Nadi

Introduction

Nadi, on the western side of Viti Levu, is Fiji's third largest city. It is also the country's primary port of entry for air-travellers as it has the largest airport in Fiji. It is most significantly a hub for trips to the Mamanucas and Yasawas, with ferries leaving from the harbour regularly. Several major resorts and hotels have also set up around the town itself to cater for the travelling population.

Sights and Activities

• Sri Siva Subramaniya temple Queens Road (At the southern end of town), ☎ +679 670 0977, e-mail: [email protected]. Daily 6AM-7PM. This bright and colourful Hindu temple is one of the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere. Carved and built in the Dravidian architectural tradition, the temple is probably the most visible monument in the whole of Nadi. As a mark of respect, knees and shoulders (for both genders) should be covered before entering the temple interior. However, if you arrive at the temple in shorts or sleeveless clothing, the temple will provide you with a dhoti/sarong and shawl to cover yourself. Also, the vegetarian food provided at the canteen is a hidden gem. Free to enter though donations are welcome.
• Nadi Market offers and authentic Fijian shopping experience. Located off Hospital Road between the bus station and downtown.
• Denarau Island, boasts two large resorts, offering visitors multiple restaurants, water-sports and a full-size golf course.
• The Garden of the Sleeping Giant, Wailoko Raod, ☎ +679 672 3418, +679 672 2701. M-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su 9AM-noon. The garden was founded by Canadian-American Hollywood star Raymond Burr, as a private nursery of tropical orchids. Nowadays, it contains a diverse and beautiful range range of plants with a number of walking paths set up too. Some of the bright and colourful flowers have a stunning, exotic feel to visitors living outside of the tropics. The terrain is hilly and for most of the year the garden is warm and humid so be sure to take a few breaks during your journey. A complimentary and refreshing fruit drink is provided at the end of your walk. $18 for adults.
• Wailoaloa Beach. North of Nadi town, the beach is 3km long. There are many resorts and beach clubs lined up across the beach.

Events and Festivals

• Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna Day is celebrated every year on the last Monday of May. It commemorates Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna, a hero in the First World War, who was honored with France’s highest military award. He is considered the father of modern Fiji.
• Christmas in the tropics is an experience in itself. Visit one of the Christmas Eve carol services to enjoy some fine Fijian singing.
• Outrigger International Competition - Fiji is a sporting nation, and for its size, does particularly well on the global scale. The Outrigger International Competition is the main event in Nadi each year which draws hundreds of competitors and thousands of spectators. Other sporting events like the Fiji marathon are also held during this time.
• Honoring the Founder of Modern Fiji Festival - The last Monday in May is a commemoration to the Father of Modern Fiji, Ratu Sir Lala Sakuna. The festivities last for an entire week, with many different towns and cities celebrating in their own way. The event concludes with a presidential speech relating to Fijian unity, and the statue of Ratu Sir Lala Sakuna is polished by locals.
• Bula Festival - Held across several days in mid-July, the Bula Fiji Festival is a fantastic celebration of the island nation’s heritage. Singing and dancing take center stage in the city of Nadi, and a parade is usually the spotlight of the event. At the end of the celebrations, a young woman is crowned Miss Bula for the year.
• Diwali Festival - Due to Fiji’s large Indian population, the Diwali Festival is one of the main events held on the islands. Celebrated in the month of October, Diwali (which is also known as the Festival of Lights) is characterized by fantastic light shows, traditional firecracker displays, and plenty of night-time fun. It isn’t just the Indian population that gets into the swing of things, as all cultures love any excuse to party.
• Fiji International Jazz and Blues Festival - Port Denarau is host to the Fiji International Jazz and Blues Festival. It spans three days in May and welcomes many local and international jazz and blues musicians to perform. Australian, American, European, and New Zealand musicians make up most of the performers. The festival is a great time visit Port Denarau as the sights and sounds of the event are unmatched during the rest of the year.

Weather

Nadi enjoys a mild tropical climate with year-round temperatures around 25 °C with a generally high humidity. Average highs range from around 26 °C in July and August to around 30 °C from December to April. Lows are between 20 °C and 23 °C. May to October is the dry season and the weather is slightly cooler and less rainfall and humidity make it a good time of the year to visit. From December to April, the city gets a lot of rain.

Getting There

By Plane

Nadi International Airport (NAN) is the country's main international gateway. It is the main hub of Fiji Airways, and also services Air New Zealand and Air Fiji flights, amongst others. There are connections to New Zealand, Australia, Los Angeles, South Korea and other Pacific destinations.

Getting from the airport into town is straightforward by taxi or if you have booked into a resort, you will most likely have a transfer organised for you from the airport directly to the hotel.

