Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest
Fiji, miles and miles away from the mainland, is certainly a challenging location to get to. However, once you step foot onto this island you will, most likely, be glad you visited. Fiji has over three hundred islands in its archipelago. Each island has a coral reef boundary where an abundance of wildlife grows and swims through.
Fiji has a blend of Melanesian, Polynesian, Micronesian, Indian, Chinese, and European influences. It can be enjoyed year round, although the dry season is from May to October. Suva is Fijis capital and is located on the southeastern coast of the main island of Viti Levu. Suva is the countrys political and administrative center, and is the countrys main port. Here you will find a small city with the trappings of most metropolitan regions around the world fused in with exquisite and unique natural surroundings. If you visit Fiji you will want to get off the main island of Viti Levu. With over three hundred islands there is much to explore. Here are some of the places you may wish to visit.
Beqa Lagoon is legendary for its barrier reefs. This majestic body of water is surrounded by great reefs; a circumference of almost ninety miles. Here you will find a wide variety of marine life, and gorgeous clear, blue waters. It is, arguably, the Pacific Oceans most popular dive and snorkel sites. Fishermen visit the lagoon to hunt the great wahoo, blue marlin, swordfish, and black marlin. If the aquatic aspect of the area is not what makes you tick you might enjoy a stroll along the back roads that surround the lagoon. Or, you might enjoy a fire-walking show, where natives walk across red hot coals that are over one-thousand degrees in temperature. If you plan on staying near the lagoon you will have one option, The Marlin Bay Resort. It is the islands only hotel. You will not be disappointed, however, as the service and accommodations are friendly and luxurious. There are twelve private bure bungalows and over one hundred dive spots just feet from your private hut.
Moodys Nameena is found on the island of Namenalala. This dragon shaped island offers a ten-guest getaway at the boundary of a jungle. The island is a natural reserve that has no electricity, television, and most modern amenities. There are five tree house bures for guests, which sit high on the canopy level. There are exquisite wraparound decks, king-size beds, and large baths. If you make it to Nameena you will find six beautiful beaches and lush forests to explore. Some of the interesting inhabitants include red-footed booby birds, albatross, and orange-breasted honeyeaters. Hawksbill and green turtles reside here as well.
The Jean-Michel Cousteau resort is an eighteen-acre waterfront coconut grove that was constructed to look like a traditional local village. While the resort offers the utmost luxury, the designer and owner, Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of Jacques Cousteau, offers earth hikes through the rain forest, visits to nearby Fijian villages, and exciting nature tours. The island resort is perhaps best known for its diving facilities. There is a dive boat onsite run by captains and marine biologists that give a visitor to the island a terrific, fun and fact filled adventure under the sea. The cost of staying at the resort is steep, ranging from four hundred dollars a night, but is well worth it.
Horseshoe Bay Beach, on Matangi Island, is another popular destination. This Pacific island is shaped, just as the name suggested, like a horseshoe. The unique shape is a product of a volcano slipping into the ocean years and years ago, leaving only the outline of the island. There is only one place to stay on the island; Mantangi Resort. Mantangis accommodations have room for just twenty-eight guests in a series of fourteen circular Polynesian-style bures. This is a popular honeymoon retreat, but can be enjoyed by any traveler wishing for some privacy and beautiful landscape.
The islands mentioned above are not privately owed; however, there are some Fijian locations that are deeded to individuals. Wakaya is one such island. David Gilmour bought the two-thousand acre island in the late 1970s and built his home there. To compliment his fine house he built a restaurant that guests to the island can dine at. A meal at Gilmours restaurant will cost you a pretty penny, and a stay in a double room at his resort starts at a minor one-thousand three hundred dollars a night.
Getting to Fiji is a chore, almost regardless of where you are coming from. While it is miles from many locations, Fiji is an international travel hub, so finding a flight is not a challenge for most people. You can fly direct to Fiji from anywhere in the Pacific Rim. Nadi International Airport is the most popular airport to travel into. Once in Fiji you will need to convert your money into Fiji dollars, probably take off a layer or two of clothing, and get ready to relax and enjoy the tropical landscape
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