft Coral Capital of the World" is renowned for its world-class dive sites and Pacific Harbour has several dive operations that offer dive trips to the lagoon.
Well Suva City has just the right mix that will see you experiencing the past without you having to miss out on modern perks. Suva is often referred to as the most cosmopolitan city in the Oceania region.
Suva sits on a hilly peninsula between Lucile Bay and Suva Harbour in the southeast corner of Viti Levu.
This capital city of Fiji has managed to retain the magic and character of the Colonial era and at the same time develop over the years offering visitors sites and attractions that will definitely make their stay memorable.
Suva is the largest city in the region and is an important centre for many regional bodies which bring with them a diverse mixture of races and people. This has seen a growing expat community and also half of the country’s population calling Suva home. It is also the home of the government of the day, foreign embassies and consulates and educational as well as financial institutions which includes the University of the South Pacific, Fiji Institute of Technology, ANZ Banking Group, Westpac Banking Corporation, Colonial National Bank and the Bank of the South Pacific and the newly established University of Fiji.
A wide selection of restaurants offers different types of cuisine to suit any fussy eater’s palate with bars and entertainment within walking distance of each other.
Highlights of the Region
Majestic buildings from the Colonial era are now integrated with modern high-rises that give a unique mix to Suva.
Government House, the Presidential Mansion, Fintel Building, the Carnegie library and the Government buildings are just a small sample of this past era. The old Grand Pacific Hotel has been vacant for years waiting to be restored to its former grandeur. Take a walk into history and tour these buildings many of which are now protected by the National Trust.
Although shark feeding is the number one adventure sea activity, wreck dives, coral dives, and pelagic fish dives also attract interest from both tourists and locals.