By Boat

• South Sea Cruises operates daily ferry departures from Nadi to the Mamanuca Islands on board modern, comfortable vessels. They operate two fast catamarans from Denarau Marina to most of the Mamanuca islands, including Malolo, Walu Beach, Castaway Island, Mana, Treasure Island, Beachcomber Island, Bounty Island, South Sea Island, Matamanoa and Tokoriki.
• Awesome Adventures operates Fiji's Yasawa Flyer (the big yellow boat) from Nadi and is the main form of boat transport out to the remote Yasawa Islands. It services all the resorts in the Yasawa islands plus some of the Mamanuca resorts daily.

Getting Around

By Car

You can hire a car at Nadi Airport and use it to drive around Viti Levu. A license will be necessary from your home country and be aware that driving is on the left in Fiji.

By Public Transport

Public buses connect the various cities and towns on Viti Levu and can provide an economic alternative to hiring a car.

By Foot

Depending on how much you want to explore around Nadi, you can probably get by with taxis and then on foot. The centre of the town is very limited and can easily be navigated on foot.

Eat

• Ashyanna provides outstanding Indian cuisine in a warm welcoming setting- excellent value. It's on the main road just before the bridge. Ask any cab driver to take you there.
• Tu's Place, Queens Road, Martintar area, ☎ +679 672 2110. Daily 7AM-10:30PM. The best restaurant in all of Nadi for authentic and traditional Fijian food. Beyond that, there are dishes inspired by European and Asian (particularly Thai) cuisine. Their signature dish is Kokoda (pronounced Kokonda), which is raw fish marinated in lemon juice, coconut milk and mixed with spices and salad. A Fijian form of ceviche. The fish and chips here is just as tasty.
• Daikoku Restaurant, corner of Queens Road and Northern Press Road, Martintar, ☎ +679 6703622. M-Sa noon-2PM, 6PM-9:30PM. A popular teppanyaki steak house. The service and quality of the food is better if you book in advance as it is busy and the number of trained staff is limited.
• Mumbai Dhaba, 22 Sukuna Road, ☎ +679 755 5990, e-mail: [email protected]. Best value for money Indian in Nadi. The building on the outside looks rundown but the ambience on the inside is great. The servings sizes of nearly everything is huge and a challenge to finish. The tandoori chicken and dosas are delicious. Try the ginger infused sugarcane juice.
• ZigZag Cafe, Ground floor, Prouds Building, Queens Rd, ☎ +679 777 7904, e-mail: [email protected]. Friendly staff and top-class service. The large-sized soft serves are a real treat in the warm climate.
• Taste Fiji Kitchen, Lot 1 Cawa Road, Martintar (Off Queens Road), ☎ +679 890 1197. Serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, pastries and desserts. Dishes from all over the world. The sweet treats are in particular delicious.

Drink

The drinking and clubbing scene is pretty much confined to the Martintar precinct.

• Ed's Bar, Lot 31 Kennedy Street, Martintar, ☎ +679 672 4650, e-mail: [email protected]. Daily 5PM til late. The bar has a dance area, outdoor beer gardens, pool tables and occasionally a live band pops by. The crowd is a mix of locals and tourists so you won't feel out of place whoever you are. Happy hour from 5PM to 10PM every day.
• The Bounty Restaurant & Bar, 79 Queens Rd, Martintar, ☎ +679 672 0840, e-mail: [email protected]. M-Tu 10AM-11PM, W-Su 10AM-midnight. A popular bar among Fijians and tourists. Situated in the middle of town, there is a variety of foreign and local beers, including draught beer. The big TV screen shows live sports matches, including World Sevens Series and Super Rugby. There is a decent choice of tapas and cocktails. The atmosphere is lively and the bar also has karaoke.
• Ice Bar, RB Jetpoint Complex, Queens Road, Martintar, ☎ +679 672 7144, e-mail: [email protected]. Daily 2PM-5AM. A modern and stylish bar and nightclub with a sleek dance floor. The real partying starts from 10PM and continues very late into the night.

Sleep

Accommodation in Nadi generally tends to be budget to mid-range while the lavish and luxurious resorts are usually further out west in Denarau Island.

