How to travel around the Fiji Islands
Despite having over 300 islands to explore, getting around Fiji couldn’t be easier. While visiting the islands, discover endless transport options, including public transport, car hire, and boat charters, with something to suit budget-conscious travellers, luxury holidaymakers and everyone in between.
Here is our ultimate guide to transportation in Fiji:
Getting to Fiji
Naturally, the best way to get to Fiji is via flight. Both Fiji Airways and Virgin Australia operate direct daily flights from Australia to Fiji’s main airport, Nadi International. Fiji is just a 3-hour and 40-minute flight from Brisbane, a 3-hour and 55-minute flight from Sydney, a 4-hour and 40-minute flight from Melbourne, and a 5-hour and 20-minute flight from Adelaide.
Fiji does have a second international airport, Nausori Airport, located in the capital city of Suva. However, if you plan on visiting Fiji’s most popular tourist regions of Denarau Island, the Coral Coast and the Mamanuca Islands, a direct flight to Nadi International Airport is the way to go.
Travelling around Fiji
If you wish to explore beyond your resort, there are plenty of ways to get around Fiji’s main islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.
Public Buses are available on the two main islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu and are the most affordable mode of transport in Fiji (and probably the most adventurous too!). This being Fiji, don’t expect the buses to follow any set schedule, generally stopping wherever and whenever they like. However, they will get you to your destination safely.
For a slight extra cost, Fiji’s Express Coach Services are modern, comfortable and air-conditioned, offering a much more pleasant way to get from one side of an island to the other. Express services usually run every half hour along Viti Levu’s Queens Road, which takes you from Nadi to Sigatoka.
If you’re staying on Denarau Island, one of the best ways to get around is via Hop-On Hop-Off Bus. The open-air Bula Bus runs every 10 to 15 minutes and stops at all of the main resorts and key tourist hotspots on the island.
Taxi services are available on the islands of Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Ovalau. You can usually find taxi depots alongside bus stations in major towns – keep an eye out for number plates that start with ‘LT’, which all licensed taxis have. Also, keep in mind that taxis in rural towns may not have metres, so we’d suggest settling on a fare in advance to avoid being overcharged.
Of course, hiring a car offers the most flexibility to explore Fiji at your own pace. Car Rentals are available across Fiji, including with familiar companies like Thrifty, Avis and Budget, so you can simply pick up or drop off your car at the location most convenient to you.
If you’re not overly comfortable driving in a foreign country but would still like the flexibility that hiring your own car provides, Driver Hire may be a more suitable option. Prices for a driver for a day usually start at around FJD$100, which makes this way of getting around Fiji great value for money.
Reaching other Fiji Islands
With eight different island groups to explore, no Fiji holiday is complete without a bit of island hopping! With 28 airports across the country, there are plenty of Domestic Flight options to get you where you want to go. Alternatively, there are several other ways to reach Fiji’s outer islands.
The easiest way to travel between the Fijian Islands is via Ferry. There are several services from the main island, Viti Levu, to other island groups regularly departing each day. From Port Denarau Marina, you can reach the popular Mamanuca Islands in between 45 minutes to an hour, while the slightly more remote Yasawa Group can be reached in approximately four hours.
For a more flexible mode of transport, Water Taxis also depart from Port Denarau Marina and operate 24 hours a day to get you to, from and around the Mamanuca Islands. Transporting up to eight people at a time, you can expect a water taxi to cost between FJD$575 and FJD$1,240 out to the islands and between FJD$730 and FJD$1,000 to travel between the islands.
If you’d like to spend a little more time exploring Fiji’s outer islands, why not consider a Cruise? With comfortable cabins and a range of facilities, several small ship operators offer multi-day cruise itineraries, mostly around the Mamanuca and Yasawa Groups. Blue Lagoon Cruises specialise in adult-only cruises to immerse yourself in the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands, while Captain Cook Cruises offer a wide variety of cruise options to all the Fiji island groups.
Of course, if being on the water for several days doesn’t appeal to you, there are plenty of Day Cruise options as well, typically departing from Port Denarau Marina. Island hop, snorkel, taste the local cuisine, partake in traditional ceremonies and, most importantly, relax as you cruise through the Fiji waters.
