5 Family Activities in Fiji That Are Kid Friendly and Fun
When you’re planning a holiday for your family, you want to ensure the destination not only welcomes children but that they will be entertained for the entire trip as well. After all, happy kids equals happy parents, right? A beautiful, friendly country in the South Pacific, Fiji is the perfect holiday destination for families and provides an array of activities for adults and children alike. If you’re looking for fun experiences for your family to remember for years to come, then read on for five of the most fun, kid-friendly activities you can enjoy together in Fiji.
Zip Fiji
Kids will love one of the newest, family-friendly attractions on Viti Levu’s Pacific Harbour, Zip Fiji. The South’s Pacific’s first and only zip-line adventure, Zip Fiji is located in the heart of a tropical rainforest on a private eco-reserve. An adrenaline-pumping activity that can be tried by children as young as 5, the zip-line tours involve being strapped into a safety harness and whooshing along lines over the rainforest canopy. Families can enjoy this activity in all sorts of weather, so it’s a great place to visit on rainy days when the kids keep complaining of boredom. While soaring above the forest floor, adults and children alike can take advantage of the views and the sight of spectacular flora and fauna throughout the rainforest. Zip Fiji provides 200 meters of lines to explore and a team of highly trained and child-friendly guides, making the experience comfortable, educational and stress-free. The adventure company runs daily tours that last approximately two hours each. The whole family is sure to love this outdoor activity!
Garden of the Sleeping Giant
Just north of capital city, Nadi, is the Garden of the Sleeping Giant. If you want to take the family somewhere other than the beach, then head to these landscaped gardens that are just 10 minutes outside of the city, at the foothills of the Nausori Highlands. Originally started more than 30 years ago by a “Perry Mason” star, the late actor Raymond Burr (who wanted a special place to house his collection of orchids), the gardens have now grown significantly. They are home to over a thousand different orchid varieties. The Garden of the Sleeping Giant is spread over 20 hectares and also specializes in Fiji’s native plants. Visitors to this charming attraction can enjoy a jungle walk through native forest, admire a large lily pond and an abundance of plants — and even visit Burr’s old holiday shack.
Sigatoka River Safari
While a lot of companies label their cultural experiences as “authentic”, more often than not visitors don’t get a true feel for the local lives of villagers on many tours. The Sigatoka River Safari, on the other hand, is famous as a quality cultural tourism opportunity that is perfect for all ages. The experience starts with a 30-minute jet-boat ride the kids will love. It then proceeds to a local village where guests can meet the chief and tour the surroundings. Visitors will enjoy a welcome ceremony, listen to the villagers sing and feast on an amazing Fijian food spread. The company ensures that tours are rotated between 12 different communities in the area, so that that the tourist dollar is spread fairly and encounters remain genuine. Tours run daily and are a fantastic chance for families to experience a different culture together.
Snorkelling
Fiji is the perfect spot to introduce children to the wonders of snorkeling, and provides tourists with access to an amazing array of colorful coral and marine life. The country boasts some of the best snorkel spots in the world, such as the popular Rainbow Reef region, labeled by sustainable tourism legend Jean-Michel Cousteau as the “soft coral capital of the world”. Other areas in Fiji that are fantastic for snorkeling are Split Rock, just outside Savusavu, and the remote region of Bligh Water, located between Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.
Kayaking
Families can also rent kayaks from their hotel provider or join a local tour operator for an exploration of Fiji’s many wonders by sea. There are many perfect places to paddle with children, although the best time of year to do so is between May and October when the seas are calm. Kadavu Island makes for an ideal kayaking location, with one of the largest barrier reefs in the world at its edge and a variety of marine life to admire.
About the Author: Clare Williams is a blogger and long-time travel writer.