• Aquarius On The Beach, 17 Wasawasa Rd, Wailoaloa Beach, ☎ +679 672 6000, e-mail: [email protected]. All rooms at have their own ensuite bathroom and top quality facilities. The pricier rooms have ocean views.
• Bamboo Backpackers, 33 Newtown Beach, Nadi Bay, ☎ +679 6722225. Check-in: noon, check-out: 10AM. Daily acoustic music nights and kava parties. Free Wi-Fi and airport pickup. There are a large number of amenities including a board games room and pool table. The restaurant serves cheap Fijian food. From $40.
• Tanoa Sky Lodge - https://www.tanoaskylodge.com/, Namaka, Queens Highway, ☎ +679 672 2200, fax: +679 672 4330, e-mail: [email protected]. There are 55 rooms in total including superior and deluxe rooms, family units with cooking facilities and multi-share (4 to 6 beds per room) accommodations.
• Tanoa Apartments, Votualevu Road, ☎ +679 672 3685, e-mail: [email protected]. Clean and serviced yet self-containing apartment complex perched on a hill with views of the garden and ocean. They have a pool and a tennis court surrounded by palm trees. Free airport transfers.
• Capricorn Hotel, Queens Road, Martintar (between the airport and town), ☎ +679 672 0088, e-mail: [email protected]. This hotel has 67 air-conditioned rooms. Complimentary breakfast and airport shuttle. Has a pool, gardens, a poolside cocktail bar, spa and restaurant.
• Club Fiji Resort, ☎ +679 6720 150, fax: +679 6702 324, e-mail: [email protected]. A remote boutique resort by the Nadi Bay beach. The accommodation styles at the resort vary and range from bures to villas. There are two restaurants, two bars and an outdoor pool. Cheapest rooms from $130.
• Mercure Hotel Nadi, 203 Queens Road, Nadi Airport, ☎ +679 672 2255, fax: +679 672 0187, e-mail: [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. A 3-star transit hotel featuring 85 rooms that command a view of the tropical setting gardens and swimming pool. There is alfresco dining in the restaurant, a Senikai spa and relaxing Rokete bar. The prices are modest but you get what you pay for.
• Nadi Bay Resort Hotel, Wailoaloa Beach Road, ☎ +679 672 3599 (general), +679 672 3599 (group enquiries), e-mail: [email protected]. The Nadi Bay Resort is a few minutes by road from the airport and seaplane base, and offers a variety of accommodation including dorms, standard rooms and apartments. Amenities come in two here. There are two restaurants, two bars and two swimming pools. edit
• Stoney Creek Resort, Sabeto village, ☎ +679 7464-669. The resort has friendly staff and plenty of nearby activities. Waterfalls, the Sabeto mud pit and hot springs, hiking, kayaking and various villages are all easily accessible.
• Tanoa International Hotel, Votualevu Road, Namaka, ☎ +679 672 0277, fax: +679 672 0191, e-mail: [email protected]. Suitable for leisure and corporate travellers. The hotel is three minutes away from the airport. It has three restaurants, one bar and a coffee shop. From $230.
• Novotel Nadi, Namaka Hill, ☎ +679 672 2000, fax: +679 672 0590, e-mail: [email protected]. Every room in the hotel overlooks the tropical landscape. The hotel is equipped with meeting rooms making it suitable for business travellers. In addition to having a bar and restaurant, this Novotel offers a fitness centre, golf course, spa and outdoor pool.

Keep Connected

Internet

Internet cafes are available in cities and towns and popular tourist areas and more and more places have (free) wifi nowadays. Sometimes you need to pay a fee or usage is for a limited amount of time or customers only.

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

The international phone code for Fiji is 679. Emergency numbers include 917 for the police and 911 for ambulance and fire department.

You will find payphones in all post office branches as well as in the booths situated on streets throughout the country. They only accept Fiji Telecom phone cards which can be purchased in post offices and many shops and come in denominations up to F$50. A digital display will tell you how much money you have left on your card at all times. You can also use a TeleCard which is a pre-paid calling card that can be used from any telephone in Fiji, not just pay phones.

Calling is done by calling the card's issue center, entering the code (found on the card) and entering the destination number. To call outside Fiji, dial 05 first, then the country code and phone number. Foreign calls start at about F$0.50 a minute, but are usually around F$1 or more for European destinations for example.

Avoid high roamaing charges with your phone and turn your data services for outside your home country off at all times. Instead buy a local SIM card (you have to have an unlocked phone of course). There are a few mobile phone companies operating on the island (Vodafone, Digicel). A sim-card is inexpensive, but you need to register your sim to keep it active and to get access to data. Buying a sim-card gives access to cheap data-packages for easy internet access using your phone as a hot-spot.

Post

Post Fiji offers services in the country and to other countries. It's fairly reliable, not expensive, but it can take a while for letters or postcards to arrive at your destination. All major towns have post offices which are operated by Fiji Post. There is also a branch at Nadj International Airport. Connections are pretty quick, particularly with North America, but if you use surface mail, your letter could take over two months to reach its destination. Post offices are open between 8.00and 4.00pm from Monday to Friday. For sending packages overseas, you might better use international courier companies like DHL, TNT, UPS or FedEx, as they offer fast, competitively priced and reliable services.

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