Love the idea of jetting off to a land of pure paradise this winter? Fiji’s Yasawa Islands are just that. Sarah Pollok provides the full lowdown on how to enjoy these exotic drops of Utopia Warm, family-friendly, laid back and oh-so-close to New Zealand, it’s really no surprise we Kiwis are long-time fans of Fiji. Whether you want to flop on a beach with a book, swim up close with the fishes, indulge in massages or spend some family time splashing around beachside pools, this destination has it all.
Denarau has long been a particular favourite, as it takes a quick three-hour flight from Auckland and a 20-minute drive from Nadi Airport to the resort spot, which boasts several hotels from budget to luxe. However, for travellers who want to go somewhere new, prefer remote, crowd-free destinations or simply want to add something to their family holiday their kids won’t forget, it’s time to book a trip to the Yasawa Islands. What are the Yasawa Islands? If you’ve never heard of the Yasawa Islands , it’s a chain of around 20 lush, serene islands that begins just 50km off the northwest coast of Viti Levu, the main island, and stretches northwards.
With only a handful of villages, hotels and little else, the islands have just over 2200 residents to Viti Levu’s 740,000 and its slight distance from the mainland means the traditional ways of life still hold strong. Are they worth visiting? As mentioned, the Yasawa Islands should be on the “to visit” list for any Fiji-b.