Looking for a relaxing vacation without spending money? Come to Fiji where you can enjoy soaking in the smooth sands in the mild sun as the waves comes roaring to you, all for no cost. Unlike other South Pacific islands that do not offer the ideal beaches due to the coral reefs limiting the fun, the beaches of Fiji are the best for surfing, snorkeling, and swimming. Besides the adventurous fun, the tourist attractions in Fiji also include cultural sites including festival celebrations and sightseeing tours.
Fiji’s islands are famous for their soft coral reefs and so excellent scuba-diving and snorkeling sites are abundant here. In Viti Levu, the ideal dive sites are located on the Coral Coast and Pacific Harbor to the west offering the famous Beqa Lagoon that is the crater of a dead volcano of 16 km. At some 12 km off the coast, Vatulele is the home of the popular red prawns that are considered holy by local people. For the divers, still the options are many especially to the northwest of Viti Levu – the Yasawa and Mamanuca island groups and to the south – Kadavua offering the Astrolabe, Namalata, Solo, and Tavuki reefs.
Vanua Levua and Taveuni are also among the interesting tourist attractions in Fiji where land-based diving attracts locals and tourists alike. The ideal sites around these are the Somosomo Straits offering the Great White Wall as among the most famous dive sites and the Rainbow Reef with over 20 dive sites. Live on board dive tours can be undertaken in more distant islands like Ngau where you can see no resorts and the local leader gives permission to do so. But for all types of diving in Fiji, you will require a valid driving license from your country.
You can also expect sailing, windsurfing, waterskiing, canoeing, kayaking, and parasailing supported by a myriad of hotels and resorts. But above all, surfing is one of top tourist attractions in Fiji as the surfers have unlimited opportunities of suitable sites – all thanks to the plenty of surf, abundant warm water, and lack of crowds. The most popular site is located offshore at Tavarua where the ‘Cloud Breaker’ (6-meter wave) pulls all types of surfers from around the world. Fiji is the home of the third-largest barrier reef in the world, which indicates that much of the waves is possible to explore via a boat instead of just paddling at the beach. And remember that the waves smash on the coral reefs. So, for surfing, maximum famous spots are on or around Viti Levu and is often accessible by boat. Another favorite spot for surfing is the Tavarua Island. Also, expect many surf camps on the Beqa and Yanuca islands. As a point of caution, beware of the dangerous rip tides along the reefs.
Do visit the capital, Suva where you can come across many old shops and markets full of diverse artifacts and handicrafts. Here, some of the interesting tourist attractions in Fiji reside – the National Museum in the green setting of the Thurston Gardens besides the Government House, the old Parliament Buildings, the Cultural Center at Orchid Island, the strange earthworks outside the city, and the preserved Bouma Forest Park and Taveuni Island Reserve. I also took a drive of 11 km (7 miles) from Suva to experience the charm of the protected Colo-I-Suva Forest Park. Other natural attractions are the orchids and flowering plants in the Garden of the Sleeping Giant at the base of the Sabeto Mountains and the Sigatoka Sand Dunes on Viti Levu too.
Another worth experiencing Fiji attraction is Fijian firewalking. This is an old ritual that is followed in this modern era by the Sawau tribe who inhabit the island of Beqa, off the southern coast of Viti Levu. However, you might also see that the members of other tribes are also performing this walk. And yes, you will be stunned to see the tourists doing so at the various resorts throughout the Fiji islands. In this walk, only a few selected tribal members walk barefoot on the red-hot stones in a separate trench. It is really impossible to believe that the firewalkers are not scalded at all.